FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Louise Heine
Destination Marketing Director
York County Convention & Visitors Bureau
717-852-9675, ext. 109 or louise@yorkpa.org

Brent Burkey
Communications Specialist
York County Convention & Visitors Bureau
717-852-9675, ext. 103 or bburkey@yorkpa.org


YORK, PA-The York County Convention & Visitors Bureau welcomes The Crusade & Columbus Day Duals wrestling competitions this weekend as the first of several NEW events joining York County's full calendar stretching from now until early next spring.

In total, three new major youth sporting event weekends have been booked in York County to take place between this Saturday and the beginning of April 2016.

This moves the total of significant sporting events occurring over the next six months from five to eight as York County leverages premier sports facilities to bring in visitors throughout the year, including fall and winter. The eight events combined are anticipated to generate total economic benefits for York County of approximately $8 million.

More than 800 participants are expected in York County on Sunday alone as part of The Crusade & Columbus Day Duals. Wrestlers participating in these events, which will occur Saturday and Sunday respectively, range in age from elementary school through high school.

Additionally, about 1,000 participants are expected in January as part of the related Tyrant Duals event, which will also be new to York County. Both events run by Tyrant Wrestling will be held in the York Expo Center's Utz Arena. The age range for Tyrant Duals wrestlers is elementary school through eighth grade.

Another new event booked by the York County CVB is the Keystone Regional Volleyball Association's Girls 12U-17U Bid Tournament, which will take place in early April 2016 at the Utz Arena. The volleyball players will range in age from approximately 12 years old through high school. Approximately 1,200 total participants are anticipated.

The York County CVB's Sport York initiative also recently rebooked the Keystone Open Indoor Field Hockey Championship, which was up for renewal. It will continue to be held at the Utz Arena.

"No matter the season, York County is bringing its best game in the name of infusing visitor dollars into our local economy, while at the same time enabling and contributing to outstanding opportunities for young athletes," said Anne Druck, President of the York County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

York County's current lineup of new or returning major sporting events booked and hosted by the York County CVB through early April 2016 is listed below and new events are in bold.

• The Crusade & Columbus Day Duals October 10-11, 2015
• PIAA Golf Championships October 26-28, 2015
• Keystone Open Indoor Field Hockey Championship December 12, 2015
• Tyrant Duals January 9-10, 2016
• Martin Luther King Kickoff Classic January 16-18, 2016
• MAC Swimming Championships February 11-14, 2016
• PSAC Swimming Championships February 17-20, 2016
• KRVA Girls 12U-17U Bid Tournament April 2-3, 2016

Background information on many of the returning events is available in previous news releases archived in the York County CVB's Press Room at www.yorkpa.org/press-room.

The York County Convention & Visitors Bureau's Sport York initiative is designed to recruit events and generate additional economic impact in York County. Sport York positions York County as Pennsylvania's Premier Sports Destination, highlighting the area's dynamic facilities and central location on the East Coast. For further information about Sport York, visit www.yorkpa.org/sports.

The York County Convention & Visitors Bureau's Mission is to maximize tourism expenditures and their economic impact in York County, PA, through comprehensive tourism sales and marketing programs. The York County CVB's Vision is for a York County where tourism is recognized for the value of its economic impact and its role in raising the profile of York County as a sought-after destination. For more information on the York County Convention & Visitors Bureau, call 1-888-858-9675 or visit www.yorkpa.org.

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