Patriots, Other Sports Events Expected to Bring Over $6M to RI

Patriots, Other Sports Events Expected to Bring Over $6M to RI

The State of Rhode Island is expected to net more than $6 million in direct spending this weekend courtesy of a series of sporting events, including the Patriots playoff game against the Tennessee Titans on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium.

“Despite leisure travel slowing down in the winter months, we plan to see a major impact on the Rhode Island economy throughout the winter thanks to professional, collegiate, and amateur sports. Winter sports are particularly lucrative because they fill hotel rooms when leisure and business occupancy may be low,” said John Gibbons, executive director of the Rhode Island Sports Commission (RISC).

Gibbons confirmed that Titans, NFL Films, NFL executives and CBS Sports employees have all booked room blocks in Providence, which total nearly 200 hotel room nights and a projected direct spend of more than $250,000. 

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

Other Sporting Events in RI

The J.W. Kennedy Memorial Hockey returns January 17-20 at ice rinks throughout Rhode Island. 

According to RISC, this tournament brings more than 200 youth teams, along with their families and fans, to Rhode Island, consuming 4,000 hotel room nights and having a direct spend impact of $2.4 million.

 

From January 30 through February 2, the 22nd Annual National Prep School Invitational by NetScouts Basketball will bring in more than 60 teams to play over four days at Rhode Island College’s Murray Center. 

The invitational is a showcase that will have more than 100 college coaches scouting the athletes.

International teams from Canada, Sweden and the NBA’s Latin America Academy are included in the event, along with more than 150 Division I recruits. 

According to RISC, nearly 200 hotel room nights will be occupied by the teams, coaches, scouts, and media attending this year’s event, resulting in a direct spend impact of $260,000.

 

The New England Regional Volleyball Association hosts its first of four events January 31 through February 2 at the RI Convention Center.

According to RISC, the event will attract 6,240 volleyball players, coaches and family members.  More than 1,200 hotel rooms nights have been contracted with a projected direct spend of $1.1 million.

 

Another returning event, the Athletic Championship cheer competition comes back to the RI Convention Center from February 8 to February 9. 

RISC reports that this year’s competition will bring in more than 10,000 cheerleaders, along with their coaches and families to the area. 

Visitors will use more than 2,400 hotel room nights, with a direct spend impact of about $2.1 million.