Video: Three Sporting Events Fall During One Weekend Giving City A Chance To Shine

NEW ALBANY, MISS. (WCBI) – One city in Northeast Mississippi will welcome thousands of visitors this weekend.

While downtown businesses in New Albany were sprucing up their storefronts, workers were busy at the BNA Park Tennis Complex repairing fences. This weekend, a cross country track meet will bring in about one thousand runners, a fifty team baseball tournament takes place and the USTA Tennis Mixed Doubles State Championship is expected to draw more than a thousand competitors. Of course, friends and family will also make the trip which means a potentially big weekend for businesses throughout the Fair and Friendly City.

“I was visiting with a lot of the hotel managers, and they’ve seen an uptick in reservations, for the weekend, so more people in town means more people spending money,” said New Albany Tourism Director Sean Johnson.

In fact, “Mississippi Tourism” estimates visitors who come to the city for a day trip will spend $68, while those who stay overnight spend $148. Multiply that by thousands and the economic impact is huge.

“They’re intrigued and want to come and spend their money, in New Albany. We have great boutiques, great restaurants, of course the Tanglefoot Trail I’m standing on now, so after the events families can come down here and get coffee or ice cream and have a nice dinner or shop,” said Billye Jean Stroud, Main Street Director for New Albany.

By the time the tennis tournament starts Friday morning, concrete footings throughout the park will have brand new, wooden teak benches sitting on them. It’s a tight timeline but everything will be ready for the big crowds this weekend.

“I have many friends that are coming from the coast that’s never been to New Albany before and they’re already asking about different things to do when they’re not playing, will be a lot for them to do to check out our city,” said Bo Bowman, tennis director for New Albany. He can’t recall another weekend where three major sporting events took place. He says all parks employees will be working, along with countless volunteers.

New Albany is co-hosting the tennis tournament with the City of Tupelo. Earlier this year, New Albany was named “Best Southern Small Town” by USA Today.

For more visit: www.visitnewalbany.com