A Sporting Place Local organizations use elds in The Woodlands Township throughout the year for regional meets and tournaments, and facilities such as golf courses attract other national and international competitions. Major sports tournaments in April
Upcoming local tournaments Event Sport:
Sport Location Date
April 22
Woodlands World Cup
ECONOMIC IMPACT The Ironman event brings thousands of athletes and spectators to The Woodlands each year. $13 M generated for the region annually 4,000+ residents volunteer 2,400+ athletes participate
Lacrosse
March 18-19
IRONMAN TEXAS Triathlon Location: The Woodlands Waterway area • Held in The Woodlands since 2011 More information and volunteering: www.ironman.com/im-texas Spectators can view for free at: • Town Green Park • North Shore Park • The Woodlands Waterway • Waterway Square
Rugby
Come & Take It Dynamo DashTurf Cup JH Girls EOS Tournament Dynamo Dash Rec Tournament Lax to the Max Dynamo Dash Memorial Day Cup
April 1
April 8
Soccer
April 29-30
Location: Alden Bridge Bear
May 6-7
May 19-20
Branch Gosling
May 26-28
COURTESY MEG OLIPHANT GETTY IMAGES FOR IRONMAN
SOURCES: THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP, IRONMAN TEXAS, CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP, INSPERITY INVITATIONAL COMMUNITY IMPACT
Local investment Chief Operating O cer Chris Nunes said the township has not established the economic impact of the individual sporting events, but as events and attendance increase, it is beginning to take steps to track it this year. Event organizers will eventually ll out information, including the num- ber of hotel nights spent in the township, as the rst step of that process. Revenue from sales tax and hotel occupancy tax in the town- ship re ects increasing numbers of visitors and lengths of stays. For the 2022 calendar year, which is also the township’s scal year, sales tax revenue was $9.95 mil- lion above projections, coming in at $64.56 million, according to township information. Hotel occu- pancy tax came in at $8.61 million, or $1.33 million above projections. While 2020-21 saw lower reve- nues from sales and hotel occu- pancy taxes, the 2022 scal year numbers show sales tax revenue more than $10 million above any previous year’s revenue. Hotel tax occupancy helps to fund Visit The Woodlands in its e orts to increase tourism through advertising and other promotion, and outside sales tax revenue can ultimately reduce the burden on taxpayers, o cials said. Bailey said events like Ironman and Insperity sell out the hotels in the region. “They’re all staying here at the hotel, so it really helps lower taxes
This year also marks the rst year the Chevron Champion- ship—a Ladies Professional Golf Association event—will be held at The Club at Carlton Woods from April 19-23. Tournament Director Jerry Harvey-Samuel said it draws around 132 players and their sup- port teams. The following week, the Insperity Invitational will continue a tradition that began in 2004. As part of the Professional Golf Association Champions tour, it has been held at The Woodlands Country Club since 2008. Insperity Invitational Executive Director Bryan Naugle said The Woodlands area had previously established itself as an attractive space for PGA tournaments when the Shell Houston Open was held there through 2002, and Insper- ity continues that tradition. The tournament’s 78 players are joined by caddies and family but also by television production crews, cater- ers, vendors and spectators, lling the region’s hotels for the duration of the event. “It’s like coming home to a real familiar place,” he said. “The prox- imity of everything is so close here, it’s great for us and in run- ning the event.” In addition to sporting events for lacrosse, rugby and soccer clubs planned through June, the township will host tournaments such as the Copa Rayados soccer tournament in November and the Best of Texas lacrosse tournament in December.
CONTINUED FROM 1 Major sporting events
The Woodlands is home to sev- eral sporting events which draw thousands of spectators and par- ticipants each year, contributing to sales and hotel tax revenue for the township and in turn fueling its ability to host more events. The Ironman Texas triathlon has been held in the township since 2011, and this year it was also desig- nated the 2023 Memorial Hermann Ironman Americas Championship, a regional championship that will attract athletes from Canada, the U.S., Mexico, and Central and South America on April 22. The race draws about 2,400 ath- letes as well as their friends and family, spectators and media, said Scott Langen, regional director for The Ironman Group, which oversees the event. He said the economic impact for the region is about $13 million, and the event also generates $100,000 in dona- tions to local charities. “The Woodlands has a list of intangible items that make it the perfect location,” Langen said. “Each venue has a unique feel that makes the race special.” This includes the swim course on Lake Woodlands, a bike route that starts at Town Green Park and a three-loop running course through- out The Woodlands Waterway. Bai- ley said more than 4,000 residents volunteer, and tens of thousands cheer the athletes along the route.
The Chevron Championship is one of ve major championships in women's golf.
COURTESY IMG
April 19-23
CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP LPGA Golf
Location: The Club at Carlton Woods , 1 Carlton Woods Drive, The Woodlands • First year in The Woodlands • Tickets: $20-$45 daily www.thechevronchampionship.com
Golfers like Steve Stricker take part in the annual Insperity Invitational PGA event in The Woodlands.
COURTESY INSPERITY INVITATIONAL
April 24-30
INSPERITY INVITATIONAL PGA Golf Location: The Woodlands Country Club, 100 Grand Fairway, The Woodlands • Held in The Woodlands area since 2008
• Free to spectators April 26-30 www.insperityinvitational.com
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