CONTACT:
Molly Belmont, Director of Marketing
Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Phone: 518-434-1217 x 203
Email: mbelmont@albany.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 22, 2018

NYSPHSAA Wrestling Tournaments pin down more business in Albany
Visiting athletes pump $1.2 Million into Albany economy

ALBANY, NY –Tomorrow, Discover Albany welcomes 13,000 visitors to Albany as part of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s 2018 High School Wrestling Championships, held February 23-24. These high school athletes, coaches, and their families, will bring more than $1.2 million in spending, including $784,000 in direct spending, to the area. NYSPHSAA has held their event in Albany since 2009, and contract that extends through this year.

Hundreds of high school wrestlers will compete on the floor of the Times Union Center this week, bringing many families to Albany hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, and attractions. This event generates 1324 contracted room nights at the Albany Marriott, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Hampton Inn & Suites, Hilton Albany and filling other hotels with families and wrestling enthusiasts.

According to the Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) Event Impact Calculator, a tool that measures the economic value of an event and calculates its return to local taxes, the weekend wrestling championship will account for:

  • 1,324 total room nights at area hotels throughout Albany County
  • $783,991 in direct spending at hotels, the Times Union Center, etc.
  • $433,293 in indirect spending at gas stations, restaurants, etc.
  • $47,546 in local tax revenue for Albany County

“This week demonstrates an ongoing commitment on the part of the bureau to book sporting business,” says Michele Vennard, President/CEO of Discover Albany. “With the completion of the Albany Capital Center, and the renovations to the Times Union Center, and our strong college facilities, we offer a competitive destination for sporting events and tournaments, and that means big business for Albany.” 

Throughout the year, the Albany area will welcome more than 20 different sporting events and meetings to hotels and conference centers, including the 2018 MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, 2018 NCAA Women’s Regional Basketball Championships, the 2018 Northstar Capital City Classic, CrossFit Games, and the 2018 Special Olympics Summer Games.

About the ACCVB:
The Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. was established in 1976 to promote the civic and commercial progress of the community through increased development of conventions and tourism. Today, we’re known as Discover Albany and represent more than 300 member-businesses. Each year, we assist in hundreds of regional meetings. Discover Albany also operates the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center, Henry Hudson Planetarium, and the Albany International Airport Information Center. For more information, call 518-434-1217 or 800-258-3582 or visit www.albany.org.

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