For the second time in a decade, York County has landed a major USA Judo National competition that will give the community an economic jolt and offer local sports fans a prime opportunity to see this exciting sport up close.
York County was selected to host the 2018 USA Judo Youth National Championships, which will run March 3-4, 2018, at the York Expo Center’s Utz Arena. The event will draw as many as 700 competitors from around the country, while up to 900 spectators are expected to fill the stands.
Competitors will fill hundreds of hotel rooms, a boost for the late-winter tourism season. According to York County CVB estimates, the USA Judo Youth National Championships will drive more than $928,000 into the local economy, again highlighting the power of sports-related tourism.
This is familiar territory for York County, which previously hosted USA Judo’s Youth Championship in 2009, when it was known as the USA Judo National Youth and Scholastic Championships. That experience, plus the convenient location and the York Expo Center’s proven track record of hosting combat sports, made York County an ideal destination for the championship event.
“After an excellent experience in 2009, we’re thrilled to bring our youth championships back to York County,” said Keith Bryant, Chief Executive Officer of USA Judo. “Not only will USA Judo have the opportunity to work with a proven partner, but we’ll be bringing our championship event closer to the strong Judo community in the Northeast. We look forward to showcasing this dynamic sport for new and old fans alike and invite anyone interested in learning more about Judo to come out and watch this March.”
Other recent hosts include Reno, Nevada; and Irving, Texas.
The YCCVB lured the event to York County through its Sport York program, which aims to recruit lucrative sporting events that bring visitors – and their spending – to York County. Over the past decade, Sport York has compiled an impressive portfolio of Team USA events, including USA Handball, USA Softball, USA Judo and USA Taekwondo – the very first Olympic qualifying event hosted in York.
“Hosting a national championship event, especially for an organization tied to Team USA, will increase York County’s exposure to people from all over the United States,” said Laura Gurreri, who oversees the Sport York program as Sales Director at the York County CVB. “The influx of youth athletes also presents an excellent opportunity to showcase York County to a younger generation of guests who may decide to visit us again in the future.”
The event will be open to the public.
“Hosting youth sports offers the greatest return on investment, considering the compounding economic potential for our community,” said Anne Druck, President of the York County CVB. “Youth athletes have the greatest opportunities to return as visitors, students and residents, ensuring York County’s vitality for years to come.”
The York County Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Sport York program is designed to recruit events and generate additional economic impact in York County. Sport York positions York County as Pennsylvania’s Premier Sports Destination, highlighting the area’s dynamic facilities and central location on the East Coast. For further information about Sport York, visit www.yorkpa.org/sports.
The York County Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Mission is to maximize tourism expenditures and their economic impact in York County, PA, through comprehensive tourism sales and marketing programs. The York County CVB’s Vision is for a York County where tourism is recognized for the value of its economic impact and its role in raising the profile of York County as a sought-after destination. For more information on the York County Convention & Visitors Bureau, call 1-888-858-9675 or visit www.yorkpa.org.
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