A series of youth sports tournaments held in St. Joseph County recently contributed over $2 million to the local economy. The events, which took place from July 17 to July 22, attracted thousands of athletes, spectators, and families to South Bend and Mishawaka. Hotels, restaurants, and sports facilities experienced a surge in activity during one of the busiest summer periods.
The Great Lakes Select baseball showcase at the University of Notre Dame and Bethel University drew more than 80 teams. The ETS Sports BPA World Series kicked off with an opening ceremony at Four Winds Field, followed by games at Newton Park and other regional venues.
Fourteen teams competed in the Chet Waggoner Little League Indiana District 14 Little League State Tournament, with the winner advancing to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, Rip the Wave Lacrosse returned to the Indiana Invaders Sports Complex, hosting 80 teams from six states, including Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois.
Jeff Jarnecke, executive director of Visit South Bend Mishawaka, explained that the $2 million economic impact estimate was calculated using a formula developed by Destinations International. This formula considers visitor numbers and average daily spending, including hotel expenditures. In 2024 alone, youth sports events contributed more than $27 million to the county’s economy.
Visit South Bend Mishawaka (VSBM) provided sponsorships ranging from $2,500 to over $10,000 to support tournaments, helping offset venue rental costs and enhance the experience for participants and families. Visitors were given curated lists of nearby restaurants and amenities to improve their stay and encourage local spending.
VSBM collaborates regularly with partners like Notre Dame University and Bethel University to secure events, ensuring a positive experience for organizers and athletes. Jarnecke emphasized the increasing significance of youth sports tourism in the county’s broader economic strategy, noting that sports-related activities contribute to thousands of hotel stays annually.
The county continues to invest in sports infrastructure, with recent upgrades including a $3 million renovation of the Byers Softball Complex in South Bend and a $2 million enhancement of the Leeper Park Tennis Center. These improvements, along with facilities like the Mishawaka Fieldhouse, position the region to attract more tournaments in the future.
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St. Joseph Youth Sports Draw $2M In Economic Activity News Release n nST. JOSEPH COUNTY — A weekend packed with youth sports tournaments generated over $2 million for St. Joseph County, bringing thousands of athletes, spectators and families to South Bend and Mishawaka. n nFrom Thursday, July 17 to Tuesday, July 22, four events took place throughout the region, filled hotels, restaurants and sports facilities in one of the summer’s busiest periods. n nThe Great Lakes Select showcase at the University of Notre Dame and Bethel University, a baseball event, drew over 80 teams. The ETS Sports BPA World Series began with an opening ceremony at Four Winds Field, followed by a tournament in Newton Park and other regional fields. n nThe Chet Waggoner Little League saw 14 teams compete for the Indiana District 14 Little League State Tournament, with the winner going on to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. Rip the Wave Lacrosse also returned to the Indiana Invaders Sports Complex and brought together 80 teams from six states, including Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois. n nAccording to Jeff Jarnecke, executive director of Visit South Bend Mishawaka, the estimate of $2 million is based on a formula developed by Destinations International that takes into account the number of visitors and the average day spending and hotel rent. For example, youth sports events generated more than $27 million in St. Joseph County in 2024 as a whole. n nVSBM provided sponsorships of $2,500 to $10,000 or more to tournaments, depending on the size of the event. These funds offset the rental costs of the venue and provide an improved experience for athletes and families. n nVisitors received a carefully selected list of restaurants and amenities near each location that will help their experience and promote spending around the county. n nVSBM regularly works with partners such as Notre Dame University and Bethel University to bid for events. This organization makes sure organizers and players have a positive experience in St. Joseph County every year. n nJarnecke stressed the growing importance of youth sports tourism in the county’s overall economic strategy. Sports contribute to thousands of hotel room rentals per year. n nThe county continues to invest in sports infrastructure and recent improvements have been made, including a $3 million refurbishment of the Byers Softball Complex in South Bend and a $2 million upgrade of the Leeper Park Tennis Center. According to Jarnecke, these investments, along with places like the Mishawaka Fieldhouse, put the region in a position to attract more tournaments in the coming years.