Pearland’s updating of its sports facilities, such as the ongoing turf improvements of fields at various parks, has made the city an attractive partner for tournament organizers, said Robert Guerrero, director of girls softball tournament organizer United States Fastpitch Association, or USFA.
As a result of the city’s approach, USFA agreed to host 10 tournaments in Pearland in 2023, Guerrero said. Officials at the Pearland Convention and Visitors Bureau, or CVB, which serves as the city’s official destination marketing organization for its $150 million hospitality industry, think the investment is paying off.
The big picture
In 2023, CVB officials estimated the total impact of USFA’s events—including sales tax and hotel occupancy tax, or HOT funds—was more than $3 million, according to the CVB’s fiscal year 2023-24 financial report.
In March, Pearland announced it would host an October tournament with another organizer, Triple Crown Sports, which it had secured by referral through its partnership with USFA, CVB Executive Director Tracy Rohrbacher said.
“We’ve seen some growth in [HOT funds], and it’s a combination of factors, but I believe sports tourism is one of the major positive impacts we’ve been able to have,” she said.
The CVB uses its annual $1.7 million budget, funded through the city’s HOT funds, to connect visitors with Pearland’s hotels, restaurants, shops and venues, Rohrbacher said.
About the program
In March, the CVB announced a partnership with tournament organizer Triple Crown Sports to host its Ronald McDonald City of Lights Tournament in Pearland from Oct. 18-20. The softball tournament had been in Sugar Land for over 30 years and is expected to attract teams and recruiters from across the country, Rohrbacher said.
Triple Crown Sports left Sugar Land because the tournament division was growing and needed more fields, which Sugar Land couldn’t offer, said Ashleigh Sidwell, Triple Crown Sports event director.
“What makes the partnership with Pearland so great and why we ultimately reached out to them is that ... their facilities are awesome and ... Pearland also has more fields, so it gives us the opportunity to expand that division,” Sidwell said.
The tournament will occur at Centennial Park and The Sports Complex at Shadow Creek Ranch, according to a March 7 release from the city. It is a stay-to-play event requiring teams traveling from more than 80 miles to lodge with Pearland hotel partners.
Those opposed
While Pearland’s CVB has many hotel partners, not all hotel owners agree the CVB’s focus on sports tourism is good for business.
Pearland City Council member Rushi Patel, who owns the Hampton Inn by Hilton and SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Pearland, estimated that less than 1% of his hotels’ revenue comes from the CVB’s efforts. He said most of his business comes from business travelers—not sports tourism.
Manhar Das who owns the Best Western Pearland which has 44 rooms said his hotel doesn't benefit from the tournaments, which often require more rooms than he is able to rent.
"To me it hasn't really impacted positively," Das said. "I do get some here and there. Every time there is a tournament I may get two or three rooms pick up from the parents who could not get into other hotels and I get the overflow, but I don't get that direct impact of the sports activity."
Those in favor
Other Pearland hotel professionals like Yahaira Castillo, director of sales at Courtyard by Marriott said the tournaments create a huge uptick in business.
"Our hotel is a very busy hotel [and] we have the best location in the market," Castillo said. "So during the weekday, we're usually sold out, if not sold out close to selling out. So on weekends, if we didn't have those tournaments, we'd probably be running at 50[%]-60% occupancy, but when we do have those tournaments, the impact of the demand rises and we usually sell out."
The condition
In 2023, Pearland invested around $1.8 million in facility upgrades, including remodeling restrooms and adding turf to fields used for softball tournaments at Centennial Park and the Sports Complex at Shadow Creek Ranch. In January 2024, the city pledged $1.69 million for the initial design phase of the Hickory Slough Expansion project, which will double the number of fields from six to 12 and is expected to cost $17.6 million in total, according to agenda documents.
Looking ahead
Using HOT funds, the CVB hopes to build a new restroom facility at Centennial Park in 2024. Once completed, the CVB will be required to track the return on investment to recoup $586,000 in hotel revenue to restore those funds.
At a Pearland City Council workshop Jan. 9, the CVB recommended adding turf to four more softball fields at the Sports Complex at Shadow Creek Ranch under the condition it would host at least 10 USFA tournaments in 2024 to recoup the investment through HOT funds.
Rohrbacher said she hopes hosting an event like the October tournament will attract more business.
“That site tournament by Triple Crown really was a great way to position the city to host these higher-profile tournaments,” Rohrbacher said.
