VISIT Milwaukee and USA Gymnastics Championships Honored as a 2017 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism
MILWAUKEE, WI - (December 4, 2017) – Sports Destination Management, the sports tourism publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors, has awarded the 2017 USA Gymnastics Championships, in partnership with VISIT Milwaukee, as one of the 2017 Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism.
Held June 26-July 3, 2017, the prestigious USA Gymnastics Championships involved events at both the Wisconsin Center and the BMO Harris Bradley Center. The event attracted more than 2,000 young athletes from around the country accompanied by their families, resulting in 4,345 hotel room nights and 4,500 total attendees. Organizers credit the success of the event to the strong partnership between VISIT Milwaukee, USA Gymnastics, and the two venues. The event brought an estimated economic impact of $5.4 million to the local economy.
According to Marissa Werner, senior sports and entertainment sales manager at VISIT Milwaukee, “This award reflects a banner year for sports tourism in Milwaukee in 2017, with the USA Gymnastics Championships joining the U.S. Open and NCAA DI First/Second Rounds in scoring big for economic impact to the region. And the action continues in January when the nation’s top speed skaters come to The Pettit National Ice Center for the Olympic Long Track Trials.”
This year’s Sports Destination Management winners across the country are responsible for contributing more than $400 million to the national economy over the past year. For additional background on the booming sports tourism industry and how it impacts a local economy, see: Special Feature: Economic Impact of Sports Tourism
About Sports Destination Management
Sports Destination Management is written for the largest audience of sports event managers and tournament directors in the sports tourism market and maintains a focus on the important issues surrounding event location decisions and event management. With content from experts and thought leaders, SDM provides in-depth coverage of sports event planning and execution through incisive and relevant articles as well as insightful, real-world case studies showcasing best practices and successful event production.
In addition to the publication, SDM offers extensive digital resources through www.sportsdestinations.com and the e-newsletter SDM Blitz, both providing decision support tools for organizers to ensure successful events at all levels of play.
About VISIT Milwaukee
Celebrating 50 years in 2017, VISIT Milwaukee is the Greater Milwaukee area’s convention & visitors bureau , marketing the destination as a top choice for business, convention, and leisure travel to national and international visitors to increase the economic impact of tourism in the region. Each year, tourism supports over 50,000 full-time jobs and brings in over $5 billion to the community. VISIT Milwaukee has over 680 members, including hotels/motels, restaurants, attractions, services and area businesses. The City of Wauwatosa, Potawatomi Hotel & Casino and the Wisconsin Center District are strategic partners with VISIT Milwaukee, providing funding support for conventions and tourism programs. For more information call 1-800-554-1448 or visit www.visitmilwaukee.org.
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