County Tourism Director Ann Marie Maher says it starts with bringing more travel sports teams to the region.
“Our location is perfect because we’re right in the middle of the East Coast,” Maher said. “According to the Sports Travel and Events Association, 52% of all sports tourism happens in the southeastern region of the U.S.”
- The high percentage is attributed to the region’s temperate climate.
- Sports tourism is an $11.4 billion industry in the U.S.
“…If we could just get a piece of that, you know what would it mean to Prince William County residents?” Maher asked.
- It would mean more businesses for hotels and restaurants.
- Reduced travel to sporting events for area residents who already travel long distances to compete.
In order to help bring more sports tourism tournaments here, the county has added a full-time position that will focus on ensuring these events are held in the county – events such as the Tough Mudder run that was held in June at Silver Lake Park.
- The Tough Mudder run was not without controversy, but Maher holds that the event was positive for the county.
- The economic impact was $1.4 million for county businesses.
“It really put us on the map,” said Maher.
It was also a boon to Silver Lake Park. “We had many residents who came out and said I didn’t even know this park existed,” Maher added.
Travel sports facilities are often nothing more than large open tracts of land converted into fields.
- The ounty has a lot of already existing infrastructure they can utilize for such facilities, as well as plenty of opportunity for economic development because the county is still growing.
- Maher said this doesn’t mean they would want to use the Rural Crescent — an area of rural land between Quantico Marine Corps Base and Manassas National Battlefiled.
- The goal is to “create new economic development opportunities that preserve open space and preserve the rural area,” said Maher.
“We have 60 parks. We have one hundred and fifty-five miles of trails- there’s just so much available that’s really under-utilized in a lot of ways.” Maher said.
Recent Stories
ARTfactory and Birmingham Green made headlines in Manassas this week. ARTfactory’s Rooftop Productions, now Actors Theatre, won seven awards at the 2024 DC Broadway World Awards, including Best Musical for Kinky Boots and Best Choreography for The Rocky Horror Show. ARTfactory’s Pied Piper Theatre also earned recognition, winning Best Theatre for Young Audiences for its production of The Wizard of Oz.
Meanwhile, Birmingham Green, ranked as Northern Virginia’s top nursing home by Newsweek Magazine, announced Duane Smith as its new Nursing Home Administrator, effective December 30, 2024. Smith brings extensive experience from senior living leadership roles across multiple states and holds several professional qualifications. Birmingham Green continues its 90-year mission of providing quality long-term care to Northern Virginians in need.
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Should Virginia ditch the longstanding practice of electing the General Assembly and the governor in odd year elections?
The first odd year election in Virginia was in 1851, after a new state Constitution was approved and members of the House were elected to a two-year term. Before that, members of the House had one-year terms, and voters selected members every single year.
Now, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell says modern day voters are sick and tired of voting every year.
A Manassas man was sentenced today to 18 years in prison for providing drugs and alcohol to a child in exchange for sex acts and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting the same victim as well as other children.
According to court documents, Olajide Benjamin Ayilaran, 24, met a 14-year-old girl during the summer of 2023 and began communicating with the victim via iMessage. In the messages, Ayilaran offered to provide the victim drugs, alcohol, and nicotine products in exchange for sex acts. Between at least Nov. 21, 2023, and Feb. 29, 2024, Ayilaran met the victim nine times, usually in the morning before the victim went to school, to exchange the products for sexual acts. Ayilaran would wait for the victim in his car in a nearby park. When the victim arrived, he gave her the drugs and alcohol and then had the victim perform sex acts on him in the car.
Travel to French soil and join us for a night filled with two of the most beloved French traditions—no plane ticket required! ?
On January 25th, we invite you to experience the magic of Galette des Rois, a 700-year-old tradition celebrated across France throughout the entire month of January (and even beyond!). This sweet, almond-filled puff pastry topped with a golden crown isn’t just a treat—it’s a celebration! The lucky person who finds the fève (a porcelain charm hidden in one of the slices) becomes the King or Queen for the Day, and don’t worry—there will be plenty of royalty to go around! ??
But that’s not all! In France, Les Voeux (New Year’s wishes) continue throughout January, often accompanied by Champagne and good cheer. We’re bringing that festive spirit to you, with a lively evening packed with French food, wine, and music.
What’s in store:
Experience the passion and drama of Puccini’s “The Girl from the Golden West”.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra,
this performance brings Puccini’s masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.
