Erie, Pa: Longtime Erie Events Executive Director Casey Wells was among those honored at the Erie Sports Commission’s Sports Tourism Awards, held at the Bayfront Convention Center tonight. More than 100 guests attended the event, which is held annually to honor and recognize the efforts of the people who had an impact on sports tourism in the region.
Wells was awarded the 2022 Ron Sertz Dedication to Erie Award, which recognizes those who have shown an outstanding dedication to Erie and who have had a longstanding, profound impact on sports tourism. The award recognizes Wells’ pivotal role in the development of multiple premier sports and events venues in Erie.
Erie County Executive Brenton Davis presented the 2022 Impact Award to Heather Marcozzi of 72point5 Wrestling, who hosted the Keystone State Wrestling Championships in March 2022 at Erie Insurance Arena. The event generated an estimated $3.3 million in economic impact throughout the county.
Champion Cheer Central’s Lake Erie National Cheer and Dance Championship, held in April 2022, received the 2022 Locally Managed Event of the Year Award. This is the sixth award Champion Cheer Central has received dating back to 2015, but their first in this category.
The 2022 Event Series of the Year was presented to Lake Effect Hockey, which hosted eight events that generated a total of $3.8 million in estimated economic impact.
Bob Borgia was honored as the 2022 Volunteer of the Year for his instrumental role as part of the Erie Pickleball Players Association in developing opportunities for people to play pickleball throughout Erie County. In addition to creating courts and working with existing facilities to provide court space, the EPPA even hosted a pair of events in 2022.
The 2022 National Event of the Year was presented to The Great Race. Held in June, The Great Race featured an overnight stop in Erie, providing 200 vintage and antique cars and their drivers a rest during their trip from Rhode Island to North Dakota. Visitors were allowed to get up close and personal with each of the unique cars as they lined State Street.
The 2022 Strongman Corporation National Championships was named the 2022 New Event of the Year. More than 200 athletes representing 37 states competed over two days in October at the Bayfront Convention Center. The event was held in Erie for the first time in 2022.
The ESC set records by generating nearly $21 million in estimated economic impact and hosting and supporting 74 events in its 10th year of operations in 2022. Those events occupied 166 event days throughout the year.
