Spring Fling could be returning to Chattanooga after 20 years, cities submitting bids to host
The championship could return to the Scenic City for the first time in 20 years. Cities are in the process of submitting bids, and if selected, we could see tremendous benefits for both athletes and residents.
Spring Fling is a multi-sport, Olympic-style tournament that originated in Chattanooga but has been held in Murfreesboro since 2006.
Over the years, it's grown tremendously with more sports added to the roster, but hosting them all at the same time in one location can be a challenge, which is why organizers suggested splitting it up.
"We're building a great reputation nationally, and so, I think it's about time to bring state-level games here too so they can experience our facilities and our hospitality,” says Greta Hayes, Director of Recreation for Chattanooga’s Department of Parks and Outdoors. “This community always wraps their arms around every sport."
Cities are in the process of submitting bids to host sports of their choice.
"What we're doing on our side here in Chattanooga is evaluating all those sports. There's 11 of them, and we're going to see which ones are the best fit for our community,” says Brant Donlon, sports sales director for Chattanooga Tourism Company. “We’re trying to dial in to make sure that our proposal is going to be top-notch.”
Eyes are on Warner Park and Frost Stadium for softball and Champions Club for tennis. Recent renovations and Chattanooga’s history of hosting major events lead some to believe the Scenic City has exactly what it takes.
"We've upgraded our facilities. We have artificial turf fields all here at Warner Park right now, which will be a part of the potential bid,” Hayes says. “We’ve had championships for NCAA Division II Softball here over the last eight days. We have also hosted the NCAA Division II and III Tennis Championships.”
Donlon says they’re still crunching the numbers to get an exact number, but he and Hayes say they’re exploring the economic impacts hosting would bring to the city.
“It does more than just bring a sporting event here for that weekend because the money that’s spent here goes back into our community long term,” Hayes says. "If we reinvest in the facilities, that allows us to continue to create economic impact for the city, and then it helps all of our taxpayers, and it helps our local citizens every day."
The deadline for cities to submit their bids is June 1, and the vote is on June 10.
Spring Fling is a multi-sport, Olympic-style tournament that originated in Chattanooga but has been held in Murfreesboro since 2006.
Over the years, it's grown tremendously with more sports added to the roster, but hosting them all at the same time in one location can be a challenge, which is why organizers suggested splitting it up.
"We're building a great reputation nationally, and so, I think it's about time to bring state-level games here too so they can experience our facilities and our hospitality,” says Greta Hayes, Director of Recreation for Chattanooga’s Department of Parks and Outdoors. “This community always wraps their arms around every sport."
Cities are in the process of submitting bids to host sports of their choice.
"What we're doing on our side here in Chattanooga is evaluating all those sports. There's 11 of them, and we're going to see which ones are the best fit for our community,” says Brant Donlon, sports sales director for Chattanooga Tourism Company. “We’re trying to dial in to make sure that our proposal is going to be top-notch.”
Eyes are on Warner Park and Frost Stadium for softball and Champions Club for tennis. Recent renovations and Chattanooga’s history of hosting major events lead some to believe the Scenic City has exactly what it takes.
"We've upgraded our facilities. We have artificial turf fields all here at Warner Park right now, which will be a part of the potential bid,” Hayes says. “We’ve had championships for NCAA Division II Softball here over the last eight days. We have also hosted the NCAA Division II and III Tennis Championships.”
Donlon says they’re still crunching the numbers to get an exact number, but he and Hayes say they’re exploring the economic impacts hosting would bring to the city.
“It does more than just bring a sporting event here for that weekend because the money that’s spent here goes back into our community long term,” Hayes says. "If we reinvest in the facilities, that allows us to continue to create economic impact for the city, and then it helps all of our taxpayers, and it helps our local citizens every day."
The deadline for cities to submit their bids is June 1, and the vote is on June 10.