Sports tourism has returned to the Richmond region as Henrico County hosts the 2020 USA Softball Virginia State Championship.
"It was awesome to get going again," said J.C. Poma, director of sports relations for Richmond Regional Tourism. "We had 48 teams two weeks ago take part in the first event."
He said phase two reopening guidelines allow non-intentional contact youth sports. Families from all over the county have returned to the stands, while practicing social distancing.
"This year, it is definitely about safety, it’s about wellness, it’s about complying with the commonwealth’s safety guidelines," Poma said.
Those guidelines will expand into a phase three reopening next week, which will allow contact sports like soccer and rugby. And Poma says, through Labor Day, there are 33 more events in the region that could have an economic impact of $21 million.
