COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Board of Directors voted unanimously today for Hutchinson to be the home of the NJCAA Division I Volleyball Championship, beginning in November 2017 through November 2019. “We are thrilled to have been awarded this championship event for the next three years, which will provide an annual economic impact of $2.1 million to our community”, said LeAnn Cox, Vice President of Operations and Tourism for the Greater Hutchinson Convention/Visitors Bureau (CVB).
“This is why 75% of the Hutchinson voters supported the Hutchinson Sports Arena project, to bring new events and new economic impact to Hutchinson” said Rick Staab, Chairman of the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. The Volleyball Championship will utilize all of the renovated Sports Arena, including the three new auxiliary gyms, for the four-day championship.
The CVB submitted the proposal to host the Division I Championship in August 2015, and hosted the NJCAA 1st Vice President for Women, Marci Henry, for a site visit in November. “Many community partners helped roll out the red carpet for Marci during the site visit, and we want to thank each of them for their support”, said Cox. The announcement was made at the NJCAA Annual Meeting held March 29-April 2, 2016 in Colorado Springs, CO. In addition to the Volleyball Championship, 14 other championship host sites were announced.
Less than two months ago, the NJCAA and the American Legion Lysle Rishel Post #68 signed a 25-year contract to keep the Division I Men’s Basketball Championship in Hutchinson. “We would like to thank the NJCAA for their confidence in Hutchinson by awarding the Division I Volleyball Championship, which combined with the Basketball championship, will bring an estimated annual economic impact of nearly $3.5 million” said Cox.
The Division I Volleyball Championship has been held in Casper, WY since 2013 and will remain there for the 2016 championship. “In addition to the support of the community, we wish to acknowledge the valued partnership with Hutchinson Community College in helping to recruit this community event. It couldn’t happen without their support” said Cox.
Rick Staab went on to say “The Chamber leadership will continue encouraging the CVB to bring in these types of events into our community. The business community of Hutchinson applauds the CVB in their hard work and we anticipate more success from their efforts”.