Volleyball event attracts 35,000

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SANDY - The roar of the crowd rarely subsided inside the South Towne Convention Center Wednesday as many of the nation's best boy volleyball players began eight days of Junior Olympic competition.

Their presence also is evoking cheers from hospitality and retail businesses throughout Salt Lake County, but especially around Sandy, as the tournament brings about 35,000 people to town for multiple-day stays.

"This is what we're always looking for," said Nancy Workman, the Sandy Chamber's president and chief executive. "They come to your city. They stay in your hotels. They eat at your restaurants. They go to your malls. Their dollars stay here and we don't have to educate their children."

Ka-ching.

To the tune of more than $30 million. That's how much money the event is expected to generate for Salt Lake County's economy. And, this being the fourth time in eight years that Utah has staged national volleyball events, Utah Sports Commission President Jeff Robbins said that sport alone has funneled $140 million into the state.

"Sports has become a key economic driver," said Robbins, whose agency's mission is to build on the 2002 Winter Olympic legacy by attracting more sporting events to Utah.

Kathy Muagututia of San Diego said her family budgeted $2,500 for their Monday through Sunday stay while son Myles plays with an elite 18-year-old team called Seaside.

"We're all spending money," she said. "The restaurants are making a killing because they're all doing team meals. And we have a lot of down time. We're done at 2 p.m. today so we're going to the movies and the mall. . . . It's like a family vacation. We don't come just for the volleyball."

Workman seconded that. The chamber receives calls all the time, she said, from people wondering, "Is there a Nordstrom nearby? What shops do you have in your area? People like to shop when they're out traveling. That's even more important than entertainment."

Maybe not as necessary as sleeping. But in that respect, too, this youth sporting event is lucrative. The tournament Web site lists 22 Salt Lake Valley hotels that have reserved rooms for volleyball families. Nightly prices range from $82 at the Days Inn Airport to $206 at Solitude Resort Village. Average price: $118.

"This is very valuable for us," said Susan Green, sales manager of the Ramada Limited, which set aside 45 of its 130 rooms for tournament visitors. "With the economy down, it really helps to fill our rooms. We're always excited when they book tournaments. It's a good avenue for business."

Tourism, too.

Julie and Todd Salerno, out from Chicago to see their son, Joe, and his team Rolling Thunder, are hoping to sneak away to see the Great Salt Lake and to explore some of the trails emanating from their rental units at Snowbird.

"I wish we had more time to see more of it, so I guess we'll just have to come back," said Julie. "If we don't get to do it this time, we'll save it for our next visit."

mikeg@sltrib.com