The Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) Sports Marketing team recently booked five new sporting events for the City of Virginia Beach bringing an additional 13,000 hotel room nights and more than $3 million in direct spending to the local community. These events include: US Fencing, USA Judo, National High School Coaches Association Wrestling Duals, USA Gymnastics Tumbling and Trampoline, USA Judo and the Wicked 10K.

“The sports market has grown to be a proven staple for Virginia Beach tourism,” stated Jim Ricketts, director of the CVB.  “The Convention Center’s 150,000 square foot, column-free exhibit hall combined with a variety of additional sports venues, hotels, restaurants and family-friendly attractions make Virginia Beach a favorite destination for youth tournaments and traveling teams.”

“Youth sports bring an added economic impact because parents and siblings tag along,” explained Don Schumacher, executive director of the National Association for Sports Commissions.  “When your child is asked to compete in a tournament, you find a way to make it work, often resulting in a mini vacation for the whole family.”

Sports events represented 44 percent of the business booked by the Virginia Beach CVB’s convention sales team last fiscal year (July 2008 through June 2009).  Often occurring in the spring and fall, these events help fill year-round hotel capacity and bring valuable business to restaurants and retail shops after summer vacationers have gone.      

The CVB Sports Marketing team was established in 1999 to expand the current sports marketing base by targeting amateur sporting events and tournaments sanctioned by national sports organizations.

The sports market continues to grow for Virginia Beach.  The five most recently booked events include:

• US Fencing North American Cup Division 1/Youth 14/12/10 - April 23-26, 2010 with 660 athletes and 1,740 hotel room nights, www.usfencing.org
• National High School Coaches Association 11th Annual National Wrestling Duals May 28-31, 2010 with 2,800 athletes and 2,500 hotel room nights, www.nhsca.com
• USA Gymnastics Tumbling and Trampoline Junior Olympic National Championships - June 25-27, 2010 with 1,800 athletes and 5,200 hotel room nights, www.usagymnastics.org
• USA Judo Senior Nationals - April 12-17, 2011 with 800 athletes and 1,070 hotel room nights, www.usjudo.org
• Blue Moon Wicked 10K - October 31, 2009 with 5,000 athletes (1,300 from outside of Hampton Roads) and 2,500 hotel room nights, www.wicked10k.com This year’s race is sold out. (New annual event – 2010 race will be Oct. 30 )

For a complete list of sports marketing events booked for Virginia Beach, visit www.vbsports.com or contact the Virginia Beach CVB at (757) 385-4700.

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