Businesses see impact of state track and field championships

0 Comments | La Crosse Tribune, Jun 06, 2003 | by Grooms, Autumn

More than 10,000 participants and other visitors are expected in La Crosse this weekend for the state track and field championships.

Events begin today and will end Saturday.

Besides offering great competition and entertainment, the meet will have a significant economic impact on the area.

"It brings all of these people to town. They stay in hotel rooms, eat and see all the sights. The economic impact is huge," said Jim Brown, director of group sales at the La Crosse Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The estimated economic impact for lodging, food and entertainment is more than $1 million. The figure is based on 10,000 people spending $125 per person a day, Brown said.

Some local businesses have increased their staffing for the weekend.

Over the course of the meet, Gary Rudy, owner of Rudy's Drive In, 1004 La Crosse St., said his restaurant sees 200 to 300 athletes and spectators.

To help serve the increase in patrons, Rudy said he brings in a couple extra people per shift including extra cooks, carhops and inside help.

When the downtown hotel lots are full, T.J. Peterslie and his staff at The Pearl Ice Cream Parlor and Confectionery are armed with ice Cream scoops.

"We have extra staff on whenever the meet is in town," Peterslie said. "There are a lot of people staying at the downtown hotels, and when the event is over they're looking for things to do."

To give the visitors a little something extra to do, Peterslie's shops, are open until 10 p.m. Located on Pearl Street, they include the ice cream parlor, TJ's and Cheddarhead's Gifts.

"It's just a great weekend," Peterslie said. "We're lucky, because we get to hear all of the great compliments about what a wonderful city this is. Out of town visitors come in and just rave about how beautiful the city is and how friendly of a town it is."

He is expecting malts to be a hot seller this weekend.

"High school students order a lot of malts," he said. Chocolate is the most popular.

Angie Martin, assistant marketing director at Valley View Mall, said any time there is a large sporting event in town, the mall sees an increase in traffic, especially in the food court.

Brown said from year to year, there is never a guarantee the WIAA State Track and Field Championship will come back to La Crosse. "It depends on how they're treated here. Other communities would pay dearly to have that event. There is always a lot of competition to keep the event here. It is a fantastic event for the community.

"It's a marvelous way to showcase the things La Crosse has to offer," he said. "They may see the tour boats or something they want to go do and come back at a later date."