FLORENCE– The City of Florence and the Florence-Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau (Visit The Shoals) have released the figures of the recent World Series Tournaments that were hosted at the Florence Sportsplex.
Based on surveys that were conducted with visiting teams, tourism officials have calculated that the economic impact of both tournaments was over $3.8 million in visitor spending. The Babe Ruth Softball World Series had 56 teams from all over the world including Mexico, Australia, The Netherlands and Puerto Rico. Additionally, 20 teams competed in the Cal Ripken World Series Baseball Tournament. Winning the 9-year-old division was a team from Tulare, CA, and securing the 11-year-old division, a team from Altamonte, FL.
Bill Jordan, Director of Parks & Recreation for the City of Florence, said, “We were thrilled to host the Babe Ruth & Cal Ripken World Series, which showcased top teams from around the world. It was an honor to host these aspiring athletes, families, and fans in celebration of talent, teamwork, and sportsmanship. The Florence Sportsplex had the incredible privilege of providing these young players with the opportunity to compete at the highest level while reinforcing the values of hard work, perseverance, and community. It was a memorable time of competitive play, special events, and activities for everyone.”
Year to date, the Florence-Lauderdale CVB has tracked $9.2 million in direct spending from tournaments hosted in the area. This would include bass tournaments, golf, disc golf and other baseball and softball tournaments.
Tyler Dolan, Senior Sales Manager for the Florence-Lauderdale CVB, knows the value that each tournament brings to the area. “We host over 30 tournaments annually with hosting fees that total close to $250,000. Teams are staying in hotels and Airbnb, shopping, eating at restaurants, and buying fuel. Continuing to strengthen the event roster for our area only helps our local economy”, said Dolan.
The Florence Parks & Recreation Department and the Florence-Lauderdale CVB will once again co-host both World Series Tournaments in 2025. Additionally, the two organizations have also secured the Alabama High School Athletic Association Regional Softball Tournament for three more years.
Media Release/Rachel Mansell/City of Florence
