Commonwealth Games score big with local businesses

The Holiday Inn at Tanglewood is just one of the hotels in Roanoke seeing athletes pour in with their luggage in-hand. They’re here for the Commonwealth Games. It’s an annual event that brings money to many businesses, including Hanging Rock Golf Club.

“When the kids come in, they need tees, gloves, and balls, maybe towels. Luckily we got good weather but if we hadn’t, we might have sold a lot of umbrellas, rain gear, even more towels. So we definitely see a difference,” said Robbie Craft.

Pete Lampman is the president of Virginia Amateur Sports and says the Games have good economic impact.

“It’s pretty impressive, actually. We figure probably between three and a half or four million dollars in economic impact that these athletes and families come in and pay this weekend,” said Lampman.   

About 9,500 athletes will take part – a number that doesn’t even include brothers and sisters or moms and dads. This year, the numbers went up a little bit. More sports were added to the Commonwealth Games.

Michelle Johnson is from Hampton Roads. She dropped off her basketball team at a fast food joint to get some lunch while she picked up their packets. She knows how much they will spend through the weekend.

“About $2,500. [For the] hotel, the gas, and the food in the area, and then of course we’ll have to hit the malls. The boys love to shop. You’d think girls, but boys also love to shop,” Johnson laughed.

Lampman also said some people want to stay close to home instead of spending the gas money to go to any out-of-state tournaments

“Maybe staying closer to home versus traveling to a national tournament of some sort. They’re saying, ‘well we can’t afford it because of the gas prices so let’s compete in the Commonwealth,” Lampman said.

The opening ceremonies for the Commonwealth Games are at the Roanoke Civic Center at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under.

Here’s some Ten On Your Side information. Swimmers who are competing will be at Fallon Park Pool, so swimming will not be open to the public on Saturday. However, the public is invited to watch. Roanoke Parks and Recreation says the Washington Park Pool will be open to public swimming on Saturday.