The Junior College Baseball World Series, or JUCO, has been a Grand Junction staple for 60 years. And while there are ample stories of families coming together, watching future superstars possibly in their breakout event, the event is also big business for the Grand Valley.
The eight-day tournament brings in 10 teams, their fans, friends, families and others who want to come to see the country's best junior college baseball teams in action. But the economic impact of JUCO stretches beyond just what visitors spend while they are in town.
"It's a marquee event. It has great significance, which is why the economic impact is probably greater than others," Grand Junction City Manager Greg Caton said. "I think events are a way to drive exposure and revenue to the community."
Calculating just how much the tournament brings to Grand Junction is not an exact science, but what is certain is that JUCO has been a catalyst for more than just local hotels, restaurants and the host site, Suplizio Field.
For the week, the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce estimates that the tournament brings with it an economic impact of $2.4 million to the community. That stems from a formula that assumes each team spends $80,000 over the eight days of the tournament for a total of $800,000. That number is multiplied by three to estimate the number of guests that come in to watch their teams, scout players or just enjoy the tournament.
The tournament, which is put on locally by the Grand Junction Baseball Committee and run by the National Junior College Athletic Association, brought in $250,000 in ticket sales last year and $280,000 in sponsorships. The ticket sales are split between Grand Junction Baseball and the NJCAA. The goal is to bring in about $500,000 between tickets and sponsorships each year.
But beyond this, Grand Junction Baseball Committee Chairman Jamie Hamilton said the improvements to Stocker Stadium and Suplizio Field that were spearheaded by the committee are just as important, if not more, than the money the tournament brings into Grand Junction and the valley.
"The real economic impact is in the remodel of the press box at the complex for $8.3 million in 2012," Hamilton said.
The project, which was put into motion in 2009, included new stands along the first-base side of the baseball stadium, a new mezzanine level, a press box and hospitality suite to serve both Stocker Stadium and Suplizio Field, and bigger dugouts.
It was this project that helped draw in the Grand Junction Rockies, the Colorado Rockies' Rookie League affiliate, which started play in 2012.
"They really made that happen, but in turn, it helped us attract a minor league team," Grand Junction Parks and Recreation Director Rob Schoeber said of the Grand Junction Baseball Committee.
The stadium also added a new $225,000 video board before last year's tournament that was paid for by the Grand Junction Rockies, Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction Baseball and private donors.
While there aren't exact numbers on the yearly impact of having the Grand Junction Rockies, the improvements also resulted in a 25-year contract for Grand Junction to continue to host JUCO. That contract was signed in 2010. Previously, the NJCAA would have three-year contracts with Grand Junction for the tournament.
The success of JUCO and what it brings to Grand Junction is a great source of pride for Hamilton, who helps put together a group of more than 80 volunteers to help with the tournament.
"It's truly community-owned," Hamilton said. "It's so impressive that there are no paid people."
In addition to watching or playing baseball, those who come for the tournament also can experience the valley's amenities. Hamilton said he often hears of players or coaches who will come back for a vacation to hunt or fish after learning of all that the area offers.
Seeing people come back is the goal for Visit Grand Junction, which plans to promote the area to visitors while they are in town.
The city's marketing arm will pay for commercials on online broadcasts where the viewer can see someone experiencing Grand Junction. It will also look to share interesting stories and behind-the-scenes details from the tournament, according to Visit Grand Junction Director Elizabeth Fogarty.
"It really does go beyond baseball," she said.
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