Tamworth sport: York Cup and National Primary Games have hotels booked out

The NIAS National Primary Games and Tamworth Hockey Association York Cup will see more than 7000 coaches, spectators and players in town.

NIAS marketing manager Sam Rains said this was the biggest year in history.

“Events of this nature provide mass economic benefit to their communities,” he said.

“Accommodation providers and hospitality venues obviously see a strong rise in trade; we anticipate the National Primary Games injecting more than $1 million to the Tamworth region.”

More than 60 per cent of hotels in Tamworth are booked out, according to accommodation website Wotif. 

There are 27 hotels with not a room to spare at the weekend.

Roydons Motor Inn owner Brenda Kendall said hers was nearly full, but most of the calls had been from people wanting rooms for five or six.

Read also:

“It would help if events were held on different weekends, because when there’s three or four in the same weekend the whole town fills up and has to turn people away – so there’s people who can’t go,” she said.

The NPG had more than 2000 athletes registered, and parents and coaches said the benefit was immeasurable, Mr Rains said.

“It’s also a great social opportunity for them to meet and spend time with athletes from right across the country,” he said.

The York Cup and Kim Small Shield, named after Tamworth’s own hockey Olympians, are also hitting fields this weekend.

Tamworth Hockey Association president Mark O’Connor said there were 49 teams headed to the event.

“I know that, based on Tourism Research Australia figures, Tamworth Hockey is quoting the economic impact will be approximately $1.7 million for the weekend,” he said.

“This is the largest we’ve ever had. We’re at absolute capacity with our fields – we’re bursting at the seams.”

The events are on this weekend at various venues.