Lucky horseshoes: Statewide tournament coming to Strafford

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Flying horseshoes will be ringing cash registers Aug. 29-Sept. 1. |ret||ret||tab|

Brad Eldridge, executive director the Greater Springfield Area Sports Commission, said about 1,000 people will head to Strafford to take part in the Missouri Horseshoe Pitchers Association's State Tournament. During the four-day tournament, Strafford and Springfield stand to benefit financially, Eldridge said.|ret||ret||tab|

"I know that their 1,000 people are going to bring in a minimum of $200,000 into our economy," Eldridge said.|ret||ret||tab|

Those figures are based on 500 people spending at least $100 a day in the area; a figure Eldridge normally uses to calculate economic impact.|ret||ret||tab|

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Initial cost|ret||ret||tab|

Last year during the state tournament in Festus, Eldridge presented a $2,500 bid to the Missouri Horseshoe Pitchers Association in an effort to get the state horseshoe tournament to Springfield. The bid included cash, trophies, prizes and printing costs.|ret||ret||tab|

The local commission's bid was about the same as other locations across the state, but the promise of 32 permanent, regulation-size courts gave Springfield an advantage over existing locations.|ret||ret||tab|

"It was a risk, because there was nothing here as of six weeks ago," Eldridge said.|ret||ret||tab|

Before giving the bid presentation, Eldridge had approached Ron Armitage, owner of Exotic Animal Paradise, who was willing to provide the land for the courts.|ret||ret||tab|

"It really is a partnership between the Missouri Sports Commission and Exotic Animal Paradise," Eldridge said.|ret||ret||tab|

Construction will include 32 courts with a dirt and clay mixture in the pit area. The National Horseshoe Pitchers Association notes that 32 permanent courts are the most courts available in a single location nationwide.|ret||ret||tab|

Thirty tons of clay will be divided among the regulation size courts. While the initial bid for to get the tournament is low compared to some tournaments that are brought to Springfield, construction cost added to the overall expense. However, local businesses helped defray the cost.|ret||ret||tab|

"Literally this project is going to be in excess of a $20,000 project. We don't have the budget or Exotic Animal Paradise doesn't have the budget to pay for (the courts), so I've gone out to businesses in the area and I'm going to probably end up getting 90 percent of those expenses donated," Eldridge said.|ret||ret||tab|

Donations from Fabrick Southwest Rental Services, Pittman Construction Co., Poppenga's Concrete and Rost Ready Mix and about 15 other businesses are helping make the project possible. |ret||ret||tab|

Companies who are donating labor or materials will receive advertising on banners during the tournament, but mainly, Eldridge said, companies hope their donations will help the community more in the long run.|ret||ret||tab|

John Pittman, owner of Nixa-based Pittman Construction, said he decided to volunteer time, labor and machinery for the project in an effort to support athletics across Greene and Christian counties.|ret||ret||tab|

"Basically, we've just done a lot of work with other sport activities and just felt like it was the thing to help out with in the community," Pittman said. He said an unofficial cost analysis showed excavating cost for the two-acre site to be $8,000 to $10,000.|ret||ret||tab|

Labor was also donated by Lives Under Construction Boys Ranch in Blue Eye, Bruce Webb, Missouri Horseshoe Pitchers Association and Ozark Correctional Facility. |ret||ret||tab|

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Business benefits|ret||ret||tab|

Armitage said yes to Eldridge's request for land use last year because of the future benefits of the courts. |ret||ret||tab|

The courts will cost him about $10,000, Armitage said, but he continues to support the idea. "I knew it would be a considerable cost, but it is going to worth it," he said. "The reason we are involved is because of the potential economic impact the tournament could have on this area."|ret||ret||tab|

From a business standpoint, Armitage said he does not expect the tournament to bring very many new visitors to the park, but he does hope some will take advantage of special tour prices available during the tournament.|ret||ret||tab|

Overall, Exotic Animal Paradise's attendance this year is down 10 percent and the market is soft, Armitage said. However, two years ago the park had record attendance of 221,000. Last year, about 200,800 visited the park with a similar number of visitors is anticipated for this year. Nearly 70 percent of visitors are from outside the region, Armitage said. |ret||ret||tab|

On average, the park spends $150,000 on advertising a year, but special events around the park also help spread the word about the 32-year-old facility, which Armitage purchased in 1996.|ret||ret||tab|

Nearly 7 percent, or $165,000, of the park's total revenue comes from company or private parties, which take place across from the Exotic Animal Paradise entrance.|ret||ret||tab|

While availability of the area in September and October is often limited because of the large number of company parties, Armitage said he hopes the courts will help bring more people to the area throughout the year.|ret||ret||tab|

"I think we will look into ways that we can make that activity all summer long," Armitage said.|ret||ret||tab|

Potential revenue earned through concessions and various tournament fees are expected to help the park's overall revenue in the future. |ret||ret||tab|

Armitage is also adding an RV Park next to Exotic Animal Paradise, which is expected to be ready in 2004 and will house people coming to future tournaments. |ret||ret||tab|

Not only will Exotic Animal Paradise see the benefit of the tournament, but business in Strafford will also gain from added travelers, Eldridge said.|ret||ret||tab|

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Future plans|ret||ret||tab|

Hosting the state tournament every other year is Eldridge's goal for now, but he has hopes of bringing in the World Tournament, which would mean even more money for the Springfield area.|ret||ret||tab|

"The world tournament is big, it's 3,000 to 4,000 people over the course of that week to 10 days, so it has great economic impact," Eldridge said.|ret||ret||tab|

While horseshoes may not be the biggest tournament coming to the Springfield area during the year, Eldridge said having a wide variety of sporting events helps the overall economy.|ret||ret||tab|

"We look at (sporting events) as an industry itself based on the sports tournaments. We try to maximum dollars coming in," Eldridge said.|ret||ret||tab|

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