OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) - Owensboro's tourism experts are aiming
high with a new downtown events center on the horizon.
The Owensboro-Daviess County Convention & Visitors Bureau sports
marketing director, Jared Bratcher, said the western Kentucky city
is in the process of luring a batch of tournaments to the area,
with more to come once a new center is opened.
The Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer reported that Bratcher hopes to
sign large cheerleading, dance and tae kwon do tournaments for the
new center.
"We're still negotiating with them," Bratcher said. "But
they're extremely excited about the new events center and I think
they'll sign as soon as ground is broken."
The new events center will replace the Sportscenter, a
multipurpose 5,000-seat arena that went through a multimillion
dollar renovation in 1997. Ground has yet to be broken on a new
events center.
Bratcher said the city might be able to attract a few smaller
events from those groups at the Sportscenter before the events
center is open.
"But the Sportscenter is an outdated facility," he said.
"They want to be in a state-of-the-art center."
But, other events that don't need an indoor venue have made
plans to head to Owensboro.
Bratcher said the Baseball Players Association's world series
for 8, 9 and 12-year-olds is scheduled for July 21-25 and the
National Softball Association's Class E men's world series for
Sept. 17-19 in Owensboro.
"We should have at least 50 (teams)," he said. "They'll spend
more money in town and have more fun than the professional
players."
The bureau's calendar already shows 36 tournaments for 2010 with
more to come, he said.
The city is doubling the number of football tournaments from two
to four next year, Bratcher said.
The tournaments will bring money into the city's economy,
although the projected amount hasn't been determined, Bratcher
said. Bowling Green recently announced that the Amateur Softball
Association had awarded it six tournaments for 2010 and 2011 that
should pump $18 million into that city's economy.
"It'll be way more than that," Bratcher said.
The bureau's executive director said Owensboro is working on
creating a regional cycling event for next fall.
"Everybody wants to be Owensboro," said Karen Miller, the
bureau's executive director.
Bratcher said the sports industry has not seen the collapse that
other parts of the economy have experienced.
"But it's getting so competitive" to land tournaments, he
said. "Every city has a new park or they're throwing lots of money
around. It's a real competitive atmosphere. But our reputation
sometimes lifts us over the money."
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Information from: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer,
http://www.messenger-inquirer.com

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)