PORTAGE | The 99th annual Indiana USBC Open Championship is coming to the Region.
Starting Feb. 28, the tournament will be held each Saturday and Sunday until May 2 and 3, with the exception of April 11 and 12 for Easter weekend. The team event will be held at Camelot Bowl in Portage, and the singles and doubles events will be held at Stardust II in Merrillville.
The tournament comes after the Northwest Indiana USBC Bowling Association put in the winning bid at the state jamboree two years ago.
The two bowling centers were chosen because they met minimum lane requirements. It's a big catch for the area.
"I means a lot," said Bob Hileman, head mechanic at Stardust II. "We know how much money it can bring to the local economy."
Last year's event brought more than 5,000 bowlers and their families to the Lafayette area over 13 weeks. And according to the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Bureau, those bowlers spent about $500,000.
"Bowlers have to eat, so they'll go to the restaurants. Some will have to stay two nights, if they're from the southern part of the state," Hileman said. "And when they're done bowling, they'll need to kill time. So they'll go shopping in the local stores."
Almost $200,000 in prizes were given away last year. And it's great for each bowling center, also.
"It definitely helps," Hilman said. "Bowlers will drink in the bar and eat at the coffee shop. So in the end we do make some money off of the tournament."
