Photo Courtesy of Erie County Convention Center Authority
These events help to support hundreds of local businesses and perhaps thousands of jobs in restaurants, shops and hotels. They also put Erie on the map as a destination for sports-minded families, something the Commission is keen to leverage. To this end, the Women’s Frozen Four, the championship of NCAA hockey at the Tullio Arena in March, was a milestone. “By hosting the event, Erie became one of the few cities in the country to host an NCAA Division One national championship,” Sertz points out. “This three-day event delivered an attendance of more than 8,000 individuals for the national semi-finals and finals, and hosted more than 2,000 out-of-town guests. The economic impact on the community was estimated at approximately $2 million by the officials at VisitErie.” Let’s parse two salient facts from that statement: 2,000 visitors, and March. Clearly, sports can play a leading role in making Erie a year-round destination. But we’re not there yet. “To host a big-time event, you need big-time facilities,” Sertz says. “For soccer, Erie has that. For baseball tournaments, Erie, doesn’t have that, so
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Golden Age continued.
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B u s i n e s s o f Spo r t s & R e c r e at io n