Take me out to the ballgame, take me out to the crowd.
It’s finally that time of year to carpool the kids to practices and games so we can fill the bleachers. Communities at large are ready for the fun and festivities that surround sports programs, but do they realize the economic benefits to your local economy?
As executive director of the Nixa Area Chamber of Commerce, I work hand in hand with Matt Crouse at the Nixa Parks and Recreation Department on projects spanning from special events to youth sports programs. We see businesses, nonprofits, charities, civic groups and others stepping up when it comes to sponsorships and overall community development.
The activity alone that trickles down from sports programs stimulates the local economy and helps business thrive.
“These programs tend to have a vast number of registrants that participate,” Crouse said. “That participation usually involves at least one practice and one game per week.”
This means the family and friends of an over 800 players in youth baseball alone are a huge positive to economic development before we even address other programs such as soccer and football.
Being vocal while shopping local has been a motto and way of life within our community for many years now, and this is the time of year when people should take advantage of it the most.
“In preparation for practices and games, there is equipment that must be purchased, meals are eaten away from home and travel considerations must be made,” Crouse said.
Local youth sports leagues get their communities out of their homes and they will be moving and shaking with the nicer weather. This stimulates the local economy and helps our businesses thrive. We have a very robust family structure in place with young families relocating and moving in every month. When these families walk into the Nixa chamber office, the first things they address are businesses, schools, parks and sports programs.
Many of our residents who are employed work outside city limits, so youth sports are essential for night and weekend activity.
Youth sports are at the forefront of economic development when it comes to business sponsorship, tax dollars and infrastructure expansion. Crouse and I hope our community sees the benefit of their tax dollars at work, while at the same time realizing these tax dollars help attract future businesses and homeowners to the community.
The majority of our real estate inventory is on the market no more than 30 to 60 days due to the seasonal environment change and the hunger for what this community offers. If Nixa did not cater to the active family with children, they would go out of the area or to another city that goes above and beyond for them.
Sports in general get both adults and children away from the machines that control daily activity and place them into an outdoor environment. Additional benefits include health and wellness, team camaraderie, competition and future growth as an individual. These all integrate with the larger vision of community and economic benefits for all these entities working together through sports. Get active, get involved and make a difference for your family and community.
Let’s play ball.
Marc Truby is executive director of the Nixa Area Chamber of Commerce. He can be reached at director@nixachamber.com.
