Glass Blown Open Brings in Big Bucks for Emporia, Kansas

The city of Emporia, Kansas is about to roll out the red carpet again for one of its biggest events: the Glass Blown Open (GBO). This week-long disc golf tournament has grown exponentially since its humble beginnings as a small B-Tier event 15 years ago. The GBO is now one of the largest and most popular disc golf tournaments in the world, with over $2 million injected into the local economy.

According to Susan Rathke, Director of the Emporia Convention and Visitors Bureau, this figure takes into account not just tournament fees but also lodging, food, transportation, and entertainment for the thousands of sports tourists who flock to the city. In fact, the GBO has become so big that it rivals the Dirty Kanza bike race, another major outdoor event held in June.

Hotels in Emporia are sold out months in advance, with campgrounds and Airbnb rentals also fully booked. Some players have even had to stay outside of town due to the high demand for accommodations. The Avasté Hotel Suites & Convention Center, which normally fills its 90 rooms at a relatively low occupancy rate, sees a triple-digit increase during GBO week.

But the impact goes beyond just the local economy. With participants from 44 states and 10 countries attending the tournament, the city experiences a surge in cultural diversity. Emporians have welcomed these visitors with open arms, often going above and beyond to make them feel at home.

One notable example is a Swedish player who arrived in Kansas after being pickpocketed while on a layover in England. He was taken under the wing of a local church, which arranged for him to stay with a host family during his visit. This kind of kindness has become a hallmark of the GBO experience, with Emporians showing a genuine appreciation for the diversity that disc golf brings.

Eric McCabe, who took over the GBO in 2003 and is now a part of the tournament's organizing team, is grateful for the city's support. "What I respect is that the city is not just taking the money in and doing nothing," he said. "They are doing everything in their power to promote disc golf in this community."

As the GBO continues to grow, so does its potential. With more hotels on the horizon and plans to add another course in 2019, Jeremy Rusco, founder of Dynamic Discs, believes that the tournament can continue to expand without losing its charm. "It's a place where everybody feels comfortable," Rathke said. "This is our town."

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/small-town-big-impact