3,500+ Athletes & Families Arrive in the Region on March 24, 2017

3,500+ Athletes & Families Arrive in the Region on March 24, 2017

The South Shore will have a busy weekend as athletes, coaches and families visit northwest Indiana for the Scholastic Chess of Indiana State Team Championships and Lutheran Basketball Tournament.

The 71st annual National Lutheran Basketball Tournament returns to Valparaiso March 24 to March 26. The tournament has been held at Valparaiso University since the early 1970’s and more than 60 middle school boys and girls teams will compete in this year’s tournament. An expected 2,500 visitors are expected to arrive for the basketball tournament.

More than 1,000 contestants, coaches and family members will take part in the 48th annual Scholastic Chess of Indiana State Team Championships this weekend. Players will compete at Morton High School in Hammond on March 25 beginning at 9:00 a.m. Divisions of the Championships include 3rd grade and under; 6th grade and under; 8th grade and under and High School.

These two events are on the heels of the Millennium Soccer Turf Classic games that were held at the Crown Point Sportsplex last weekend as well as the YMCA Swimming Championships held at Lake Central High School. Both of last weekend’s events brought an estimated impact of $55,000 to the Region’s economy.

“Thousands of families will be experiencing the South Shore this weekend; eating in our restaurants and looking for things to do between their games. We want to make sure our local businesses are prepared for additional customers,” said Speros A. Batistatos, President/CEO of the South Shore CVA.