Monroe, LA – The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Track and Field Division 1 National Championships, held this past weekend at the University of Louisiana Monroe’s Brown Stadium, led to a significant economic impact of $1,125,014.97 for Ouachita parish. The event saw 838 athletes and their families, filling 2,440 hotel room nights and driving increased business to restaurants, shops, and local attractions.
This event was the first NJCAA National Championship held in Ouachita Parish. The championship consisted of 58 schools from 21 states across the country competing for the chance at a national title. The championship took place over 3 days, with athletes participating in a variety of events.
“It was an exciting weekend with athletes from Community Colleges from throughout the United States. Many of the competitors were international students, making the exposure for our community extremely wide reaching. The competition was strong and lively creating a great atmosphere on ULM campus. The student athletes, coaches, families, and fans were able to enjoy the great food and hospitality of our area. We enjoyed seeing all the collegiate buses throughout town making a large economic impact on our hotels, restaurants, shops, and more. We appreciate the numerous volunteers and officials that made the event operate smoothly. The team at Discover Monroe-West Monroe put in many hours to assure the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I National Track & Field Championship was an excellent experience for all those involved. We look forward to the opportunity to host more track events of this caliber in our area,” said Alana Cooper, Discover Monroe-West Monroe President/CEO.
This event was made possible through the support of The University of Louisiana Monroe, Monroe City, the Louisiana Department of Tourism, and countless volunteers.
