Tourney expected to bring in $300,000
By Matt Caulder
Published in News on October 10, 2013 1:46 PM
A boost to the local economy is expected this weekend in the form of a U.S. Tennis Association singles tournament.
The tournament's 400 participants age 18 and older are expected to bring in about $300,000 to Goldsboro and the surrounding areas, Goldsboro Travel and Tourism Director Betsy Rosemann said.
"An average traveler commuting will spend about $50 a day here and about $150 on an overnight stay," Ms. Rosemann said. "We are figuring that a third of them will spend the night."
Eighty-five teams will travel to the Goldsboro area to participate in the tournament, which will be based in Herman Park.
Tennis courts are being utilized across the county as well as in Greene County.
"We are using the courts at Mount Olive College as well so they'll probably see a few hotel stays there, too," Ms. Rosemann said. "We won't know how much until after the tournament. This is really needed since the reservist weekend was canceled."
Goldsboro has strong Monday to Wednesday travel stay business but hotel stays are light on the weekend, Ms. Rosemann said.
Herman Park will still be open to visitors over the weekend and bleachers will be set up alongside the tennis courts to allow spectators to come out and enjoy the matches, which begin Friday morning and run until about 5:30 p.m. each day, Parks and Recreation Superintendent Felicia Brown said.
There will be a party for the participants Friday night in Herman Park at 6 p.m. but it should cause minimal disruptions to park visitors, Mrs. Brown said.
"Most of the tournament things will be set up in between the park gates like tents for the players to get in the shade," she said. "We would love to have people out there."
Goldsboro will also host the 2014 singles tournament as well as part of the same bid that brought the tournament to the city.
City employees were still resurfacing the courts Wednesday in preparation for the tournament, a process that has been slowed down greatly by the rain in Goldsboro over the past two months.