Fields and facilities throughout the South Shore were filled with cheering fans and amateur athletes playing softball, baseball as well as bowling this summer season. Game Day Nationals, a baseball tournament, Ohio Valley Baseball Regionals, National Softball Association and the Professional Bowlers Association brought more than 2,400 overnight stays at region hotels.
The National Softball Association, held throughout Crown Point, Highland, Hobart, Munster, LaPorte and Portage brought 194 teams to northwest Indiana generating more than a million dollars in economic impact. Game Day and Ohio Valley Regionals brought 223 teams to Crown Point and Munster and PBA brought 50 professional bowlers.
Athletes and their families came in droves to area hotels, restaurants, attractions and shops for another successful traveling sports season. “The impact to our communities can be felt through the economy. Families stay in hotels, eat in restaurants and visit attractions. Tournament planners pay maintenance and rental fees to municipalities; and for each dollar spent by a visitor, 86 cents stays local,” said Speros A. Batistatos, President/CEO of the South Shore CVA. “That’s well over $2 million in economic impact in our local communities.”
Game Day Nationals and Game Day Silver Series, both played at the Crown Point Sportsplex hosted 175 teams; Ohio Valley Baseball Regionals in Munster, St. John and Crown Point had 48 teams. National Softball Association World Series had a total of 194 teams signed up and the PBA hosted at Olympia Lanes had 50 people.
The South Shore will see additional events like HOMIE Disc Golf, Butterfly Table Tennis and Monsters Football for the remainder of the year.
