Senator Mary Lou Rath (R-C-I, Williamsville), Chair of the Senate Committee on Tourism, Recreation and Sports Development, held a hearing today at the Buffalo-Niagara Convention Center to help identify how the state can enhance its ability to attract sporting events.
Comments were provided by local experts in several sporting fields, including: amateur hockey, skiing, collegiate athletics, synchronized swimming, bowling, boating, and amateur baseball.
"Here in Western New York, we do very well at attracting all level of competitive events, but I feel the state as a whole can do a lot better," said Senator Rath. "Surprisingly, given the significant role sports play in our communities and state and the tremendous economic impact, no state-level entity is dedicated to sports development or sports promotion. What we heard today may help to change this."
According to a recent study by the Travel Industry of America, in 2006, $182 billion was spent on sports-related travel. Fifty percent of this travel -- accounting for $91 billion -- occurs at the amateur level. Regional, national and international competitions are responsible for a lot of this travel.
Part of the commentary focused on Rath’s legislation (S.6197), which creates the New York State Amateur Sports Development Advisory Council.
The objective of the Council is to link tourism resources to amateur sports promotion. Right now, sports associations and organizations such as the Buffalo-Niagara CVB do all of the groundwork necessary to attract events without much by way of state support/coordination. The council can serve as the "go-between" -- recommending what the state can do to help and what resources the state can provide.
Rath commented the Buffalo hearing could be the first of several to be held across the state.
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