If it’s a competitive game, it’s a sport. And it’s on the rise in St. Lucie County.
“Everyone’s trending upwards,” said Rick Hatcher, Treasure Coast Sports Commission executive director. Tourism, hotels, venues – it’s all seeing a boost. “We are very blessed.”
Hatcher and the commission hosted a series of meetings last week in St. Lucie, Indian River and Martin counties, discussing and highlighting the strength of sports in the region.
The City of Port St. Lucie kicked off the 2019 sports season earlier this month with its first-ever eSports competition – Smash Conference United – which took over the Civic Center.
The facility was overrun with gamers and spectators alike dressed as characters from popular videogames; they cheered and egged each other on as the competition continued.
Already, the organizers plan to return to the Civic Center later this year and make use of even more space, according to the commission.
Hatcher said the 2017-2018 season resulted in 52,000 to 53,000 room nights along the Treasure Coast just from sporting events alone.
Being situated between Indian River and Martin, St. Lucie County benefits the most from hotel stays, getting the spillover when accommodations in the other counties are tapped out.
The economic impact amounts to $35 million, Hatcher said – not just in room nights, but also from dining, shopping, and other expenditures visitors make while here for sporting events.
“That’s tourism,” Hatcher said. “That’s progress.”
But success isn’t merely measured by room nights and money spent by non-residents. He explained that it’s also a matter of raising the exposure for the area.
Last year was the first time St. Lucie County had hosted the Firefighters Combat Challenge, which was held in the parking lot of the Manatee Observation Center. “Two days of competition,” Hatcher said, “absolutely mind-blowing.”
Due to the event’s success, St. Lucie County has been tapped to host the National competition in October.
The Babe Ruth Softball World Series has long been held on nine ball fields in Stuart, and many hotels in St. Lucie County are players’ homes away from home during the tournament.
Seventy-six teams from three countries travel to compete.
“It’s now become a destination” that Babe Ruth calls the “Treasure Coast World Series,” Hatcher said.
Spring training for the New York Mets will get started soon at First Data Field. The team will play 14 games over the course of a month. And some players have already been spotted around town, according to Hatcher.
And PGA Golf Club in St. Lucie West is gearing up to host the prestigious 2021 PGA Professional Championship. The tourney will play out over the Wanamaker and Ryder courses.
“We are very blessed to have some great venues,” Hatcher said of the sporting fields around the Treasure Coast.
Coming soon will also be the World Pickleball Open, which will be hosted at PGA Village Verano. Between 400 and 600 competitors are expected to participate on the converted tennis courts.
“Pickleball,” Hatcher said. “Who woulda thunk it?”
