When the Great Bend Sports Complex opened in 2012, it was the intention of the City of Great Bend and Great Bend Recreation Commission that it would be heavily used and bring several baseball and softball tournaments to town.
Mission accomplished.
Residents can’t drive by the complex south of town on a weekend without seeing hundreds of vehicles in the parking lot. The Sports Complex has done its job of reeling in out-of-towners to boost the economy.
Great Bend Community Coordinator Christina Hayes says a recent complaint of the hotels being full during a tournament is a rare thing, but would not mind a new hotel coming to Great Bend.
Christina Hayes Audio
Hayes is referring to the Great Bend Hotel and Convention Center on 10th Street, to the east of the Events Center. The Great Bend Hotel has seen multiple owners over the years along with name changes and has been closed for well over a year.
A baseball coach told the Great Bend Recreation Commission that the City of Great Bend can’t handle bigger tournaments from a community aspect. All the hotel rooms were booked, but Hayes noted a large wedding the same weekend as the reason why.