PONY softball championships slam millions into the Valley's economy

Only 30 percent of local hotels agreed to reserve rooms, the tourney host said.
BY AMANDA GARRETT
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
VIENNA -- PONY Fastpitch Softball National Championships put the national spotlight on Trumbull County this week, and are leaving a positive reflection.
"This is one of the most smoothly run championships I've found," said Shawn Smith, one of the coaches of 12-and-under team Central Massachusetts Thunder.
He's very pleased with the tournament. "We've already booked our reservations. We're coming back next year," he said.
That thwack of balls meeting bats also means the welcome ring of cash registers to area merchants. Here's why:
The 186 participating teams translate into about 14,000 athletes, coaches, families and fans.
They will generate between $13 million to $14 million in revenue to area businesses, said Thunderplex general manager and tournament host David Anderson.
The PONY (Protect Our Nation's Youth) tournament started July 22 and wraps up Saturday. It pits the best girls fastpitch teams in the United States and Canada against each other in three age groups. In addition to the games at Thunderplex, teams are playing in fields at Lordstown, Niles, Warren and New Middletown.
Teams compliment region
This is the second year the tournament has been in Trumbull County, and many participants praised the area and tournament accommodations.
Jordan DeGrenier of the Western Massachusetts Storm was getting ready Thursday to warm up for competition in the 16-and-under age group. She said the teammates are enjoying their stay in the Mahoning Valley.
"Everybody's been very helpful and accommodating, and the fields are nicer than what we usually see," she said.
Warren Mayor Michael J. O'Brien told city council this week that he's heard nothing but compliments from tournament attendees.
"People from all over the United States are coming up to me at Packard Park or at the Hot Dog Shoppe and telling me what a beautiful city Warren is and how friendly all the people are," he said.
The three fastpitch teams staying at the Holiday Inn Express in Newton Falls are giving the hotel a much-needed boost in business, manager Mickey Whaley said.
"It's been a very slow year, with gas prices so high and we've lost 90 percent of our GM business," she said. "We would have never pulled a full house this week if it hadn't been for them."
The Super 8 Motel in Austintown has also seen an increase of business this week, clerk Kerri Tarr said. The Super 8 doesn't have any teams staying there, but they are getting overflow from other hotels that are filled to capacity.
"It's increased business enormously," she said.
More Valley hotels needed
One of the biggest problems facing the tournament is finding hotel rooms close to the playing fields, Anderson said. The tournament reserved 2,000 rooms for the teams, but teams will probably take 2,500 to 2,800 more rooms.
Only 30 percent of local hotels agreed to reserve rooms, forcing the tournament to book rooms outside of the Mahoning Valley in places like Streetsboro and Hudson, Anderson noted.
"There seems to be a reluctance to join in the convention rates, although all the hotels are raising their rates for this week," he said.
The far-flung hotel locations have made some teams from urban areas reluctant to come to the area.
"What they don't realize is that we have an excellent freeway system, and we don't have rush hours -- we have rush minutes," he said. "In a more urban area, it could take an hour to go five miles."
Local merchants haven't yet realized the economic impact of the tournament, said John Coady of Maryland, PONY National Field director.
"They don't seem to realize that hotel rooms are being filled that otherwise would be empty," Coady said. "You can't get a table at restaurants, which probably isn't going to happen until next week."
Anderson hopes to book more hotels next year and he would also like to expand the tournament into Mahoning County.
In 2005, Trumbull County hosted only the 16-and-under age group. That tournament brought 8,000 people and generated about $7.2 million, he said.
This year, the tournament expanded to include the 10-and-under and 12-and-under teams.
The championships for the 14-and-under and 18-and-under are being held in Sterling, Va.
agarrett@vindy.com