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Bowling brings millions to Ottumwa economy
Posted: 02.04.2010 at 6:41 PM
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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- For the next four months, the sound of pins crashing is music to Ottumwa business owners.

Nearly 1,000 bowlers and their families will flock to Ottumwa each weekend for the 93rd annual USBC BA Tournament.

After the price for a hotel, food, and shopping Fact Finder discovered the tourism will give Ottumwa up to a $2,000,000 boost.

Kay Whittington tells Fact Finder she normally doesn’t see this kind of business until summer months.

"We’ve basically got a full house in the hotel for all those weekends,” Whittington said. “The whole town will be full."

Terry McNitt, Executive Director of the Ottumwa Chamber of Commerce said they have partnered with the hotels placing a welcome letter in the hotel rooms.

He said residents need to lend a helping hand to any visitors and encourage them to patronize locally owned businesses.

"If they have a favorable experience here in Ottumwa, they are probably going to go back to their hometowns and tell 15 different people what their experience was, and we want that to be positive," said McNitt.

Champion Bowl of Ottumwa is one of the hosts of the tournament and will be working to create the best experience.

"We've doubled the amount of staff that we usually employ during the weekend so there shouldn't be anything that they shouldn't receive.  We're going to try to make them feel as welcome as we can," said Doug Techel, owner of Champion Bowl. 

Creating a positive image carries extra importance because next year Ottumwa hosts the women’s tournament.

McNitt said history has shown the women tournament traditionally bring twice as much revenue to the towns.

Local businesses such as Bench Warmers said they plan on being swamped on the weekends.

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