By the end of 2021, Valley Forge Sports business is anticipated to rise 7% over 2019 numbers – a record high for the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board (VFTCB), and a 50% increase over 2020 – making it the most productive year for sports in the history of the organization.
Thanks to the ability to host outdoors, diverse facility options across the county, and parents’ willingness to travel for their kids, youth sports have proven to be recession-proof especially in Montgomery County, PA, despite the public health pandemic.
The VFTCB’s Valley Forge Sports Team has hosted more than 50 events, generating 45,000-plus room nights for an economic impact of more than $40 million. From volleyball and lacrosse to paintball and flag football, sports represented 77% of group business for the VFTCB.
“Sports have definitely been a positive, silver lining through these challenging times,” said Lisa Karl, Vice President of Sales & Strategic Partnerships. “This is a reflection of our positive sales team approach. Everyone stepped up with persistence and determination. But, this milestone is also a result of years of strategically spending more time, effort, and resources to build a foundation that enhances our competitive edge over other destinations by strengthening partnerships with our facilities, lead generators, and relationships with our towns and county to work together to bring as many sporting events to Montco as possible.”
Some exciting group highlights:
- NXL Paintball brought their new Mid-Atlantic Major event to Limerick Township, producing 2,400 total room nights, and $3 million in economic impact.
- fatti Pro Breaking Tour Philly Open (breakdancing) hosted a new event for the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center with a plan to return and expand in 2022.
- Spikeball Roundnet Nationals 2021, another new event at the Proving Grounds in Conshohocken, provided a unique use of the fields with circular spikeball courts.
- Plus:
- Two of the largest lacrosse showcases in the country
- A brand-new national field hockey event at the Proving Grounds in Conshohocken
- The USA Climbing North American cup series featuring the top Olympic climbers in the country at Reach Climbing in Bridgeport
- One of the first-ever all-girls flag football tournaments with college scouts
- And, the Advocates Pro Golf Association Tour, a diversity-focused group competition with a rising professional golf circuit comprised primarily of Black players held at Bluestone Country Club in September. One of 13 tournaments for the 12-year-old series, it was the first time the group came to the northeastern United States, and that they worked with a regional tourism board.
