WMSC 2020 Sports Economic Impact
The West Michigan Sports Commission (WMSC) released its sports tourism economic impact figures from 2020, revealing how devastating the pandemic proved to be on sporting events in West Michigan and the respective visitor spending, and mirroring national sports industry trends.
Despite that, the WMSC still generated $13 million in direct visitor spending in 2020 through 45 events hosted in West Michigan (many of which were at the WMSC’s baseball/softball complex). The WMSC sees 2021 as a rebuilding year as sports are positioned to be one of the first segments of the tourism industry to return.
Registration for the 2020 USA Masters Games is now open!
Grand Rapids, Mich., January 6, 2021 ─ Athletes 21 and older who want to compete in a multisport, Olympic-style event can now register for the third edition of the USA Masters Games (USAMG). The 2020 USA Masters Games now held June 24 – 27, 2021, is open for all athletes in the United States as well as internationally and there is no qualification necessary to compete in the USAMG.
Meijer State Games of Michigan launches Virtual Games
Meijer State Game of Michigan will be hosting its first Virtual Games starting now through June 30.
WEST MICHIGAN SPORTS COMMISSION’S ANNUAL EVENT MOVES TO THE FALL; JACK NICKLAUS TO KEYNOTE THE EVENT
West Michigan Sports Commission pushes annual event, ‘An Evening with Jack Nicklaus’ to October, 2020.
USA MASTERS GAMES 2020 IN GRAND RAPIDS, MI, POSTPONED TO 2021
Today the USA Masters Games headquarters and the offices of the State Games of Michigan, Local Organizing Committee for the 2020 USA Masters Games, jointly announced the postponement of the Games to 2021.
Coronavirus Impact on Sports
I had planned to write a very different blog post this month – one sharing exciting news about not only closing one of our strongest years yet in youth/amateur sports tourism in West Michigan, but landing one of golf’s greatest icons for our June 23 Annual Event with Jack Nicklaus.
NINETY-NINE YOUTH/AMATEUR SPORTING EVENTS GENERATED $54.3 MILLION FOR WEST MICHIGAN IN 2019
The West Michigan Sports Commission (WMSC) hosted the most youth and amateur sporting events in a single year in its history with 99 events in 2019, attracting the most athletes and visitors in one year at 230,382, generating $54.3 million in estimated direct visitor spending and filling a record 50,245 hotel room nights. It also saw its best year yet for the five-year-old Art Van Sports Complex, hosting the most tournaments in a year and generating $6.1 million in estimated direct visitor spending.
Why Esports Matter for West MI
Photo Credit: Adam Antor
The West Michigan Sports Commission (WMSC) is partnering with Celebration Cinema to bring a new sport to West Michigan – and there’s a good chance you know very little about it.
New Year, New Faces and Spaces
Happy 2020! Whether you’re one of those people who counts 2020 as the first year of the new decade or the last of the old, it’s still a great time to reflect on the past decade. (See my blog about our top 2019 sports moments.)
ART VAN SPORTS COMPLEX WOWS USA SOFTBALL
The USA Softball Men’s Open Fast Pitch National Championship was held at the Art Van Sports Complex Aug. 23-25, the first time this national tournament came to West Michigan.
GAME DAY USA CHOOSES ART VAN SPORTS COMPLEX AS BASEBALL TOURNEY DESTINATION
When the Art Van Sports Complex in Plainfield Township officially opened Aug. 1, 2014, Game Day USA had the privilege of hosting the very first youth baseball tournament there that weekend following the opening event.
TOP 2019 SPORTS MOMENTS
As we prepare for 2020, I’d like to take a moment to review 2019 – it was another great year for youth and amateur sports in West Michigan! Below is a rundown of our top 2019 sports moments at the West Michigan Sports Commission (WMSC).
LEVERAGING YOUR NATIONAL GOVERNING BODY
Eight years ago, my husband, Andy Vidro, and I got the idea to organize triathlons in the Grand Rapids area.
Five Reasons Why We Love Grand Rapids
This month, USA Weightlifting is bringing another national championship tournament to Grand Rapids with the 2018 Nike National Youth Championships Powered by Rogue Fitness…
Fat Bike Nationals Return to GR Feb. 10
Fat bikes are versatile rigs for all conditions, including snow, which we hope to have at this year’s USA Cycling Fat Bike National Championships Feb. 10 in Grand Rapids!
