Indiana Dunes Tourism has joined Valparaiso University in welcoming the more than 10,000 visitors expected in Valparaiso for the Horizon League 2012 Men’s Basketball Championship.
The games, which are slated for this Friday and Saturday -- and possibly Tuesday, March 6 -- at Valparaiso University’s Athletics-Recreation Center, feature the Valparaiso University Crusaders battling their conference foes for an automatic qualifying bid for the NCAA basketball tournament.
Indiana Dunes Tourism and Valparaiso University partnered to build a website landing page -- www.indianadunes.com/horizon -- specifically designed to assist the visiting teams and their fans.
The webpage has links to the Horizon League and to the Valparaiso University Athletics-Recreation Center. It also features Indiana Dunes Tourism’s dining, lodging, shopping and attractions listings in and around Valparaiso.
The webpage will also allow people to read online Porter County travel guides, map their trip, find coupons and get the latest information via Facebook.
In addition, Indiana Dunes Tourism will have a table set up at the Athletics-Recreation Center during the tournament to answer questions and to distribute brochures detailing Porter County’s businesses and attractions.
Indiana Dunes Tourism Executive Director Lorelei Weimer said she’s excited that Valparaiso University is hosting the tournament and bringing visitors to the area. Weimer said the average overnight visitor -- which the teams and many of their fans are expected to be -- spends about $93 per day, while the visitor in for the day spends an average of $40.
“Having the Horizon League tournament in Valparaiso will provide a big boost to the local economy,” Weimer said.
“We are excited to welcome more than 10,000 people to Valparaiso and provide them the information they need to find all the great hotels, restaurants, stores and attractions in the area.”