Date: March 6, 2018
Contact: Susan Wade, 417-881-5300, ext. 101; 800-678-8767, ext.101; 417-830-0645 (cell); swade@springfieldmo.org
Youth Events Draw Thousands to City
Springfield, Missouri – Heads up, Springfield! Thousands of visitors are coming to the city in March and April and two of the largest events are this week.
The Missouri State High School Activities Association Boys and Girls Basketball Championships runs March 7-17 and the National Christian HomeSchool Basketball Championships is March 10-17.
MSHSAA games are expected to be attended by about 40,000 people and 6,500 room nights are booked at hotels. The HomeSchool games will be attended by about 10,000 and more than 7,000 room nights are booked.
The basketball tournaments will be followed in April by other large events including:
April 7-10 – Missouri Future Business Leaders of America – Phi Beta Lambda Leadership Conference with 5,500 attendees and 2,574 room nights.
April 11-13 – Assemblies of God Children’s Ministry Conference with 2,000 attendees and 1,730 room nights.
April 20-22 – Lake Country Soccer Ozarks Coca-Cola Dr Pepper Cup with 5,000 attendees and 2,400 room nights.
April 27-29 – Missouri Youth Soccer Association Spring Presidents Cup with 2,700 attendees and 2,000 room nights.
“That’s obviously good news for the city’s hotels and also for restaurants, attractions and retailers as well as for tax revenue,” said Tracy Kimberlin, president/CEO of the CVB. “The CVB and Sports Commission work hard to bring group events to the city because they help improve the local economy. Our work is paying off this spring.”
Kimberlin also credits the community with helping book the events in Springfield, including businesses and individuals providing financial backing, facilities, volunteers, etc.
These events and many others are booked year round by the CVB and Sports Commission, nonprofit organizations working together to boost the local economy through growth in travel and tourism.
Learn more at www.SpringfieldMo.org or www.SpringfieldMoSports.org or call 417-881-5300. To view a list of other groups coming to Springfield in March and April, go to http://issuesandinfo.com/2018/