The sports council involves parks directors from each city, representatives from the local hotel and motel industry and people involved in organized sports. Cline has just returned from the National Association of Sports Commission meeting, which allowed him to bring Sumner County to the attention of groups such as the American Amateur Union, golf associations, fishing associations and other sports groups. We may get two or three events from that meeting. May 12-13, said this one tournament brings 52 teams to Gallatin with each team having between 15 and 18 players. Half of these teams will have to stay overnight in Gallatin hotels and they bring with them not just players, but moms, dads and grandparents.
Restaurants also benefit from the tournaments.
May is a busy month for sports events with the Lock 4 Bike Challenge, at least two soccer tournaments and the Twitty Worth Softball Classic. Helping attract sports events to the county are the facilities. Gallatin, Hendersonville and Portland are in the process of improving their parks by adding more baseball and soccer fields. The Gallatin Civic Center with its Olympic-size indoor pool has attracted major swimming events. The Lock 4 park in Gallatin off Cages Bend Road with its award-winning bike trails has attracted national bicycling events including the Xterra Games for two years.