Report: WBSC Junior Men’s Softball World Championship a roaring economic success

The WBSC Junior Men’s Softball World Championship 2018 was a roaring economic success for Prince Albert city. According to the local organizing committee, the global event generated a profit of at least CAD$ 150,000, with a local economic impact of approximately CAD$ 10 million (almost US$ 7.6 million), including over 3,000 hotel room nights sold.

The high number of spectators throughout the 9-days event was one of the key factors for the success of the Softball World Championship, both on and off the field. The average attendance was 2,000 fans per day, including more than 5,000 for the round robin game between New Zealand and host team Canada.

According to paNOW, the co-chair of the organizing committee, Felix Casavant, said that the profits would be re-invested into two key areas.

“It’ll be put right back into our facility and also make sure there is seed money there for our next, younger group of directors to take on an application for a World or Canadian championship,” he said.

Besides the economical and organizational success of the event, Casavant also talked about the lasting legacy left by the Junior Men’s Softball World Championship in Prince Albert.

“We’re leaving behind a beautiful park which is second to none in the world, with three fully-lighted venues equipped to put on any kind of tournament we would think possible,” he said.

A total of 13 teams from the five Olympic continents made the trip to Prince Albert to participate in the WBSC Junior Men’s Softball World Championship, from 7-15 July. In the World Championship Game, Australia defeated Japan, 6-1, to claim its fifth title in history.