Sport Niagara and Niagara Falls Tourism team up to attract more sporting events
The partnership will pursue provincial and national competitions that bring athletes and their families to Niagara Falls for overnight stays.
Sport Niagara and Niagara Falls Tourism announced a partnership Monday to bring more provincial and national sporting events to the city and turn those competitions into overnight visits that support local businesses.
The organizations said in a joint news release that they will identify events to pursue and work together on bids, promotion and hosting. Sport Niagara will bring its experience developing bids and running competitions, while Niagara Falls Tourism will draw on its relationships with hotels and other hospitality businesses to help make the case for hosting events in the city.
The two groups will look for competitions that draw visitors from outside the region. The goal is to give teams and their supporters reasons to spend time in Niagara Falls between games, whether that means eating at local restaurants or visiting nearby attractions. The organizations also see events as a way to introduce families to the city and encourage return visits.
Dan Kennedy, executive director of Sport Niagara, said the partnership builds on Niagara’s experience hosting provincial, national and multi-sport competitions. He pointed to the region’s existing sport facilities and the community partnerships that help deliver events.
“This partnership with Niagara Falls Tourism represents another important step forward in our Team Niagara approach, bringing together complementary strengths to pursue new hosting opportunities and create experiences that extend well beyond the competition itself,” Kennedy said in the release.
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Adam Stiles, interim president and CEO of Niagara Falls Tourism, said the partnership will help his organization build relationships with event organizers and reach more provincial and national sport organizations.
“When athletes, families and fans travel here for an event, they also get to enjoy everything else Niagara Falls has to offer, and many leave planning their next visit,” Stiles said.
The release did not name any events the partners plan to bid for or give a timeline for submitting bids.
