Another week, another major amateur sporting event is coming to the region.
In this case: the Northtown Center in Amherst is hosting the Chipotle USA Hockey Women's Championships that will run from March 25 to March 29.
Some 48 teams, including ones from Alaska, North Dakota and Massachusetts, will be playing in the Tier 1 series for 19-U, 16-U and 14-U women skaters.
For the Buffalo Niagara region, it continues what has been almost a weekly occurrence of hosting a major, amateur sports events.
"Amateur athletics is big business in Erie County and Buffalo," said Patrick Kaler, Visit Buffalo president and CEO.
This year, alone, Visit Buffalo has booked more than 80 major, amateur sporting events at various Erie County venues ranging from KeyBank Center and the LECOM HarborCenter in downtown Buffalo to the Northtown Center in Amherst.
Combined, those bookings are leaving behind an economic impact that exceeds $87 million.
The Chipotle USA Hockey women's championships are projected to have a $3.2 million economic impact, said Amherst Supervisor Shawn Lavin.
This week's tournament is seeing nearly 4,000 hotel room nights - mostly in Amherst booked.
"These things don't just happen by accident," Lavin said.
The Northtown Center complex that includes the four-rink arena and a host of softball diamonds has had an $87 million economic impact for the years between 2023 and 2025, said Eric Guzdak, Northtown Center general manager.
Last year, alone, the four-rink Northtown Center saw more than 1.6 million people walk through its doors - that's more than KeyBank Center welcomed.
Landing tournaments like the Chipotle USA Hockey series is key, says Lavin.
"We are trying to elevate the (Northtown Center's) image," Lavin said. "It is an important regional partner to our economics, not only for Amherst but for all of the region."