The NCAA Division II national track championships are among the sporting events bringing visitors to Pueblo this May.

More than 1,000 athletes and their families will be in Pueblo to compete May 19-24.

The economic impact of sports tourism is expected to hit $3 million this month as visitors stay in Pueblo hotels, shop at local businesses, and dine in Steel City restaurants.

Four major championship sporting events from collegiate track to high school girls golf are bringing more than 1,000 athletes and their families to Pueblo this month, filling hotels and providing an estimated $3 million economic impact on the community.

This week’s events kicked off May 19-20 with 84 of Colorado’s top high school girls golfers for the Class 2A championships at the Pueblo Country Club.

“The country club parking lot was packed today because there is such a high attendance of spectators,” Cara Siegel, community and engagement coordinator for the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce, said May 19.

As the week rolls on, 800 collegiate track and field competitors will converge on Colorado State University Pueblo for the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II National Championship May 22-24. That event alone is expected to bring 2,500 spectators to the stands at the ThunderBowl.

“That facility is gorgeous and it’s always fun to show it off,” Siegel said. “This is the second time Pueblo has hosted — 2023 was the last time and we are super excited to have this competition back in Pueblo.”

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

Another 200 athletes will be up to bat at Runyon Sports Complex for the high school Division 2A baseball championships. Eight teams will face off May 23-24 and the top four teams will return May 30-31 for the finals.

“That’s on top of the Region 9 Junior College Baseball tournament that brought eight teams, with a roster of 35 per team, to Pueblo for four days earlier this month. May has been a crazy month for sporting events,” Siegel explained.

“Because Rye was the only local team in the girls high school golf championships, most of these visitors are bringing in tourism dollars. We estimate 6,500 room nights will be booked in Pueblo just this week,” Siegel explained.

“Every hotel room in Pueblo is booked out for a week and we are sharing the love because some of these visitors are staying at hotels on the southern end of Colorado Springs,” she said.

“We are excited to show off our Pueblo hospitality to all of these out-of-towners,” she said.

Why sports tourism is so important to Pueblo

In May of 2023, the Pueblo Chamber and Visit Pueblo rolled out a sports tourism division in an effort to bring a different kind of tourism to the city. The effort involves bidding for a chance to host a wide variety of sporting events.

“We are trying to elevate it and pave the way for Pueblo to become a sports tourism destination. The sporting facilities here are absolutely amazing and they make it easy — we are very lucky,” Siegel said.

Tickets to the NCAA Division II outdoor track and field events are available daily for $15 for adults or $10 for students and seniors, or an all-session pass costs $35 for adults or $20 for students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased online at gothunderwolves.com.

Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon covers business news. She can be reached by email at tharmon@chieftain.com or via X at x.com/tracywumps. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain atsubscribe.chieftain.com.