WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina |Softball tourney brings big bucks to Rock Hill

Softball tourney brings big bucks to Rock Hill

By Trent Faris - bio l email

ROCK HILL, SC (WBTV) - Girl softball players from around the country are in Rock Hill this week for the National Softball Association World Series.

The tournament is huge for businesses and hotels in the area because the players, who hail from all over the country, bring along with them their families.

Cindy ward and her Daughter Alex are from Illinois.

"We went up to Chicago, down to Florida and up to here," said Ward.

Their team the Quad City Sluggers, have been on the road for three weeks.

"This is our vacation every year," said Ward.

That's what Robert Thomas with the York County Convention and Visitor Bureau likes to hear.

"There's easily thousands of people in this area," said Thomas.

Well if you consider there's 200 teams, average 15 players per team, and they bring their Mom's, Dad's, brothers and sisters. There is roughly 15 thousand people in town this week, and they're all spending money.

Ward estimates she has spent around $1,000 to $1,500 during her stay so far.

"Our restaurants have great traffic in them during this time of the year," said Thomas. "People are buying gas people are buying incidentals at the stores so every body's getting a little piece of the pie."

The boost of people is generating millions of dollars to the local economy when businesses need every dime they can get.

"I think that's a great sign the economy is picking up," said Thomas.

As for Cindy and Alex, they're driving 14 hours back home to Illinois when the tournament is over. She says they'll come back, the next time Rock hill hosts the tournament, but only has one complaint about their stay.

"The heat is a little intense," said Ward.

 Two years ago, the same tournament had around 100 teams.  This year, because the economy is improving, they have nearly double that.

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