WEST MICHIGAN SPORTS COMMISSION EXPANDS TEAM, HIRING FUNDRAISING EXPERT BARBARA BENDA AS DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, COURTNEY MINER AS STATE GAMES EVENT COORDINATOR
The West Michigan Sports Commission (WMSC) is bolstering its team as it continues fundraising for the Meijer Sports Complex expansion, hiring fundraising expert Barbara Benda to fill a new position as director of development. The WMSC also hired Courtney Miner as event coordinator of the Meijer State Games of Michigan, the commission’s signature event that embodies the values of participation, sportsmanship and healthy living among Michigan residents.
YOUTH/AMATEUR SPORTING EVENTS IN WEST MICHIGAN GENERATED $87.9 MILLION IN ESTIMATED ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR REGION IN 2023
The West Michigan Sports Commission (WMSC) reported today that youth/amateur sports tourism generated $87.9 million in estimated economic impact for the region in 2023 through 121 events – the second highest year…
MEIJER STATE GAMES OF MICHIGAN PARTNERS WITH GREAT LAKES SPORTS COMMISSION TO HOST NORTHERN MICHIGAN HUB FOR 2024 WINTER GAMES
After successfully hosting a northern Michigan hub of the Meijer State Games - Winter Games in Marquette for the past two years, the State Games of Michigan (SGOM) has tapped the nonprofit Great Lakes Sports Commission (GLSC) to act on its behalf as official host of the northern Michigan hub of the Winter Games in Marquette starting in 2024.
WEST MICHIGAN SPORTS COMMISSION PROMOTES STAFF
The West Michigan Sports Commission (WMSC) announced two staff promotions this week – Katy Tigchelaar to Vice President of Operations from Director of Marketing and Events, and Julie Shields to Director of the State Games of Michigan from Event Coordinator.
MEIJER DONATES $1 MILLION TO MEIJER SPORTS COMPLEX EXPANSION CAMPAIGN AS LEAD GIFT
The West Michigan Sports Commission (WMSC) announced today that a $1 million lead gift by Meijer toward the Meijer Sports Complex’s A Winning Streak for West Michigan expansion campaign was the catalyst to generate additional gifts, bringing the fundraising total to $5.8 million, or 53 percent of its $11 million goal. Based on funding to date, some elements of the project could begin in late 2023. The announcement was made at a private donor event at the Meijer Sports Complex.
WMSC 16TH ANNUAL LUNCHEON FEATURES DETROIT RED WINGS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & GENERAL MANAGER, STEVE YZERMAN
WMSC announces Steve Yzerman as the speaker for their 16th Annual Luncheon
YOUTH/AMATEUR SPORTING EVENTS IN WEST MICHIGAN GENERATEDALL-TIME HIGH OF $90.5 MILLION IN DIRECT VISITOR SPENDING IN 2022
West Michigan’s youth and amateur sports industry has not only bounced back from pre-COVID times, it has left the last few years of pandemic-related uncertainty in its dust. The West Michigan Sports Commission (WMSC) reported today that 2022 was its strongest year ever…
IBC Youth 2022 Junior Gold Championships Honored as a 2022 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism in Sports Destination Management
Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, has announced the 2022 Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism. This year’s winners are responsible for contributing a more-than-welcome boost of over $2.42 billion to the national economy over the past year.
MEIJER SPORTS COMPLEX WRAPS SUCCESSFUL 2022 BASEBALL/SOFTBALL SEASON WITH SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN DIRECT VISITOR SPENDING OVER 2021 AND 2019
The West Michigan Sports Commission (WMSC) closed a successful 2022 baseball/softball season at the Meijer Sports Complex, wrapping up with 21 tournaments between April and October that attracted 762 teams, 9,906 athletes and 24,765 spectators who booked 5,524 hotel room nights. Most significantly, the complex generated $8,066,671 in estimated direct visitor spending – up 44 percent from 2021 and 32 percent from pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
WEST MICHIGAN HOSTS USA-CANADA SENIOR BORDER BATTLE IN SLOW-PITCH SOFTBALL AUG. 5-7 AT MEIJER SPORTS COMPLEX
Canada is sending its best senior slow-pitch softball players to square off against the best U.S. teams in the USA-Canada Senior Border Battle in men’s slow pitch softball, Aug. 5-7 at the Meijer Sports Complex in Plainfield Township.
TOP YOUTH BOWLERS IN AMERICA COMPETE IN 2022 JUNIOR GOLD CHAMPIONSHIPS JULY 11-23 AT EIGHT VENUES ACROSS WEST AND CENTRAL MICHIGAN, A FIRST FOR THE REGION
Junior Gold Championships coming to West Michigan in July of 2022.
WMSC 15TH ANNUAL LUNCHEON FEATURES MSU HEAD BASKETBALL COACH TOM IZZO
15th Annual Luncheon to feature Coach Tom Izzo & honor Peter F. Secchia.
MICHIGAN TECH HOSTING 57TH GREAT LAKES INVITATIONAL IN GRAND RAPIDS AT VAN ANDEL ARENA
NCAA DI college hockey invitational tournament held downtown at Van Andel Arena and hosted by Michigan Tech University.
THE BEER CITY OPEN RETURNS TO GRAND RAPIDS JULY 20 THROUGH JULY 24
The Grand Rapids Pickleball Club announces the return of the Grand Rapids Beer City Open Pickleball Championships, which will be held July 20 through July 24, 2022 at Belknap Park in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids.
SPORTS TOURISM IN WEST MICHIGAN INCREASED EXPONENTIALLY IN 2021 FROM 2020, GENERATING $55.49 MILLION IN DIRECT VISITOR SPENDING
– If the West Michigan Sports Commission (WMSC) viewed the business of sports tourism in 2021 in terms of wins and losses, it would chalk up the year as a win for West Michigan.
Not surprisingly, the economic impact of sports tourism increased significantly in every metric over 2020 when the pandemic scratched many scheduled tournaments, but it also slightly surpassed some pre-pandemic figures…
Grand Rapids Area to Host 2022 Junior Gold Championships, Excitement Grows for 2021 Event
The Junior Gold Championships will return to Michigan in July 2022, with competition taking place across eight centers in the Grand Rapids area.
In addition to the Junior Gold Championships, the USA Bowling National Championships and Bowling.com Youth Open Championships also will be conducted in western Michigan in 2022.
Grand Rapids Hosts USA Masters Games June 24-27 as Third Host in History; National Event in Conjunction with the Meijer State Games of Michigan
Good things come to those who wait – like the opportunity to host the rescheduled 2020 USA Masters Games, now June 24-27, 2021 in West Michigan.
The USA Masters Games is a multisport, Olympic-style event for athletes 21 and older, featuring athletes from 35 states competing in 24 events in 20 sports at 20 venues across West Michigan. Only the third edition of the USA Masters Games since it started in 2016, the 2020 Masters Games* was awarded to Grand Rapids initially to host it June 19-28, 2020. It was postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions and safety precautions.