The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board recently announced its newly formed sports commission, Valley Forge Sports, an initiative aimed toward luring the lucrative business of sports meetings and events to Montgomery County.

The effort has already proven fruitful, with a four-day USA Weightlifting event held at the Expo Center in February 2016 that brought more than 400 top athletes and their families to the region. It generated 880 room nights for area hotels and had a $1.7 million economic impact.

The 15-member Valley Forge Sports Commission includes professionals drawn from the region’s sporting venues and businesses, as well as other stakeholders in the hospitality industry.

“We welcomed USA Weightlifting to accelerate our efforts to grow Montgomery County as a sports tourism destination,” said Mike Bowman, president and CEO of the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board.

“Our newly formed sports division continues to work collaboratively with our 400 member hotels, attractions, and businesses to showcase the numerous attributes that make us an appealing destination to coaches and event and meeting planners.”

“We were thrilled to host this year’s National Junior Championships & Senior Trials in Montgomery County,” said Phil Andrews, interim CEO, USA Weightlifting.

“The convenience, venue size and other amenities were of great resources for our athletes and their families, and we’re looking forward to a memorable event.”

Josh Shapiro, chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, is excited about the formation of Valley Forge Sports.

“I know from watching my own four kids in competitions how a location can make or break an event,” he said.

“I applaud the VFTCB’s efforts to embrace not only the competitors but also the parents, guardians, and chaperones who travel with them, recommending things to do before and after the whistle blows. And fortunately, Montgomery County has plenty to recommend.”

In 2016, Valley Forge Sports will welcome the USA BMX Keystone Nationals, the Senior PGA Players Championship, the U.S. High School Team Squash Championships, the AAU Girls Basketball East Coast Championships, MyHockey, and the USGA Women’s Amateur.