Located at the former Champion Paper, Spooky Nook should draw about a million visitors per year to the city, officials said.
MORE: Final Spooky Nook financing arrangements beginning
Once that happens, local tournament directors will have another opportunity to collaborate.
Ben Huffman, director of Sports Enterprises at Warren County Sports Park at Union Village that opened this month, said “it makes sense to all work together” regardless of location. He said tournaments in Warren and Butler counties have shared resources for years and Spooky Nook should strengthen that partnership.
Having another sports complex will give the region more leverage to attract larger, more prestigious events, officials have said.
“Another opportunity for a regional sales pitch,” he said.
Kelly J. Barkley, supervisor of Community and Enterprise Initiatives for MetroParks of Butler County, believes Spooky Nook will increase national awareness of Hamilton and all of Butler County as “a sports friendly destination” and that will have a very positive economic impact on the region.
She said “a thriving” Spooky Nook should be good for all area sports venues, including those owned and operated by MetroParks.
The Voice of America Athletic Complex has proven to be “a huge economic driver” in the region with nearly 20 soccer tournaments held there last year, officials said.
The complex, located inside the 435-acre MetroParks in West Chester Twp., generated a $22.8 million economic benefit for the region in 2018, according to the Butler County Visitors Bureau.
Since the facility’s opening in 2014, the total investment for improvements has been $8.57 million, with a total economic benefit from those major tournaments of $64.8 million, Barkley said.
Barkley said she welcomes the opening of Spooky Nook because it will “augment the value of the entire region. It’s not a competitive thing.”
Matt Prewitt, sales manager for sports and events for the Butler County Visitors Bureau, said last year sporting events in the county resulted in nearly 17,000 hotel room nights with an estimated $23 million in direct spending within the county.
Looking forward, he said, there is “much anticipation and excitement” around Spooky Nook.
“There is no doubt that Spooky Nook will have a tremendous positive impact, and will complement existing sports facilities and events, furthering Butler County’s image as a major sporting event destination,” he said. “Spooky Nook will complement the existing inventory, rather than compete, and allow for opportunities to recruit and host winter events in Butler County.”
Warren County Sports Park, located on 121 acres on Ohio 741 near Armco Park, hosted its first soccer tournament this month and is preparing for its biggest event, the June 18-21 Premiere Super Copa that will feature 184 teams from around the U.S. and is expected to attract 10,000 fans.
Huffman said the 14 full-sized soccer fields, 12 grass and two synthetic, will be used about every weekend this year. It’s estimated the soccer tournaments will generate $25.5 million this year, a figure that will double once construction of the six baseball diamonds is complete by the 2021 season, he said.
“We are super excited,” Huffman said. “It’s nice to have a place that fills our needs every weekend.”
Construction on the park began two years ago and cost $15 million, he said.
Middletown’s largest park, Smith Park, also is expected to generate revenue through sports tournaments this year, said Kathy Stites, director of Middletown Youth Soccer.
She said the Middletown Spring Blast, set for March 14-15, will attract 197 teams that will play 310 games on the 25 soccer fields. Stites said the 23rd annual tournament should attract 8,000 people who will pump $2 million into the local economy.
She said soccer teams from Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Indiana and West Virginia will stay in local hotels and patronize area dining options.
Besides the added revenue, she said, these tournament give visitors an “opportunity to see what Middletown has to offer.”
Stites said another major soccer tournament, the Middfest Soccer Classic, is set for Sept. 19-20 at Smith Park.
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