For immediate release
July 18, 2006
World’s Largest Roller Hockey Championship Rolls into Town
Greater Toronto recognized as international sports event destination
TORONTO – Toronto and Mississauga welcome the 2006 North American Roller Hockey Championships (NARCh) at the Hershey Centre until July 30th. The 20,000-player event, the largest of its kind in the world, is expected to generate direct visitor spending of upwards of $10.3 million throughout the Greater Toronto Area.
“Greater Toronto is increasingly attracting major national and international sporting events that drive tourism business to Toronto, Mississauga and York Region,” said Bruce MacMillan, President and CEO of Tourism Toronto.
The 2006 finals feature 382 teams, including 18 overseas teams from countries such as France, Japan, United Kingdom, Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela. Toronto and Mississauga last hosted the finals in 2000, when fewer than 100 teams competed.
"The response to this event being held in the Greater Toronto Area is incredible, which is evident by the number of teams coming out,” said Daryn Goodwin, President of NARCh.
NARCh by the numbers:
• 382 teams including 18 from outside North America
• $10.3 million in direct visitor spending in the Toronto Region
• 940 games played
• More than 25 hotels across Mississauga and Greater Toronto hosting players, families and officials
Roller hockey has grown tremendously in popularity in the Greater Toronto Area. According to the Ontario Minor Roller Hockey Association, the provincial governing body for the sport, its membership more than doubled in the last year alone from 4,000 players in 2005 to close to 10,000 in 2006.
NARCh kicks off an already busy sporting event season for the Greater Toronto Area. In 2006, Greater Toronto is hosting the International Dragon Boat Federation Club Crew World Championships, Canadian Baton Championships, Toronto Cup (soccer), Beach Volleyball National Championships and Judo Ontario 2006. The momentum continues in Toronto the following year with FIFA U20 World Cup Canada 2007.
Greater Toronto drawing sporting events
The Greater Toronto Area is an attractive destination for sporting groups because of its state-of-the-art sporting venues and facilities and strong hotel selection. Mississauga and York Region boast impressive lists of indoor and outdoor sporting venues with new additions in the works, such as Newmarket’s Recreation Complex and Mississauga’s Sports Complex scheduled for 2007 and 2008 respectively.
To ensure that Greater Toronto remains a winning sports event destination, Tourism Toronto has stepped up efforts to attract events to the Greater Toronto Region. The organization has developed a new brochure to showcase the GTA, brought dozens of North American sporting event organizers to the regions for a first-hand look, and created a dedicated regional sales team to secure championships and tournaments.
Tourism Toronto is also drawing on the experience and knowledge of past and potential convention and tournament clients by establishing a regional Client Advisory Board to help direct and advise on a targeted effort on the sporting market within the Greater Toronto Region.
About NARCh
The North American Roller Hockey Championships (NARCh) formed in 1994 to ensure the growth of roller hockey, direct the competitive infrastructure, official rules and marketing efforts for roller hockey. Since 1994, the NARCh finals have grown to become one of the largest youth sporting events in the world, as well as the largest hockey tournament (ice or roller) in the world.
About Tourism Toronto
Tourism Toronto, Toronto’s Convention and Visitors Association, is an industry association of more than 1,000 members established to strategically sell and market the Greater Toronto Region as a remarkable destination for tourists, convention delegates and business travelers around the globe. For more information on Tourism Toronto, please visit, www.torontotourism.com.
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For more information contact:
Michele Simpson
Manager, Media Relations
(416) 987-1738
msimpson@torcvb.com