NCAA event expected to boost revenue

Although Shenandoah Convention & Visitors Bureau Director Linda Woods could not provide an estimate of the financial impact to the city, she said the event will boost hotel occupancy tax, potentially filling the city's more than 500 hotel rooms, as well as retail shops and restaurants citywide. Smith said hotels in the city were booked quickly once the event was announced, but the effects are far reaching as hotels as far north as Conroe and as far south as Rayford Road have seen reservations increase.

The natatorium seats about 900 and Smith said 50 percent of the event's tickets were sold in the first 15 minutes of availability to teams across the country. Tickets go on sale to the public Feb. 18.

"I do think there will be local interest from the community, whether they are swimmers in the local community or they are college alumni from that university or they are ex-college swimmers," Smith said.

Since the Conroe ISD natatorium was announced as the host, Smith said a number of other events have been booked at the venue and sometimes require two or three years advanced notice because of the facility's popularity.

CISD Natatorium Coordinator Sam Fruia said the complex hosts about 50 events a year. Although the estimated 400-plus athletes of the NCAA championships is not the largest event hosted at the natatorium, Fruia said it is the most notable.

The average natatorium meet attracts about 700-900 athletes, while the Texas Aquatic Games—the natatorium's largest event—attracts about 900-1,100 athletes every year, Fruia said.

In addition to hosting CISD functions the venue has hosted meets for the Southwestern Preparatory Conference and Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools, as well as the US Nationals for water polo and the sectional meet for the United States swimming team. He said the high school teams will not be affected by the NCAA meet, but CISD tries to attract big events while juggling school district meets.

"The challenge comes with balancing the needs of the community with the school district and outside interests," Fruia said.

Aside from the economic boost, Smith said the notoriety from the event has a significant impact on the city. He and Woods both said they hope to build a relationship with the NCAA and that the association will bring future meets to the community.

"From our standpoint, this is the biggest event the city of Shenandoah has been involved in with the natatorium," Smith said. "The NCAA blue disc is one of the most recognized logos in America. We've been able to use that disc on our website, on a lot of our stationary, and we are trying to build a partnership with the NCAA as a host city to host other national championships."