Top 100 Fishermen Coming to Grove
Deb Wolek, Executive Director of the Grand Lake Association, came to City Council meeting this week seeking maybe enough money to pay for porta potties for the upcoming ESPN Top 100 Fishing Tournament June 1-4, about $6,000.
Instead, Council gave her the entire bathroom with fresh towels thrown in--$75,000.
The population of Grove will double during this national event, called the "Sooner Run."
Up to 10,000 visitors will flood the city and surrounding area, filling every motel room and spilling over into private homes.
Known as the CITGO Bassmasters 100 Elite, the country's top professional fishermen, the ESPN crew, families and fans are expected to add up to $300,000 to the city's sales tax coffers.
"June 1 is tomorrow, for an event this big," City Manager Bill Galletly told the Council. Councilman Larry Parham said "I have no problem with $50,000 or $75,000 if we will get it back."
Terry Ryan made the motion to support the event with $75,000 in funding and waive the fees for the Civic Center. It passed 5-0.
"We need volunteers, lots of them," Wolek said. Some 10,000 advertising flyers have been handed out to date and 100,000 copies of the Guide to Grand Lake have been printed.
"We need sponsors to put on events for spouses and fans, busses to handle the crowds from Grove to North Beach, site of the event," Wolek said. The city is even putting in a temporary road adjacent to Computer Boy to make it easier for the truck and trailer rigs to make turns to Cherokee Street. The event is estimated to generate $1.2 million in sales during the event.
"The city's police, fire and government services will be in high demand during this event," Galletly told the Council. "We will have lots of overtime."
The event will bring 110 boats, 200 contestants, 12 ESPN camera boats, crews, sponsors and thousands of fans, according to Wolek. She said she had hoped to be put on the agenda for the Grove Chamber of Commerce this month but was not.
Instead, Council gave her the entire bathroom with fresh towels thrown in--$75,000.
The population of Grove will double during this national event, called the "Sooner Run."
Up to 10,000 visitors will flood the city and surrounding area, filling every motel room and spilling over into private homes.
Known as the CITGO Bassmasters 100 Elite, the country's top professional fishermen, the ESPN crew, families and fans are expected to add up to $300,000 to the city's sales tax coffers.
"June 1 is tomorrow, for an event this big," City Manager Bill Galletly told the Council. Councilman Larry Parham said "I have no problem with $50,000 or $75,000 if we will get it back."
Terry Ryan made the motion to support the event with $75,000 in funding and waive the fees for the Civic Center. It passed 5-0.
"We need volunteers, lots of them," Wolek said. Some 10,000 advertising flyers have been handed out to date and 100,000 copies of the Guide to Grand Lake have been printed.
"We need sponsors to put on events for spouses and fans, busses to handle the crowds from Grove to North Beach, site of the event," Wolek said. The city is even putting in a temporary road adjacent to Computer Boy to make it easier for the truck and trailer rigs to make turns to Cherokee Street. The event is estimated to generate $1.2 million in sales during the event.
"The city's police, fire and government services will be in high demand during this event," Galletly told the Council. "We will have lots of overtime."
The event will bring 110 boats, 200 contestants, 12 ESPN camera boats, crews, sponsors and thousands of fans, according to Wolek. She said she had hoped to be put on the agenda for the Grove Chamber of Commerce this month but was not.
posted by Editor | 2:31 AM
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