Championship Park has significantly impacted Kokomo's economy since its opening in 2021.
🏟️ Economic Impact of Championship Park
According to a 2024 economic impact study by the Greater Kokomo Visitors Bureau, visitors to Kokomo and Howard County contributed $252 million to the local economy in 2023, with direct expenditures accounting for $181 million. This represents a 17.3% increase from 2019. The opening of Championship Park in 2021 played a pivotal role in this surge, attracting numerous youth sports tournaments and boosting tourism-related spending on lodging, dining, and retail.
🏢 Ownership and Development
Championship Park is a collaborative project between the City of Kokomo and Henke Development Group, the developer behind Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield. The city invested approximately $11.4 million to construct eight multi-purpose fields, while Henke Development is overseeing an estimated $86 million mixed-use development adjacent to the park, which includes commercial spaces, hotels, and restaurants.
This partnership aims to revitalize Kokomo's east side, transforming it into a regional hub for youth sports and associated economic activities.
In 2023, Championship Park in Kokomo hosted 1,673 teams across 2,574 baseball and softball games, marking a significant increase from the previous year. This uptick underscores the park's growing reputation as a premier venue for youth and amateur sports tournaments.
While the exact number of individual tournaments isn't specified, the park's 2023 schedule featured several major events, including:
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Easter 1-Day Round Robin (April 8) – Approximately 50 teams participated.
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USSSA Grand Park Showdown (April 28–30) – Shared between Grand Park and Championship Park.
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PBRT Indiana Open (June 8–11) – Hosted 43 teams.13U Amateur Baseball Championships (June 21–25) – Featured 90 teams.
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Indiana Summer Championships (June 29–July 3) – Included 39 teams. 17U Amateur Baseball Championships (July 5–10) – Attracted 164 teams.
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15U Amateur Baseball Championships (July 14–18) – Drew 96 teams.
These events, among others, contributed to the park's substantial activity in 2023. Notably, Championship Park recorded over 519,000 total visits from 235,000 unique individuals between March and October, highlighting its role as a significant economic and cultural asset for Kokomo.
Learn more about our Kokomo team at www.kokomoindentist.com
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