News

Greater Sudbury Invests in Future Sporting Events

Council approval of Greater Sudbury Development Corporation (GSDC) tourism development funding and endorsement of in-kind support signals a return of major sporting events to the city.

The GSDC has administered grants of $40,000 for Curling Canada national events coming to Greater Sudbury in 2022 and an additional $15,000 for enhancements to the Terry Fox Sports Complex for bids on major baseball tournaments.

The Finance and Administration Committee of Council has approved an in-kind contribution of $100,000 to Curling Canada championships by subsidizing the cost of ice rentals at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex. Committee approval remains subject to ratification of Greater Sudbury Council.

“We have been given a wonderful opportunity to host national championships with excellent potential to attract even more major sports events in the future,” said Greater Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger. “Each event our city hosts further strengthens our competitive bids for these tournaments. Each tournament offers tremendous economic benefit to a local tourism and hospitality industry recovering from the effects of the pandemic. Success breeds success and we are willing to invest to make things happen.”

Greater Sudbury will host three consecutive national curling championships from March 15 to 27, 2022 at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex. The U SPORTS/Curling Canada Canadian Curling Championships and the Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA)/Curling Canada Championships are important events that advance the sport and develop young athletes. The Canadian Mixed Doubles Championship is an up-and-coming event that will be nationally televised.

The bid to host Curling Canada national championships is a partnership of the City of Greater Sudbury and the 2022 Greater Sudbury Host Committee of Curl Sudbury, Copper Cliff Curling Club and Coniston Curling Club, together with support from SportLink Greater Sudbury Sport Council. The host committee will apply local tourism development funding to marketing and hospitality.

“Based on the anticipated number of participants and spectators, hotel room nights and average spending, expected economic spin-off of the Curling Canada championships is more than $1.3 million,” said GSDC Board Chair Lisa Demmer. “This is an excellent example of the impact that tourism development funding can have on our local economy, the sports community and fans. Every dollar invested has a far greater payback both economically and in entertainment value.”

Enhancements to the Terry Fox Sports Complex on Lasalle Boulevard will help the city host baseball tournaments that are currently out of reach. One enhancement will be the addition of Wi-Fi, a compulsory requirement for competitive bids with regional, national and provincial ball associations.

The Baseball Academy, a multi-sport facility located on Lorne Street, has already led the development of several enhancements at the Terry Fox Sports Complex with the support of the local business community and charitable foundations.

Improvements include new batting cages and wheelchair accessible dugouts. Tourism development funding will leverage these additions to help put Greater Sudbury on the map for exciting championship baseball.

More information about the City of Greater Sudbury’s Tourism Development Fund is available at investsudbury.ca.

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