Dickinson anticipates surge of over 1,500 visitors for state tournaments (2024)

DICKINSON — The city is preparing for a surge in traffic and activity from Thursday through Saturday as it hosts the North Dakota High School Activities Association (NDHSAA) state baseball and softball tournaments .

Sixteen teams, along with their families and supporters, are expected to arrive in Dickinson, providing a significant economic boost to local businesses while presenting potential logistical challenges for city officials.

Organizers estimate that approximately 1,500 visitors will attend the NDHSAA tournaments alone. Additional events in town, such as the Final Bell Boxing Event , are expected to attract even more travelers.

The Final Bell Boxing Event will take place on Saturday, June 1, at the West River Ice Center, and feature fights with participants from across the state and Canada, including special guest Virgil Hill .

The 2024 NDHSAA Class A Baseball State Tournament will run from May 30 to June 1 at Dakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark (240 2nd St SE, Dickinson, ND 58601), with Guy Fridley, Dickinson High School’s assistant principal and activities director, serving as tournament manager. Teams such as the Williston Coyotes, Fargo Davies High School Eagles and Bismarck Legacy High School Sabers will compete.

Simultaneously, the 2024 NDHSAA Class A Softball State Tournament will take place at the Sanford Sports Complex (605 13th Ave W, Dickinson, ND 58601). Competing teams include the Dickinson High School Midgets, Fargo North High School Spartans and Grand Forks Red River High School Roughriders.

Tom Mix, media specialist for NDHSAA, explained that Dickinson was selected due to its recent improvements in facilities, including the Dakota Community Bank and Trust Ballpark and the Sanford Sports Complex. Fridley highlighted the city’s readiness to host both events, noting NDHSAA’s rotational system ensuring various cities host events, distributing benefits statewide.

Fridley emphasized the importance of collaboration in hosting the state baseball and softball tournaments.

"Collaboration with the Dickinson Convention and Visitors Bureau, knowing that it's coming and the influx of people that are coming to town, is really good for our community," he said. "We've hosted state tournaments before, and our community's done a wonderful job welcoming people and providing a great time and experience for our teams."

Dickinson Press file photo

When asked about the expected number of visitors, Fridley had similar projections to those released by the state.

"You're probably looking at 1,200 to 1,500 people coming into town to support their teams." He noted, "It's awesome to get those numbers in our community. It’s super great for our economy at Dickinson."

Terry Thiel, executive director of the Dickinson Convention and Visitors Bureau, highlighted the significant collaboration between the bureau and local organizers.

"It's going to be a great weekend," Thiel noted, emphasizing the favorable weather forecast and comprehensive preparations, including welcome packets for team coaches and event assistance through a grant program.

Thiel said her office projects around 1,400 visitors for the tournaments, filling many hotel rooms and boosting local businesses.

"These games have been great for us," she said. "The sports complex has been a very good addition."

To accommodate visitors, Thiel explained that teams receive a Dickinson Visitor Guide with information on lodging, dining and local attractions.

The Dickinson Press

"We give them the Dickinson Visitor Guide that we put together. It's got a list of a variety of things: lodging, food establishments, things to do in the area," she explained.

Reflecting on the broader impact, Thiel highlighted the economic benefits.

"You're looking at that hospitality industry more than once; you're looking at it with the lodging, the eating establishments and the gas stations," she said, emphasizing how the influx of visitors positively affects various sectors, including retail and local attractions like the Dinosaur Museum.

Local hotels are bracing for the influx of visitors. Pernora Kadrmas, a sales manager at Roosevelt Grand Dakota, confirmed they are nearly fully booked for the weekend.

“We have Horace and North Fargo,” she said, adding, “We’re probably going to be booked up this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.”

Kadrmas highlighted the positive economic impact these events bring.

“Any time you have a big group, teams, or tourists, or even the boxing event, it brings a positive economic impact. Spectators and family and friends increase the outlook on your food, gas, and room night stays for the hotel,” she explained, noting the additional benefits to local retail as visitors often engage in local shopping.

Similarly, Holiday Inn Express & Suites confirmed that they have only a few rooms left and expect to sell out by the weekend. Both hotel managements also mentioned that with the Medora shops opening and the Musical approaching, they have already begun seeing an uptick in visitors.

Dickinson Press File photo

Looking ahead, Thiel mentioned potential changes to manage the increasing number of visitors, particularly during busy summer periods. She stressed the importance of communication with lodging properties to prepare for upcoming events, ensuring they are well-informed about the expected impacts.

"We've been visiting with some of the different lodging properties, informing their hospitality management and owners about what's coming up," she said.

Thiel concluded by acknowledging the hard work of local organizers and the community's ability to host significant events successfully, noting the collective effort involved. "It's also the local organizers we've really got to give kudos to because they're the ones that put in so much of that work effort," she added, highlighting the unseen dedication behind the scenes.

Mix emphasized that crowd sizes often depend on match-ups as the tournament progresses, highlighting the significant turnout in previous years when teams from closer regions competed.

"We're probably expecting some pretty good crowds there for softball. Obviously, some of those communities that made it for baseball, they'll travel," he said.

He also shed light on the collaborative process involved in planning these events.

"There's a tournament committee that our board has, and they plan out the sites on a seven-year advance," Mix said. "We put a lot of trust in our tournament managers and those folks work with the local people on a daily basis in those communities."

Local managers, like Fridley, play a crucial role in coordinating with city officials and ensuring that all logistical aspects are covered.

Regarding the economic impact, Mix highlighted the positive effects such events have on local businesses.

"Any time that you have a big group, teams or tourists, or even the boxing event, it brings a positive economic impact. Spectators and family and friends increase the outlook on your food, gas, and room night stays for the hotel," he said.