2024 WCWS creates economic development
By : J. David Chapman/June 6, 2024
I am watching the 2024 Woman’s College World Series (WCWS) on national television.
The series is held annually in Oklahoma City. Our city’s relationship with women’s college softball dates back to 1964 when local civic leaders competed to become a permanent home to the Women’s College Softball Hall of Fame. The hall of fame was built first, opening in 1973, and then the same civic leaders followed up in 1984 with a fundraising campaign to build a stadium with the hopes of permanently hosting women’s softball. The stadium, far smaller than it is today, opened in 1987 and the NCAA moved the WCWS to OKC.
My family owns Airbnb’s in Edmond and they are full during this week of softball from people all over the country. This is real economic development for my business. I appreciate it, and don’t take it for granted. The WCWS draws crowds from across the nation, as families, friends, and fans flock to OKC to witness the excitement unfold on the diamond. These visitors bring with them a surge in tourism, filling hotels, restaurants, and local attractions. With games spanning several days, visitors often extend their stay, exploring the city and patronizing its businesses, thereby injecting fresh revenue into the local economy.
Adam Wisniewski, vice president of sports development with the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau, estimates the series pumps $25 million into the economy each year. The bureau is looking at the series setting an all-time attendance record of 115,000 in 2024.
The current contract for hosting the World Series continues through 2035. Thanks to a property tax bond approved by voters in 2017, the city in 2020 finished a $27 million expansion that increased the stadium from 9,000 to 13,000 seats. A new scoreboard was added, along with digital ribbon boards designed to ensure scores and other information can be viewed throughout the stadium.
Events like the WCWS play a pivotal role in bolstering the economy of OKC. Beyond the excitement of the games, these events catalyze tourism, drive consumer spending, and foster community engagement. By leveraging the economic opportunities presented by such events, OKC continues to showcase its vibrancy and resilience on the national stage, solidifying its position as a premier destination for sports and commerce alike.
Dr. J. David Chapman is Professor of Finance & Real Estate at The University of Central Oklahoma (jchapman7@uco.edu).