News Release – August 3, 2023
Contacts:
- Lance Kettering, Springfield Sports Commission, 417-881-5300
- Aaron Owen, Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, 417-833-2660
- Justin Travis, USA BMX, 480-961-1903, ext. 146
- Susan Wade, Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau; 417-881-5300, ext. 101; 800-678-8767, ext.101; 417-830-0645 (cell); swade@springfieldmo.org
USA BMX Selects Springfield for National Event
Springfield, Missouri – Thousands of athletes, coaches, and spectators will be in Springfield for a USA BMX National Championship Series event in 2024.
The Springfield Sports Commission, Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau, Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, and other organizations worked together to bring the event to the city. The result of that collaboration is the new USA BMX Show Me State Nationals that will take place March 1-3 in the new Wilson Logistics Arena at the fairgrounds.
Over 4,600 people from all over the country are expected to attend, including 1,100 athletes. The championship will have an estimated economic impact of $1.27 million on the local economy.
“The USA BMX National Series is always looking for new cities and venues to partner with and the Wilson Logistics Arena is such a perfect venue for an event of this magnitude,” said Justin Travis, USA BMX director of business development. “We are excited to bring the racers and fans in March!”
The event is an example of the importance of developing new venues in Springfield that can host large groups. The new arena was a key factor in USA BMX’s selection of the city for the national event.
Lance Kettering, executive director of the Sports Commission said he’s pleased to have a facility that can host a large USA BMX event and he’s looking forward to booking additional events in the arena in the future.
“Construction of the 100,000-square-foot, $25 million arena played a major role in getting the national event booked in the city,” Kettering said. “Without Wilson Logistics Arena and the support of the team at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, this opportunity would not be possible. We look forward to the arena becoming a nationals location for USA BMX.”
Another important factor that made the nationals possible is hosting other BMX events in the past, which set the stage for the bigger competitions, Kettering said.
“We are grateful to the staff at the Springfield-Greene County Park Board and Spokes BMX,” Kettering said. “They helped forge an exceptional relationship with USA BMX by hosting two Gold Cups and one Mid America Nationals outdoor event. Those opportunities helped put Springfield on the map for BMX and this national event.”
Mark Hecquet, President / CEO of the CVB, said seeing the results of our community collaboration and welcoming a national event is exciting for Springfield.
“We look forward to welcoming the USA BMX Show Me State Nationals to Springfield in 2024,” Hecquet said. ”USA BMX will bring thousands of people to Springfield, and the economic impact is tremendous. It helps support the city’s restaurants, hotels, retail establishments, and attractions.”
Aaron Owen, CEO of the fairgrounds, said hosting sizeable events like the BMX nationals is precisely why the fairgrounds built the arena, and he looks forward to seeing what the future brings.
“The Ozark Empire Fairgrounds is excited to welcome USA BMX in 2024 and beyond at Wilson Logistics Arena,” Owen said.
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Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Convention & Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing organization for Greene, Christian and Polk counties in southwest Missouri. Based in Springfield, the largest metro area in the region, the CVB focuses on boosting the local economy by creating marketing initiatives that grow tourism and entice planners to choose Springfield for group business, including conventions, meetings and sporting events. For more information, visit www.SpringfieldMO.org.
Springfield Sports Commission
The Springfield Sports Commission is a mission-driven organization, working to contribute to the economic development of Springfield by bringing quality sporting events to the Springfield area. Learn more at www.springfieldmosports.org.
USA BMX
Established as the American Bicycle Association in 1977 and headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, ABA is the nation’s largest cycling organization with more than 70,000 members with combined racing and freestyle events at more than 300 sanctioned BMX tracks across North America and Canada. ABA empowers and elevates the early stages of bicycle development by creating opportunities through facility development, programs, and national events. As a result, ABA has developed a structured blueprint. A cyclist can progress from humble beginnings on a balance bike to becoming a BMX Olympian by establishing these roots. Through STEAM, scholarships, freestyle amateur events, the national series, the Olympics and new facilities built across the United States, these four pillars under the USA BMX organization will impact young riders and families: USA BMX Foundation, USA BMX Freestyle, USA BMX Racing and ABA Ethos. More information is available at www.usabmx.com.