Baseball Could Boost Dunes Area Economy
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndiana Dunes Tourism says visitors are expected to fill 700 hotel room nights as part of an upcoming baseball tournament. The four-day Babe Ruth Ohio Valley Regional Tournament in Chesterton will draw teams from states as far away as West Virginia and Wisconsin. July 15, 2013
News Release
CHESTERTON, Ind. – A baseball tournament set for July 18-21 at Chesterton High School is expected to fill as many as 700 hotel room nights and pump tens of thousands of dollars into communities throughout Porter County.
The Babe Ruth Ohio Valley Regional Tournament features 12 teams from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Indiana Dunes Tourism secured nearly 100 hotel rooms in Chesterton, Porter, Portage and Valparaiso for four nights to accommodate the players and coaches. And families of the participants are expected to fill another 70 hotel rooms each night.
“Anytime a tournament like this comes to the area, it impacts the whole county because we have people staying in different communities and doing activities throughout all of Porter County,” said Angela Pasyk, Indiana Dunes Tourism niche market director.
Pasyk said Indiana Dunes Tourism is partnering with the Duneland Chamber of Commerce to provide to each visitor a welcome bag, which will include guides to Porter County and coupons.
Pasyk will also set up an information booth to answer visitors' questions and guide them attractions like the Indiana Dunes, Seven Peaks Waterpark Duneland in Porter, Portage 16 IMAX, and Valparaiso attractions like Zao Island, 49er Drive-In Theatre, Hoosier Bat Company and Inman's Recreation Center.
Studies show the average overnight visitor to Indiana Dunes Country spends $93 per day, so the economic impact of the tournament — brought to the area by Nick Doud of Porter County Storm and Michelle Miloshoff of Duneland Diamond — should be tens of thousands of dollars.
The tournament is open to spectators for a small fee.
Source: Indiana Dunes Tourism