State of the sports

More than 10,000 athletes are descending on Colorado Springs for the State Games of America, which kick off with this evening’s opening ceremony.

It’s the largest multisport event in Colorado history — and it’s good news for the Springs economy because those athletes bring family and friends, accounting for another 10,000 to 15,000 people. And they all bring their wallets.

“So, 25,000 individuals will be moving around in the city, going to attractions, restaurants, hotels, all kinds of things,” said Tom Osborne, president and chief executive officer of the Colorado Springs Sports Corp., which hosts the games. “It’s like a small town coming to Colorado Springs.”

Sporting events such as this week’s games are responsible for a large chunk of the visitors to the Springs, said Jean Watson, sales manager for

sports and special events for Experience Colorado Springs at Pikes Peak, the convention and visitors bureau. Of the 186,000 room nights Experience Colorado Springs worked to book in 2006, 45 percent were sports-related.

The State Games of America are estimated to have an economic impact on the area of $11 million. The U.S. Senior Open golf championship next year at The Broadmoor is expected to pump roughly $30 million into the economy.

The mission of the nonprofit Sports Corp. is to attract and support sports organizations and events. Economic impact is simply a byproduct of those efforts, Osborne said — but a very important byproduct.

“If we don’t produce, then we’re not able to get the support from the sponsors,” he said.

For Watson, economic impact is a key consideration.

“I’m most interested in if they’ll come in the off-season,” she said. The annual Pikes Peak Presidents Day hockey tournament, for example, draws less of a crowd than the State Games of America but comes at a critical time.

“The value of it is that it’s in February, and the hotels are really interested in business at that time of year.”

Some events have less tangible benefits. The annual Pikes Peak Marathon isn’t a big economic generator, but the high profile it brings to the area is welcome, Watson said.

“It’s not like the tournaments that bring mom and dad and grandma and grandpa. But from the public relations viewpoint, the press, it generates a lot of good for Colorado Springs,” Watson said.

Experience Colorado Springs advertises the Springs as the amateur sports capital of the world. That’s an easy claim to support, Watson said, with the Springs home to the U.S. Olympic Committee, the U.S. Olympic Training Center and nearly 50 sports organizations.

“It’s a whole atmosphere of sports as fun, entertainment and business all wrapped up into one,” she said.

Attracting events to the Springs is just one side of Watson’s job. The other is to make sure organizers behind events each year remain happy. So she coordinates with hotels and assists with groups’ transportation and other needs.

“That’s a big part, making certain that those that are here aren’t taken away by any other city,” she said.

To that end, Watson works closely with the Colorado Springs Sports Corp.

“Experience Colorado Springs is a terrific partner,” Osborne said. “Jean will hear things I’m not aware of, and I’ll hear things she’s not aware of. We partner a lot on things.”

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0272 or bill.radford@gazette.com

COMING IN 2008

In addition to annual sporting events such as the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and the Presidents Day hockey tournament, in 2008 Colorado Springs will welcome:

NCAA Division 1 West Regional hockey tournament, March 28-29, hosted by Colorado College and the Colorado Springs Sports Corp. The winner goes on to the NCAA Men’s Frozen Four, held at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

U.S. Senior Open golf championship, July 28-Aug. 3. As many as 30,000 fans are expected each day.

State Games of the West, Aug. 7-10. The inaugural games are expected to attract roughly 8,000 athletes from 13 Western states.