kristilovesdw
06-09-2008, 10:36 PM
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orl-bk-bowling-disney-060908,0,884236.story
Tens of thousands of bowlers are headed to the Disney's Wide World of Sports starting in 2011 for tournaments hosted by the United States Bowling Congress, Osceola County officials announced Monday.
The deal is expected to generate $750 million in economic impact from 2011 through 2029 when the USBC will host seven open and six women's championships -- each over a 20-week period.
The facility needed for the events will be built at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex, officials said.
A bowling stadium of 160,000 square feet with at least 100 lanes, stadium-style seating, a restaurant and other facilities is planned to host the events.
The tournaments are widely regarded as the world's largest participatory sporting event, officials said.
Disney will restrict the number of rooms available at its All-Star Resort as part of travel packages and will not "separately market rooms" there to tournament participants "beyond their general marketing to the public at-large."
Osceola will use tourist development taxes to make a promotional payment of $1 million to the USBC on the first day of active competition, which will total about $13 million over the life of the agreement. In return the USBC expects the open championship to generate 59,250 room nights per tournament in Osceola County, while the women's tournament will generate 40,000. The payment will be reduced if the numbers are lower than predicted.
The USBC is the sport's national governing body and ensures the integrity and protect the future of the sport by providing programs and services that enhance the bowling experience.
The Central Florida Sports Commission worked with other parties to bring the USBC to Osceola. Wichita, Kan. Tulsa, Okla., Corpus Christi, Texas and Reno, Nev. were also considered.
Tens of thousands of bowlers are headed to the Disney's Wide World of Sports starting in 2011 for tournaments hosted by the United States Bowling Congress, Osceola County officials announced Monday.
The deal is expected to generate $750 million in economic impact from 2011 through 2029 when the USBC will host seven open and six women's championships -- each over a 20-week period.
The facility needed for the events will be built at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex, officials said.
A bowling stadium of 160,000 square feet with at least 100 lanes, stadium-style seating, a restaurant and other facilities is planned to host the events.
The tournaments are widely regarded as the world's largest participatory sporting event, officials said.
Disney will restrict the number of rooms available at its All-Star Resort as part of travel packages and will not "separately market rooms" there to tournament participants "beyond their general marketing to the public at-large."
Osceola will use tourist development taxes to make a promotional payment of $1 million to the USBC on the first day of active competition, which will total about $13 million over the life of the agreement. In return the USBC expects the open championship to generate 59,250 room nights per tournament in Osceola County, while the women's tournament will generate 40,000. The payment will be reduced if the numbers are lower than predicted.
The USBC is the sport's national governing body and ensures the integrity and protect the future of the sport by providing programs and services that enhance the bowling experience.
The Central Florida Sports Commission worked with other parties to bring the USBC to Osceola. Wichita, Kan. Tulsa, Okla., Corpus Christi, Texas and Reno, Nev. were also considered.