In case you missed it, something monumental happened in Lincoln over the summer. Huge. Giant. Extraordinary.

Close to 25,000 people descended on our community the last weekend in July as part of the State Games of America.  Being selected as the host city was a great honor and a great accomplishment. We beat out fellow finalist San Diego, proving that Lincoln can hold its own with any city in the nation when it comes to hosting a national competition.

For this year only, the State Games of America took the place of the annual Cornhusker State Games competition. The change allowed Nebraska athletes to take on top competitors from around the country in over 60 sports and experience a national championship-style competition.

Bringing the event to Lincoln was the brain child of the Nebraska Sports Council and the Lincoln Convention & Visitors Bureau. The two organizations teamed up to win the rights to host the 2015 games. The additional competitors and spectators generated an estimated $25 million in economic impact. Attendance is over the weekend swelled to 47,000 volunteers, athletes, and fans.

That is good news for retail shops, hotels, and restaurants – many of which experience a slow period in late summer before business picks up again for Husker football season.  The other positive to come from being selected as hosts – this isn’t our first time beating out a big name city like San Diego for a national event and it won’t be our last. Our community did a great job hosting the last large-scale national event held here, the 2010 Special Olympics National Games.

Our track record as an athlete-friendly city with top notch facilities is well known among event organizers across the country and as we continue to prove ourselves as good hosts, more of these events will find their way to Lincoln.

So do me a favor – anytime someone tells you Lincoln can’t compete as a host city on a national stage, tell them about the State Games of America’s successful stop in our town.


 

The Chamber’s mission is to improve the lives of Lincoln residents by providing increased economic opportunity and can only be accomplished together. For more information, please contact Jaime Henning at jaimehenning@lcoc.com.