University of Oklahoma Athletics
Events Add $1 Million New Dollars
May 29, 2009 | Athletics
May 29, 2009
NORMAN, Okla. - Oklahoma's Athletics Department has hosted five post-season events this spring and the biggest winner of all may be the local economy.
This week, OU is hosting the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, and an NCAA Track and Field Regional and NCAA Baseball Regional in Norman. Earlier this spring, the Sooner venues hosted an NCAA softball regional and the Big 12 Men's and Women's Tennis Championships.
In total, the Norman events have attracted 1,230 student-athletes, coaches and support staff members. With the two events this weekend, that number will reach 896. The fans following those teams obviously swell the numbers to much higher levels.
The baseball and track regionals have resulted in seven Norman hotels already selling out for all or part of the weekend, while another seven report only partial availability. The hotels that are fully or partially sold out, account for 623 rooms.
Based solely on the conservative figure of 1,230 in the university traveling parties, excluding fans, the Norman Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates that the city will realize $1.08 million new dollars based on the four events that occurred in Norman.
For this weekend alone, with the baseball and track and field regionals, the estimate is $830,000.
All of it comes at a time when classes have concluded for the spring semester and a large portion of the OU enrollment has left for the summer.
"We appreciate the competitive significance of playing at home, but we're also mindful of what Norman and this metropolitan area do in supporting us," said OU Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Programs & Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione. "We really like it when we can attract events like this, especially at the end of a busy semester, and give back.
"All of it makes for a very good partnership, and we appreciate what the residents here do to make our visitors feel welcome. Time and again we receive positive reports about the way our residents host the schools that come here to compete and I firmly believe that reputation aids us in attracting more events."
Oklahoma's willingness to host events, history of doing so successfully and updated facilities create a set of circumstances that appeals to those plotting post-season events.
"The post-season events reinforce our need to stay ahead of our athletics facilities enhancements," Castiglione added. "Having attractive and accommodating venues also plays an important role in our ability to bid successfully, and, of course, President Boren, our regents and many individuals in this and other areas have helped us in that endeavor."
Tickets for all three events OU is hosting - the Women's College World Series, the NCAA Track and Field Regional and the NCAA Baseball Regional - are available. Contact the OU ticket office (405/325-2424) for more information.
