University of Wisconsin - Extension

Youth hockey generates a significant economic boost to local economies and community development, according to a new University of Wisconsin-Extension study.

"Many youth hockey associations sponsor tournaments that draw teams from long distances," explains Steve Deller, member of the UW-Madison faculty and UW-Extension community development specialist. "For communities with well-organized youth hockey associations and superior ice facilities, such tournaments can make significant contributions to the community's tourist economy."

According to the study, that economic boost can be as much as $679,000 per season. In addition, youth hockey is a source of community development.

Deller and Marc Schultz, La Crosse County community resource development educator, worked with three youth hockey associations to survey adults attending youth tournaments at the La Crosse and Onalaska rinks during the winter of 1999-2000.

"Youth hockey tournaments injected slightly less than $700,000 of new spending into the local economy," says Schultz. "The average party spent about $95 per day for lodging, which is reflective of typical hotel and motel rates in the study area. Typical expenditures for eating included about $66 per day in restaurants and about $9 in grocery store purchases."

A total of eight tournaments were played in La Crosse and ten in Onalaska.

The tournaments are a major fundraiser for the hockey association. There were a total of 77 non-tournament home games in La Crosse and 97 non-tournament home games in Onalaska. In addition, due to a lack of available ice time, the boys played 37 home games and the girls played eight home games in La Crescent, Minn.

Sixty-seven percent of the participants in the tournaments were from Wisconsin, while 25 percent were from Minnesota, four percent from Illinois and four percent from Iowa. "While the clear majority of youth hockey participants traveled from within Wisconsin, only a handful were from the La Crosse and Onalaska areas," adds Deller.

"Participants travel from all corners of Wisconsin, including Brookfield and Milwaukee, Janesville, Green Bay and Superior, to name a few." Deller indicated that teams also traveled from Nebraska and Canada.

The study also revealed that tournaments were typically family events and that families stayed in the area for two nights. Activities combined with the tournament trip included shopping and sightseeing.

"New expenditures brought into the region translate into about 15 jobs and slightly more than $330,000 in aggregate income," explains Schultz. "Of this amount, $210,000 is in the form of labor income, such as wages or salaries. The balance of the income is in the form of proprietor income, rents and profits."

"The three associations used the survey results to help market youth hockey and to build community support and funding for their facilities," says Schultz. "The study demonstrates that organized community activities and facilities provide family-oriented sport activity that supports the local economy."

"Youth hockey also supports community development at its best," adds Deller, "promoting families, teams and fun."

UW-Extension applies university resources to meet the educational needs of Wisconsin people-wherever they live and work. Community, Natural Resources and Economic Development programs are offered through Cooperative Extension offices in all 72 counties, and supported by campus-based specialists.

For more information on these and other UW-Extension programs, contact your county Extension office or see http://www.uwex.edu .