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 is set to welcome a record number of teams this month to compete in the 2015 USA Team Handball Open Championships May 15-17 at the York Expo Center's Utz Arena.

Following the close of registration, 35 teams had signed up to compete in the 2015 Open Championships. USA Team Handball selected York County to host this national event based on proximity to large cities such as New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. - which are all hubs for team handball clubs.

The 2015 Open Championships will generate more than $500,000 in total economic impacts for York County. This national championship event also will be held at the York Expo Center's Utz Arena in 2016.

The public is invited to come out and discover this high-scoring, fast-paced and semi-contact Olympic sport, which combines elements of soccer, basketball, water polo and hockey. Also, fans coming to see the York Revolution play on Sunday, May 10, can get a sneak peek of what the sport is all about during a seven-meter throw-off competition hosted by the DC Diplomats handball team prior to the baseball game.

"York County is in a perfect position to host major sporting events, and Sport York has adeptly and strategically capitalized to create Pennsylvania's Premier Sports Destination," said Anne Druck, President of the York County CVB. "Our ideal location, stellar facilities and Sport York's comprehensive professional services lead to big wins for events such as the USA Team Handball Open Championships - and the York County economy."

USA Team Handball is the National Governing Body for the Olympic sport of Team Handball, which has been an Olympic sport since 1972 for men and 1976 for women. Learn more about USA Team Handball by visiting www.USATeamHandball.org.

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.