The Northland Group’s 80 plus team tourney concluded this week end with 12 championship games being played at the Super Rink in Blaine. Forty two of those teams came from outside the Twin Cities area. If the reader is interested in the economics of a sports venue like the Super Rink and the value of summer hockey tourneys to local business, the Northland Group’s weekend tourney generates about a $225,000 direct impact to the Blaine Economy. The parents and team followers spent about $100,000 hotels and restaurants alone. In addition, approximately 200 games were played in the tourney and at $300 per game (games were 15-17 minute periods) another $60,000 wa spent in Blaine this weekend. The referee bill alone was around $15,000. Add in other costs for entertainment, shopping, and gas of $50,000 spent by all those attending the three full days of hockey and one gets $225,000. But there is further good news for Blaine, that outside money circulates according to some economists about 7 times generating $1.5 million in economic activity before it leaves a community like Blaine.
Rodney Dangerfield and youth hockey and ice arenas get no respect from city councils. The councils fail to recognize the true impact to the community and treat arenas like a playground. When the NAHL Showcase’s five days of hockey hit the Super Rink in September, the $1.5 million will be dwarfed.