Local tourism leaders want to bring soccer and lacrosse tournaments to Putnam County.
Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Amy New said several contracts are expiring. New said organizers want to move away from urban areas and come to more rural cities.
“We’re seeing people want to move from those Urban areas like Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville because of the costs,” New said. “It comes down really to the cost of the hotel room, and we are a much more affordable city when it comes to hotel rooms.”
Putnam County Visitors Bureau Director of Tourism Shan Stout said the difference in hotel prices can be up to $150 per night. Stout said the inventory and price of Cookeville can help recruit tournaments.
“Our hospitality partners not only will provide those rooms for us, but often, they will provide a discount,” Stout said. “That discount is substantially less than what you would pay for a room in Nashville or Knoxville. So that’s going to be a win, win when you’re running these numbers for the tournaments.”
New said she believes Cookeville would be a prime candidate to land one of these contracts. New said the area has the hotel space and the facilities to host competitions. Some of those being the new county soccer complex upgrades, Cane Creek Park and Algood.
“We could do something very large and hold them at multiple facilities or we could have smaller tournaments,” New said.
New said her team is actively recruiting to bag one of the contracts. New said soccer and lacrosse are the biggest push. New said baseball, softball and cheerleading are also sports being considered.
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