With tournaments involving bowling, swimming and diving, and lots of hockey, sports tourism is expected to pump $3 million into the region's economy this weekend.
Local tourism promoters have long been enthused about the value of sports events and tournaments bringing people and teams and leaving dollars behind during those events.
Visit Buffalo Niagara President and CEO Patrick Kaler says that's the value of HarborCenter by providing even more venues for hockey events and related activities.
"This is a great weekend that we have, three very diverse sporting groups coming into our destination, with the National Junior College Swimming and Diving Championship," Kaler said.
"We have a bowling tournament and we have several ice hockey tournaments taking place in the destination this weekend as well."
Kaler says it's good for the hotel and restaurant businesses because the various games and matches are spread across the region and hospitality locations. He says family events like hockey are particularly dollar-driven with the Pepsi tournament in Cheektowaga's Holiday Twin Rinks to take 2,000 hotel room nights and leave a million dollars behind; the State Youth Championship in the Northtown Center is taking 2,500 room nights and leaving another million.
