Hundreds of college-level athletes will be descending upon our fair city in the coming months — bringing with them much-needed income for the city and local businesses.

California State University, Stanislaus was chosen to host three big championship events during the 2010/2011 academic year, a boon to both the university and the local economy.

“This will have a huge economic impact on the whole county,” said Sharon Silva, chief executive officer for the Turlock Chamber of Commerce. “It will stimulate the community as a whole to engage with the university.”

Expected revenue for all three events together is estimated at around $3.5 million, with a conservative projection, said Milt Richards, director of Athletics for Stanislaus.

And the millions of dollars these events are expected to generate can all be attributed to the new Student Recreation Complex that opened in August 2009 making a home for the new Al Brenda Track and Warrior Stadium.

The central location of the university in the state was a major factor in the decision to choose Cal State Stanislaus as the host for the championship events.

“It was a pretty easy vote,” said Bob Hiegert, California Collegiate Athletic Association commissioner. “The facility is beautiful and opens up more opportunity for the university. Fans can watch the events in a clean facility, the facility is easy to get to and from and there are restaurants and things for the kids to do outside of the conference.”

The big event that is expected to bring in a couple of million dollars for the City of Turlock is the NCAA Division II Track and Field National Championships, scheduled for May 26 to 28, 2011.

This is the first time Stanislaus has hosted this event and the first time the school will host a national event since the Division II Men’s Golf Championships at the Turlock Golf and Country Club in 2000. The event is expected to include approximately 1,200 athletes from around the country.

So far all 746 hotel rooms in the seven hotels in Turlock have already been booked for this event, said Desa Basulto, director of the Turlock Conventions and Visitors Bureau.

When that many people come into Turlock for an event, they shop here, eat here and stay here, she said. The down time between events during the track and field event will provide time for the participants to be in Turlock restaurants and taking part in Turlock entertainment.

“Any time your hotels are full, your restaurants are full,” Silva said.

An estimated 2,794 hotel nights are expected to be booked for this national championship for athletes, coaches, and NCAA officials.

The 2010 CCAA Women’s and Men’s Soccer Championships will be the first big tournament to come to town on Nov. 5 to 7. Eight teams, around 200 athletes, are expected to take up about 288 hotel nights during their stay for the athletes and coaches only, according to numbers provided by Hung Tsai, assistant athletics director for Cal State Stanislaus.  

The 288 hotel nights do not include family members and friends who will attend the championship soccer game that Stanislaus is hosting for the third time since 2005.

Approximately $500,000 in revenue is expected for Turlock as guests spend money on hotel rooms, restaurants and shopping, Richards said.

“During past small regional soccer tournaments, we have had restaurants report back to us with 12 to 24 families coming in a night,” Silva said.

This will be the first year Cal State Stanislaus has hosted the CCAA Track and Field Championships on the Turlock campus. In 2003, Stanislaus hosted the event in conjunction with the Modesto Relays at Modesto Junior College.

Participants and guests of the CCAA Track and Field Championships, scheduled for May 5 to 7, 2011, are expected to book 180 hotel nights for this event which will draw around 500 athletes and coaches.

Revenue from this event is expected to be about $2 million for Turlock, Richards said.

Besides giving Turlock a boost in revenue, university staff, along with the Turlock Chamber of Commerce, are excited to build partnerships with the community and to welcome the athletes coming in from around the state and the country for these events.

“We have a lot to offer,” Silva said. “It is time to showcase what we have.”

To contact Maegan Martens, e-mail mmartens@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2015.