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Wrestling meet inks Covelli deal through 2017
YOUNGSTOWN
The sponsor of a youth wrestling tournament that brings thousands of visitors to the Covelli Centre has signed a multiyear contract with the downtown arena that will give local hotels and restaurants a predictable March boost in business.
The Ohio Athletic Committee signed the deal to keep the wrestling tournament at the Covelli Centre through 2017, Kelsey Rupert, the arena’s marketing and sales director, confirmed.
Founded in 1999, the Sandusky-based OAC is a nonprofit organization that sponsors state-level youth athletic events.
“This brings thousands of people to our area. It’s a huge economic impact,” Linda A. Macala, Mahoning County Convention and Visitors’ Bureau executive director, said of the OAC, whose wrestling tournaments have been at the downtown arena annually since 2011.
“Our hotels will be full. Our restaurants will be very busy,” Macala said of the event, which draws participants from all over Ohio.
“The Covelli Centre, local hotels and restaurants and the visitors’ bureau have been outstanding to work with,” said Jared Opfer, OAC executive director.
Last year’s OAC junior high school wresting tournament had 845 participants and nearly 7,300 spectators.
The 2013 grade-school wrestling tournament had nearly 1,200 participants and almost 8,600 spectators.
This year, the junior high school event will be March 8 and 9, and the grade school event will be March 15 and 16.
Opfer said the first weekend will feature 864 wrestlers, and the second weekend will feature more than 1,200 wrestlers.
“We’re used to doing large-scale events,” Rupert said, adding that the arena’s floor is large enough to accommodate 10 simultaneous wrestling matches.
In contrast to the backless bleachers typically found in school gymnasiums, every arena seat has a back, she said.
“It’s comfortable for the families of the participants,” Rupert said of the arena seating.
The arena also offers full-service concession stands, she added.
Interstate 680 gives guests lodged in Boardman and Austintown hotels access to the arena within a few minutes, Macala said.
North Lima and Columbiana hotels also house people attending OAC wrestling, Macala said.
“It’s a perfect venue for fans to see all of the action, and it also has a great location for highway access,” Opfer said of the arena.
Ohio’s tourism office reports those making one-day trips typically spend $100 per person, but that rises to $300 per person when the trip includes an overnight stay, Macala said.
“March is not our hotels’ peak season, so they’re happy to have the occupancy” the wrestling tournament generates, she added.
OAC’s website said the committee has awarded college scholarships totaling more than $56,800 during its 15-year existence.