Tourney hits a home run
Local motels, restaurants brace for crowdsBy JESSE HELLING, Messenger staff writer
Article Photos
Take me out to the ballgame, take me out to the crowd.
Then take me to a motel - but not before dinner.
With approximately 25,000 people root, root, rooting for their home teams in Fort Dodge this week during the Girls State Softball Tournament, local businesses are reaping the benefits - to the tune of $1.3 million in direct financial impact, according to the Fort Dodge Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Area hotels report full houses throughout the week, with some rooms accommodating more-than-usual numbers of guests.
''I have four and five people squeezing into rooms with a queen-sized bed,'' said Troy Ficken, general manager of Best Western Starlite Village Inn & Suites, 1518 Third Ave. N.W.
All of the hotel's 99 rooms are booked solid through the tournament, which began Tuesday.
Many of the hotel's guests booked their lodgings far in advance, Ficken said.
''Once they leave today, they'll book again for next year,'' Ficken said. ''If they have any type of inclination they're going to make it, we'll book them.''
For those who book prematurely, only to cancel their reservations when their team falls short of victory, there are plenty of last-minute types waiting in the wings, according to Ficken.
''If we have any cancellations, people will gobble them up,'' he said.
At AmericInn, 100 West Kenyon Road, General Manager April King and her staff have been fielding reservations for months.
''It's been absolutely crazy the last week,'' she said.
Through Friday, each of the hotel's 57 rooms will be occupied, according to King.
To accommodate the larger-than-normal group of boarders, King said extra staff will be on hand to keep things running smoothly.
''We're very careful with the reservation process,'' she said. ''This is the most chaotic week of the year.''
But the hotel is ready, King said.
''We stock up on breakfast things and pool towels,'' she said.
One familiar site throughout the week will be carloads of fans - with windows daubed with their team colors - pulling into local restaurants.
At the Sports Page Bar & Grill, 2707 N. 15th St. one of the closest restaurants to softball central at the Harlan and Hazel Rogers Sports Complex - Manager Paul Cain said he expects to serve around 800 customers per day through the tournament.
''We're bringing in some additional staff; our schedule is beefed up,'' Cain said. ''We're hoping for another good year.''
The restaurant seats more than 240 simultaneously, enough for several teams at once, Cain said.
''We'd love to have them,'' said Cain.
The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union has named Fort Dodge the home of the tournament through at least 2015.
Contact Jesse Helling at (515) 573-2141 or jhelling@messengernews.net
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jaybares
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07-16-08 8:01 AM
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The community support, with volunteerism and with writing checks-both directly and thru taxes, have put an awesome facility together at Rogers Park to host this event. Dan Payne and the CVB have done a standup job of garnering the event for FD for the next few years. By exceeding the expectations of the IGHSAU and the teams/fans, FD will be well positioned to continue to host this event. It would be a great day for you and your family to take in a few of the games...these young ladies are real talents. See you at the ballpark.
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NamVet
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07-16-08 1:22 AM
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Wow! This tournament is a wonderful happening for Fort Dodge. Perhaps the most positive event for this city. Good deal....It is also good to see the interest and support girls athletics is getting. They deserve it.
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