Bucks County played host to three sports tournaments in July, bringing an estimated 22,000 participants and spectators to the region.
Two softball tournaments and a lacrosse tournament were hosted at various venues throughout the county, filling hotels for more than 7,000 nights and bringing tourism dollars to the area’s restaurants, attractions and hotels.
“Families are now turning sports tournaments into family vacations,” Dawn Counard, Sales Manager at the Bucks County Sports Commission, said.
About 8,000 of those who came to Bucks County for the tournaments participated as athletes, while the other 14,000 were spectators.
Counard said that sporting events have become an important part of Bucks County’s tourism industry.
“I think it’s a big economic impact on the area at a time when everyone is down the shore,” Joseph Garvey, director of the PONY National Softball Championships and lifelong Newtown Township resident, said.
The softball tournament is taking place this week throughout the county. Roughly 3,250 players from 250 teams will take to the field for this year’s tournament, and over 6,000 spectators and family members are estimated to accompany the players.
“What’s great about this tournament is that it really introduces a lot of families to Bucks County,” Garvey said.
The Young Guns Futures Softball Tournament took place two weekends ago and brought over 750 softball players ages 14 to 16 to the area.
The Patriot Games Lacrosse Tournament, which took place last weekend, attracted more than 4,000 players, ages 8 through 18 from around the country and also brought over 6,000 spectators to Bucks County.
“It’s accessible to the whole mid-Atlantic region, so it was an easy choice for the tournament,” Patrick Carney, Director of the Patriot Games, said.
Overall visitor spending in the county in 2012 amounted to $865 million in 2012, and supported 11,500 jobs, according to Visit Bucks County. Counard said that tourism related to sporting events had a significant, positive impact on the region’s economy.
— Ted Bordelon
