MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)- The Myrtle Beach Sports Center located behind the convention center opened in March of this year and city leaders say it’s already having a strong economic impact.
Sports Tourism Director, Tim Huber, says to date, 9 significant youth sports competitions have contributed to Myrtle Beach’s Sports Tourism Estimated Direct Spending figures. This includes 5 basketball, 3 volleyball and 1 cheer/dance.The Estimated Direct Spending from these events is $4.3 million. With the busy summer season ahead, city leaders say the projected first year Direct Spending impact of $7 million will surely be exceeded.
The Sports Center’s General Manager, John McDonald, says he is pleased with the progress but wants to continue making improvements.
“We’re finding out what works, we’ve got a really good blueprint for what we need to do in the future. We’ve already started looking for events in 2016 and 2017. So, we’re happy but there’s still more work to do,” McDonald said.
The center is also getting a lot of help from Horry Georgetown Technical College students who enrolled in the new Sports Tourism Associate’s Degree program.
The program started in the fall and the department chair says 25 students enrolled in Fall, 16 students in Spring and they look to have a total of 70 students next year. School leaders started the program in response to the growing sports tourism industry on the Grand Strand.
“The economic impact just in Myrtle Beach last year was over a $157 million that was before the new complex was even built or opened. It just opened in March of the past year,” Department Chair Lawson Holland said.
Holly Dozier is enrolled in the program and interns at the Sports Center, she says the experience give her a competitive edge.
“With that along with the specialized schooling that we’re getting, it’s focused exactly on sports tourism so I think that gives us a bigger advantage definitely,” Dozier said.
With her internship Dozier is able to use what she learns in the classroom in a real work setting.
“I’ve learned how to do everything from setup to tear down, run an event. I’ve actually go to do some scheduling of employees for an event,” Dozier added.
It’s something the Sports Center’s General Manager wants to add to.
“Now we’re trying to start to show them more about how we get events and the process of making those events work so we’ve been real grateful. It’s been a blessing for us. We’re getting student interested in the field,” McDonald said.
