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Gadsden mayor: ARPA-funded soccer tournament filled hotels, boosted local businesses
Summary
Mayor Craig Ford said an ARPA-sponsored soccer tournament brought about 60 teams and filled the city's hotel rooms, generating lodging-tax revenue and business for downtown restaurants and vendors, according to his mayor's minute.
Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford said the city hosted an ARPA-funded soccer tournament that brought teams and families from across Alabama and filled local hotels, providing a boost to lodging-tax receipts and downtown businesses.
"We booked every hotel room in the city of Gadsden," Ford said, adding that "we had 60 soccer teams throughout the state of Alabama." He said families and visitors boosted sales for vendors and local lodging.
City staff conducted an after-action review to gather participant feedback, Ford said, and learned that many visitors were surprised by local amenities such as fishing areas and the scenery behind Gadsden State Community College. The mayor credited event planning, vendors and city staff for the weekend's success.
Ford framed the effort as part of a broader push to showcase Gadsden to tourists. He estimated event costs at about $15,000 but said vendor receipts and lodging-tax revenue helped defray expenses; he described that figure as an estimate.
The mayor also noted staff and public-safety personnel worked extra shifts to support the event while he attended National Guard drill duty. He said city staff will use feedback from the review to make future events run smoother.
The mayor closed by reiterating that such events support local businesses and that the city will continue promoting Gadsden as a tourism destination.
