Simplot Games boosts local economy

With the Simplot Games just one day away, local hotels are gearing-up for the mass amounts of people about to take over the town.

That’s 1,900 athletes plus their families who will be coming to Pocatello, many of them for the first time, and the city is ready to take on the crowds.

Red Lion Hotel Director of Sales Dawn Williams said these athletes usually start booking a year in advance, so it will be tough to get a hotel room throughout the city.

“Keep calling and keep trying because they might have cancellations due to weather back East,” Williams advised.

But, Williams said this is a great economic opportunity for the community.

“We as a community, and of course hotels, just love it because it does bring so many people to our area, not just in our hotels but in restaurants, shopping and doing everything else in town,” Williams added.

Simplot Games Executive Director Lisa Woodland said the games bring in more than $6 million between Wednesday and Sunday, from the time the athletes arrive into town and the time they all shuffle back out.

“Anything that’s happening all happens that weekend and so of course our stores are filled up, and any type of revenue is so healthy for Pocatello,” Woodland said.

The Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting during Wednesday night’s Chamber Afterhours at the Red Lion Hotel at around five o’clock.

Here is a link to the Simplot Games schedule:http://simplotgames.com/meet-information/event-schedule/