posted January 17, 2006
The Greater Chattanooga Sports and Events Committee estimated that economic impact generated from sporting events held in Chattanooga in 2005, surpassed the $23.8 million mark.
The Sports Committee estimates direct visitor spending at $23,832,000, breaking the record of $23.6 million set in 2002.
The “million dollar” events on the 2005 calendar included the National Softball Association Class B Girls Fastpitch World Series ($4,750,000), the Athletic Championships Cheerleading ($3,500,000), and NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship ($2,500,000). Other keys events, such as the Southern Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championships Regional, Redoubt Generals Invitational Soccer Tournament, National Junior Golden Gloves Championships, and the Head of the Hooch Rowing Regatta, helped Chattanooga break the record.
Sports Committee President Merrill Eckstein said, “This has been an especially gratifying year for us. From the two basketball events in March to our best I-AA Game in December, the staff has really enjoyed the string of successes. Of course, we always experience our best years when we host NSA Girls Fastpitch, but the response to the two basketball tournaments and I-AA Game were also all we hoped for.”
2005 Sports Committee Schedule of Events and Estimated Economic Impact
January 14-16 Athletic Championships Cheerleading $3,500,000
January 29 Tennessee Indoor Rowing Championships $ 190,000
February 17-19 TSSAA State Wrestling Tournament $ 350,000
February 18-20 Sonic Challenge Softball $ 85,000
February 25-27 Frost Classic Softball $ 80,000
February 25-27 GPS Winter Tennis Open $ 45,000
March 2-5 Southern Conference Men’s & Women’s Basketball Tournaments $ 750,000
March 4-6 NSA Early Bird $ 20,000
March 9-12 67th Annual Chattanooga Golden Gloves Competition $ 75,000
March 11-13 NAFA Youth Softball $ 10,000
March 12 Chattanooga Half Marathon $ 60,000
March 12-13 Times Free Press Big Buck Bass Tournament $ 10,000
March 17-20 Hixson Wildcat Baseball Classic $ 30,000
March 18-20 NCAA Bowling Sectional $ 30,000
March 18-20 USSSA Youth Tournament $ 20,000
March 19 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Qualifier $ 15,000
March 19 Lipscomb vs. Mercer Tennis $ 15,000
March 24-26 Scenic City Classic at McCallie School $ 42,000
March 25-26 Yellow Jacket Baseball Classic $ 35,000
March 25-26 Lady Trojan Softball Invitational $ 35,000
March 25-26 NAFA Youth Softball $ 10,000
March 25-26 National Challenge Cup Wrestling $ 60,000
March 26 & 28 NCAA Women’s Basketball Regional $ 700,000
March 31 – Lookouts Classic $ 40,000
April 3
April 1-3 Chattanooga Early Bird Youth Basketball Tournament $ 190,000
April 1-3 USSSA Youth Tournament $ 25,000
April 2 Crappiemasters Big Bucks Tournament $ 50,000
April 2 Chickamauga Chase $ 20,000
April 4 Coca-Cola Jr. Golf Tournament $ 25,000
April 7-9 Lady Owls Softball Tournament $ 45,000
April 8 & 9 Rotary Tennis Tournament $ 90,000
April 8-10 Choo Choo Softball Tournament $ 35,000
April 15-18 US Fencing Youth/Cadet Championships $ 300,000
April 15-17 NAFA Youth Softball $ 20,000
April 16 Rock Creeek River Gorge Trail Race $ 15,000
April 17 CTC Fun Run $ 10,000
April 21-24 Trojan Classic Baseball Tournament $ 40,000
April 22-23 Champions Club High School Tournament $ 20,000
April 22-24 USSSA Youth Tournament $ 35,000
April 23 Special Olympics Track Meet $ 10,000
April 29 – May 1 YBOA Youth Basketball $ 240,000
April 28 – May 1 Pounder Classic $ 15,000
April 29 Boyd Buchanan Softball Tournament $ 35,000
April 29-30 South Atlantic Conference Football Officials Association $ 25,000
April 29-30 NAFA Youth Softball $ 10,000
May 4-7 Senior Games Softball $ 20,000
May 4-7 Senior Games Horseshoes $ 20,000
May 5-6 Senior Games Tennis $ 20,000
May 5-6 Hamilton County Middle School Tennis Tournament $ 10,000
May 5-13 6AA High School Softball Tournament $ 110,000
May 6-8 NSA Youth Softball $ 40,000
May 7 3-State, 3-Mountain Bike Challenge $ 120,000
May 7 US Team Marines Boxing $ 10,000
May 9-12 TSSAA District 6 AAA & A-AA Tennis Tournaments $ 100,000
May 12 The Bridge Run $ 10,000
May 13-23 UTC Regional Softball Tournament $ 100,000
May 20-22 USSSA Youth Tournament $ 45,000
May 27-29 ASA Memorial Classic $ 245,000
May 27-29 Generals Invitational Redoubt Soccer Tournament $ 925,000
May 30 Chattanooga Chase $ 35,000
May 31 – June 5 Chattanooga Classic Nationwide Tour $ 175,000
June 3-5 Choo Choo Challenge $ 35,000
June 4-5 Tour de Cure Bike Ride $ 25,000
June 6-10 USSSA Youth Tournament $ 100,000
June 11-12 Rivercity Tennis Classic $ 85,000
June 10-12 NSA Youth Tournament $ 55,000
June 16 - 22 All-Stars Baseball Tournament $ 30,000
June 18 BlueCross Riverbend Run $ 15,000
June 23-30 Dizzy Dean Baseball Tournament $ 500,000
June 24-26 Warner Park Swim Meet $ 50,000
June 24-26 NSA Youth Tournament $ 75,000
June 24-26 River City Tennis Tournament $ 40,000
June 28 – July 5 Dizzy Dean Baseball $ 225,000
July 1-3 NAFA Youth Softball $ 15,000
July 2-6 USTA National Open 14’s $ 110,000
July 7-10 Choo Choo Wheelchair Tennis Tournament $ 20,000
July 7-13 Dizzy Dean Baseball $ 675,000
July 8-10 ASA Youth Tournament $ 75,000
July 15-17 Bullfrog Swim Meet $ 240,000
July 15-17 ASA Softball $ 50,000
July 17 Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon $ 15,000
July 20-23 Ntl. Junior Golden Gloves Championships $ 600,000
July 23-31 NSA “B” Girls Fast Pitch World Series $4,750,000
July 30-Aug. 4 Tennessee Jr. State Closed Tennis Tournament $ 200,000
August 5-7 Southern Jr. USA Team Tennis Championships $ 75,000
August 5-7 NAFA Youth Softball $ 15,000
August 6 Missionary Ridge Run $ 10,000
August 12-14 Southern Junior USA Team Championships $ 75,000
August 14 Sports Barn Sprint Triathlon $ 10,000
August 18 Greenway Cross Country Event $ 20,000
August 26-28 Champions Club Junior Novice Grand Prix $ 20,000
September 2-3 Shawn Adams Memorial Ultimate Frisbee Tournament $ 20,000
September 5 FCA Run $ 15,000
September 10 UTC Cross Country $ 60,000
September 9-11 STA Junior Davis Cup (12’s) $ 120,000
September 10-11 Choo Choo Volleyball Tournament $ 190,000
September 10-11 Chattanooga Christian Soccer Tournament $ 90,000
September 10-15 U.S. Mid-Amateur Golf Championships $ 100,000
September 16-18 STA Junior Davis Cup (14’s, 16’s, 18’s) $ 120,000
September 17 Symphony Classic Run $ 15,000
September 23-25 UTC Steve Baras Collegiate Fall Tennis Classic $ 80,000
September 23-25 USSSA Youth Tournament $ 60,000
September 25 Komen Chattanooga Race For The Cure $ 15,000
October 1 Joe Johnson Mental Health Run $ 15,000
October 8 Chattanooga Head Races $ 140,000
October 8 Cumberland Trail Stump Jump 50k/11miler $ 15,000
October 10-16 American Powerboat National Championships $ 220,000
October 14-16 NAFA Youth Softball $ 20,000
October 15 USSBA Regional Marching Band Competition $ 200,000
October 21-23 ASA Fall Brawl $ 50,000
October 22 Signal Mountain Pie Run $ 15,000
October 22-24 John Strang/McCallie Jr. Tennis Tournament $ 120,000
October 26-29 TSSAA Girls State Soccer Championships $ 160,000
November 4-6 USSSA Youth Event $ 60,000
November 4-6 TN State Combo Doubles Tennis Championships $ 120,000
November 4-6 Head of the Hooch $ 800,000
November 5 Wild Race/Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon $ 35,000
November 11-13 NAFA Youth Softball $ 25,000
November 24 Sports Barn Turkey Trot $ 15,000
November 24-26 Chattanooga Choo Choo Bowl $ 450,000
December 9-10 Jeffery Katcher Memorial Gymnastics $ 210,000
December 16 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship $2,500,000
December 16-17 McCallie Invitational Wrestling Tournament $ 90,000
December 17 Wauhatchie Trail Run $ 15,000
December 31 Karen Lawrence Run $ 15,000
Total: $23,832,000
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