The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) announced that the Eastern World Series, also known as the Fastpitch World Series, will return to the Eastern ShoreJuly 13-30 for its tenth consecutive year. The event will be billed under the Mid-Atlantic Amateur Sports Alliance (MAASA), a formal sports marketing partnership between the Town of Ocean City, Wicomico and Worcester Counties.
“We are pleased to welcome back the USSSA Eastern World Series,” said Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan. “We take pride in hosting these amazing athletes, their coaches and their families.”
With over 350 teams anticipated, the area will see an influx of approximately 13,000 visitors over the three week series including players, coaches and families.
“With teams visiting from all over the country,the has a huge economic impact on our area, with players and parents eating at our restaurants, using our gas stations, shopping at our stores, and staying in our hotels,” said” Paige Hurley,Director of Worcester County Recreation and Parks.
Last year’s event generated just under $20 million, including 12,000 room nights in local hotels.
“The efforts put forth in the past from the staff along with the support we’ve received from local businesses, particularly the hotels and restaurants, and civic leaders made the decision to keep this three week event in the area an easy one,” said Bill Dowell, USSSA Vice President of Fastpitch and Tournament Organizer on his return to the shore.
Formed in 2014, MAASA is the first partnership of its kind in the nation. It leverages the combined assets of each jurisdiction in order to attract, retain and build sports marketing events. Although still new on the sports marketing scene, MAASA is already making waves on a national level. The leading publication for sports event planners and tourism directors,Sports Destination Management, recently named MAASA a 2015 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism for its work with the USSSA. The Alliance also took home a 2015 Tourism Partnership Award during Maryland’s 35t Annual Tourism and Travel Summit.
