Stadium district aims for darts hat trick

GREEN BAY – The Lambeau Field stadium board calculates giving $15,000 to lure the WAMO State Dart Tournament to Green Bay is an easy bulls-eye.

Green Bay/Brown County Professional Football Stadium District members awarded the money to the Greater Green Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau on Wednesday to aid its bid for the tournaments in 2018 and 2021.

Wisconsin Amusement and Music Operators Inc. will hold its 2016 tournament May 11-15 in Shopko Hall. Some 4,000 competitors are expected. The tournament has a $3.1 million per year economic impact,  said Joel Everts, sports sales manager for the CVB. Estimated hotel room nights are 6,600 per year.

"Based on the return on investment, this is a no-brainer," said Patrick Webb, stadium district executive director.

WAMO is not new to the area, having held darts and pool tournaments here multiple times during the past 15 years. Everts said the darts tournament tends to rotate between Wisconsin Dells, La Crosse and Green Bay.

This year's tournament is at Shopko Hall in Ashwaubenon, but WAMO is looking at either Shopko Hall or the KI Convention Center in downtown Green Bay for the future tournaments.

The stadium board provides grants to local groups and agencies from its special events and economic development fund. Money for the fund comes in part from Lambeau Field parking fees for special events and a 10 percent stadium ticket tax.

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