More than 7,500 athletes, coaches and families will descend on the South Shore for soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, bowling, basketball and swimming through April. Out-of-town visitors will stay at local hotels totaling more than 5,000 room nights.
Spring months in northwest Indiana bring a number of indoor sporting events including swimming, gymnastics, turf soccer and volleyball to basketball and bowling. Baseball and softball return beginning in March.
“The economic impact for the South Shore’s spring events exceeds $1.1 million. Athletes and their families will participate in dozens of championships, tournaments and meets at facilities throughout northwest Indiana, dine in local restaurants, shop in our stores and enjoy a number of attractions and special events,” stated Speros A. Batistatos, President/CEO of the South Shore CVA.
“We have been working with a number of these groups for years planning their visits and hosting their games. We are excited to welcome them to our communities and enjoy our area facilities and attractions,” said Rick Flutka, South Shore CVA’s Sports Development Manager.
Facilities like Diggz of NWI in Hobart will host seven SMACK series weekend volleyball tournaments and two ROX volleyball tournaments; Calumet College will host the 2018 NAIA Team Bowling Championships at Plaza Lanes and Valparaiso University will host the 72nd annual Lutheran Basketball Championships. The annual Lutheran Basketball, alone, will bring in 2,500 room nights with nearly 1,000 players from March 22-25.
The South Shore CVA, in cooperation with a number of local municipalities as well as public and private facilities, will host more than 40,000 athletes, coaches and their families by yearend 2018.
