The Grail, Mid-America Invitational & ABC Championship Series honored as Champions of Economic Impact

The REPORTER

Sports Destination Management has named NXT’s The Grail and Mid-America Invitational and Bullpen Tournaments’ ABC Championship Series, both hosted at Grand Park Sports Campus, as recipients of its 2024 Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism.

Champions of Economic Impact are selected by evaluating the spectator fees, hotel room usage, restaurant business and visitor spending during the time of the sporting event. This recognition highlights the substantial growth and economic contributions these events have made to the community.

“Grand Park is honored to host a variety of exceptional events each year, working with our outstanding partners and event organizers to create a great experience for athletes and spectators,” said Grand Park Sports Campus Director Matt Trnian. “The Grail and Mid-America Invitational and the ABC Championship Series are two outstanding events that have both demonstrated the positive economic impact our facility has on the community. We, alongside our partners, are proud to be acknowledged for this contribution.”

The Grail and Mid-America Invitational, a premier lacrosse event from NXT, was held June 29-30, 2024. This tournament attracted more than 6,900 athletes and 18,500 nonlocal visitors, generating an estimated economic impact of $4.5 million.

In addition, Bullpen Tournaments’ ABC Championship Series, hosted from mid-June to mid-July, attracted nearly 14,000 baseball players and contributed over $30 million to the local economy. This month-long series saw a 14.8 percent increase in team participation compared to the previous year, drawing over 118,000 out-of-town visitors.

These accolades not only celebrate the achievements of the events but also highlight the role of sports tourism in driving economic growth in the region.

“We’re proud to see our investments in sports tourism yielding such significant economic benefits for Hamilton County,” said Hamilton County Sports Authority Director Carl Daniels. “With the ongoing support of local partners and the community, Hamilton County continues to establish itself as a premier destination for sports events.”

All winners of the Champions of Economic Impact awards have been recognized in a special feature published in the November/December 2024 issue of Sports Destination Management. The entire article with full details on the winners can also be found online.

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About Grand Park Sports Campus: Grand Park Sports Campus sits on 400+ acres in Westfield, IN. It includes 31 multi-purpose fields, 26 diamonds, 377,000 square foot Events Center with 3 indoor full-size synthetic fields, office space, and a full-serve restaurant bar. The campus is also home to the Indianapolis Colts Training Camp, Pacers Athletic Center, Wright’s 360, and Pro X Athlete Development.

About Hamilton County Sports Authority: The Hamilton County Sports Authority creates positive economic and community impact by attracting, supporting and developing sporting events, facilities and clubs for Hamilton County, Indiana.