NJSIAA STATE WRESTING CHAMPIONSHIPS AND THE PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE ATLANTIC CITY BOAT SHOW SEE INCREASED ATTENDANCE

 

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (Thursday, March 9, 2017) Meet AC, the Atlantic City Sports Commission, and Spectra by Comcast Spectacor, are pleased to report two of the biggest annual events in the city saw an increase in attendance this past weekend.  In total, nearly 80,000 patrons visited the city to attend the NJSIAA State Wrestling Championships at Boardwalk Hall or the Progressive Insurance Atlantic City Boat Show at the Atlantic City Convention Center.

The Progressive Insurance Atlantic City Boat Show saw an 8% increase in overall attendance making it the highest attendance since 2009. Beyond a rise in overall recreational boating demand, one of the key factors contributing to the increase was “Super Thursday,” which included one-day-only specials, such as $5 off tickets after 5 p.m., incentives on boats and gear and enter-to-win prizes from Meet AC. “Super Thursday” saw an 81 percent increase in attendance after 5 p.m., compared with the previous year, with many exhibitors reporting that the Thursday specials resulted in sales. According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), $292.8 Million in annual retails sales of new boats, engines, and marine accessories are sold in New Jersey.

“It’s terrific to see attendance on the rise, especially when it results in sales for our exhibitors, many of whom are small businesses from Atlantic City and Southern New Jersey,” said Jon Pritko, Vice President of Northeast Boat Shows for NMMA. “We look forward to continuing this growth pattern in the years to come as we welcome even more boating and fishing enthusiasts to take advantage of the latest trends, best deals and unparalleled boating education.”

The NJSIAA High School Wrestling Championships saw an increase in attendance as well with the changing of the seeding process with 32 wrestlers placed in each weight class bracket. Friday’s first session started two hours earlier than previous years.

“NJSIAA just completed another outstanding weekend of wrestling at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City,” said Steven Timko, Executive Director of the NJSIAA. “Over the weekend, over 40,000 fans enjoyed the best of the best of New Jersey high school wrestling. To prepare for such an event requires the cooperation of many people and we have found for several years that Boardwalk Hall is the best facility and is staffed to make sure all of our needs are accommodated.  Literally hundreds of people commented on how well the tournament was organized and how they felt like guests in Atlantic City. As Executive Director of NJSIAA, it was a pleasure to be there and be part of this great event.”

“We are thrilled to hear that attendance was boosted for both events this past week. It was wonderful to see both venues being utilized at full capacity, along with the hospitality from various businesses. It was a great week for the events industry, while generating tremendous economic impact for Atlantic City,” said Jim Wood, president and CEO for Meet AC.

Both of these events have a combined economic impact of more than $9.2 million with more than 1,300 hotel room nights contracted over the course of the week.

“The weekend of the Atlantic City Boat Show and the State Wrestling Championships was an exciting time for the city and Bass Pro was proud to play a part in this. We were happy to see families at the New Jersey State Wrestling Championships as well as the boat show, where we represented Tracker Marine Group. It was nice to see families in our store all weekend, walking and utilizing our free boat show shuttle.  Bass Pro prides itself in being a family-friendly destination and is happy to be a part of the resurgence in the vibrant and active city of Atlantic City,” said Mark Gawel, Events Coordinator of Bass Pro Atlantic City.

The NJSIAA State Wrestling Championships will return to Boardwalk Hall March 2-5, 2018 and the Progressive Insurance Atlantic City Boat Show returns to the Atlantic City Convention Center February 28-March 4, 2018.

Boardwalk Hall and the Atlantic City Convention Center are owned and funded by the New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA). Spectra by Comcast Spectacor provides both Venue Management and Food Services & Hospitality to Boardwalk Hall and the Atlantic City Convention Center.

 

About Spectra
Spectra by Comcast Spectacor is an industry leader in hosting and entertainment, partnering with clients to create memorable experiences for millions of visitors every year. Spectra’s unmatched blend of integrated services delivers incremental value for clients through several primary areas of expertise: Venue Management, Food Services & Hospitality, Ticketing & Fan Engagement and Corporate Partnerships. Learn more at www.SpectraExperiences.com.

About Comcast Spectacor
Comcast Spectacor is part of Comcast Corporation, a global media and technology company that operates Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal.  Comcast Spectacor’s three core businesses are the National Hockey League’s Philadelphia Flyers, the Wells Fargo Center Complex, and Spectra, a hosting and entertainment firm specializing in Venue Management, Food Services & Hospitality, Ticketing & Fan Engagement and Corporate Sponsorships. Learn more at www.ComcastSpectacor.com.

About Meet AC
Meet AC, Inc. is a 501(c)(6) organization formed and funded as a public-private partnership by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) to create economic development through conventions, sporting events, film production and group tourism.  Meet AC focuses on three primary objectives: sales, marketing and services.

For complete Atlantic City tourism and convention information, visit www.meetac.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About the Atlantic City Sports Commission
The Atlantic City Sports Commission was officially formed on January 13, 2015 as a 501 (c)(3) organization with the support of Meet AC and the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) to attract sporting events, conventions and competitions to Atlantic City.

About the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) The only agency of its kind nationwide, the CRDA has used Atlantic City casino reinvestments as a catalyst for meaningful, positive improvement in the lives of New Jersey residents since 1984.  Under the 2011 Tourism District Act, the Authority's mission evolved from statewide projects to becoming the state's key economic development agency for Atlantic City.  CRDA's expanded responsibilities now include land use regulation, tourism marketing and clean and safe initiatives. The CRDA also oversees Historic Boardwalk Hall (the leading entertainment venue of its size in the country) and the Atlantic City Convention Center.  In total, CRDA has invested nearly $2 billion in more than 400 projects statewide, of which $1.8 billion has been invested in Atlantic City, spurring business investments and expansions, and creating permanent jobs in the process. For more information about CRDA and our projects, visit www.njcrda.com. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/njcrda.

For destination photos and videos media may visit www.doatlanticcity.com/mediaonline where dozens of assets are available for download. For complete Atlantic City tourism information, visit www.doatlanticcity.com.

 

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Media Contact:
Jessica Merrill
609-449-7147
jmerrill@meetac.com