Mount Airy and Surry County officials are batting around an idea to develop a major sports complex aimed at drawing youth tournaments and similar events to the area.

Though the concept revolves around fun and games, it is aimed at something much more tangible: the big bucks tournaments bring to a community when invaded by hundreds of teams — and parents forking out money for hotels, gasoline and restaurants.

“They do what they have to for Tom or Jane,” Todd Harris, a city commissioner, said of parents’ motivation to attend such events. If they have dreams of their child suiting up in a college uniform some day, “They make it happen,” Harris said, even in a depressed economy when they might have to borrow money to participate.

Local officials eyed plans for developing a major sports venue here on Thursday during a meeting of the City-County Liaison Committee, which includes officials of both entities who gather to discuss joint projects.

Thursday’s discussion got to first base after Craig Hunter, the chairman of the Surry Board of Commissioners, mentioned his desire for the county to develop a facility similar to Dobson’s popular Fisher River Park somewhere in the Mount Airy area. That led to exploring ideas for a larger-scale complex.

Based on comments at the meeting, such a complex could include numerous baseball, softball, soccer or basketball facilities that would enable regional or national tournaments to unfold. It would elevate AAU basketball and other youth tournaments already held locally to another level, according to the discussion.

Officials mentioned the presence of similar sites in such cities as Rock Hill, S.C.

Harris, whose daughter has been involved in premier softball tournaments in other states, said one event they attended during the summer in Colorado attracted 600 teams from nearly all 50 states. A large number of college coaches also were present to scout talent for their programs.

Harris believes Surry County has potential as a “destination location,” with its Mayberry mystique, wineries and proximity to the Blue Ridge Parkway and other scenic attractions serving as a drawing card for the tournaments.

“I have no doubt that it would work,” Hunter agreed.

With the idea barely hatched, no possible locations for the complex have been suggested or specifics outlined on how to make it a reality.

“I was going to bring it up at the retreat,” Harris said of an upcoming two-day gathering in which Mount Airy officials will explore long-range goals. Hunter said the idea also will be discussed when county officials hold their own retreat, scheduled in February.

“This is the right time to move on it — with the economy like it is and everything,” said Dean Brown, another member of the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners. Officials had said earlier in the meeting that since construction companies are eager for work due to the slow economy, now is a good time to launch projects, more so than when conditions improve.

“If we’re going to do it, we need to do it right,” Harris said, “not halfway.”

Monetary Impact

While such a complex would require a major investment, for which no possible figures were suggested Thursday, there is huge potential for money to come back to the community through “sports tourism.”

For example, in one recent year, Rock Hill, S.C., received an overall economic impact of $5.2 million from 44,000 people visiting that city for its Cherry Park softball tournaments, according to figures from the Municipal Association of South Carolina.

In Rock Hill, various taxes and private donations also were tapped for a major tennis center and soccer complex, with creative marketing strategies credited for helping the city become a major national sports destination.

Rock Hill is a city of about 67,000 people located some 25 miles south of Charlotte.

A taste of what sports tourism means for Surry County also occurred through a study of a major girls AAU basketball tournament held in Mount Airy in March 2008. The tournament drew 118 teams from outside the county.

That study was conducted by the state Recreation Resources Services (RRS). It is a technical assistance program offered to localities through a cooperative partnership between the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation and the N.C. State University Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management.

The study showed that the local AAU tournament injected at least $279,000 into the community during a single weekend.

Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com or at 719-1924.