23 Aug Summit Lacrosse Tournament and Youth Summit continue to mean business for Lake Placid
Youth tourney and Summit set to continue lax tradition in two-time Olympic village
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – After 26 years of Summit Lacrosse Tournament excellence in Lake Placid, the 27th year, presented by Subway, not only saw the return of the Summit in early August, but the debut of a Youth Summit Classic in late June.
The combination of the two events has now become an even more significant economic driver in the community.
The all-inclusive 2016 Summit in August brought over 250 teams, from high school athletes to Masters teams, men and women, boys and girls. But it’s more than the competitors themselves: it’s their families, friends and followers that, all told, created a significant economic impact in Lake Placid.
The addition of 30 youth teams for the mid-week Youth Summit in June, together with the Lake Placid Horse Show, serves as a kick-off to the summer tourism season.
The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism has calculated an estimated $6 million in direct spending over the course of both events in Lake Placid. Hotels, restaurants and shops continue to feel the benefits of hosting these tournaments.
The debut of an exciting contest featuring Major League Lacrosse alumni, which aired on the Lax Sports Network, provided significant outbound exposure for the region as fans and followers around the world viewed the broadcast.
“It’s notable that many of our participants return year after year,” said Summit Lacrosse Tournament organizer George Leveille. “And while many began participating as single, young adults, many now have families who accompany them making this a vacation oriented event. It’s no secret that the many attractions that Lake Placid has to offer adds tremendous value to the overall experience of our participants.”
As the books close on the 2016 tournaments, attention will turn to the 2017 editions. The Summit Youth Classic is slated for June 26-28, once again, featuring elementary and middle school competition. Organizers will partner with local interests to expand the overall visitor experience of the attendees beyond the games.
The 2017 Summit Scholastic and Adult Lacrosse Classics will take place July 31-Aug. 6.
“Though we have just concluded the 2016 Summit Classic, which was perhaps our best yet, our sights are already set on 2017,” said Ashley Gersuk Murphy, CEO of Summit Lacrosse Ventures. “We set the groundwork for a Youth Event which we feel will gain significant traction in its second year, and we are confident that the 28th Summit Classic will again be an exceptional celebration of lacrosse, characterized by the highest level of competition, camaraderie, and vacation experience possible.
“We have opened our window of opportunity to lacrosse players of all ages — from youth, to age 60-plus adults. As a team, we cherish the Lake Placid experience, both on and off the lacrosse field, and we take great pride in offering as many athletes and families as possible the chance to join our community and visit the Village. Once people visit Lake Placid, they understand how special it is, and return for years to come.
“In addition to the direct spending delivered by the lacrosse community, having so many younger players coming to Lake Placid helps create the village’s visitors of the future.”
“The Summit Lacrosse program supports the region’s recreational sports brand, and rounds out Lake Placid’s status as a national sports center,” said James McKenna, president of the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism. “With the addition of the new youth tournament in June, the event’s value as an economic driver is complemented by its continued ability to introduce new markets to the Adirondacks, and create lifelong destination ambassadors.”
With lacrosse serving as an introduction to Lake Placid, “Many of our participants have developed their own loyalty to the area, meaning that they come here not just to play lacrosse, but to ski, paddle, boat, fish, hike, get married and have reunions. So the multiplier becomes even greater,” concluded Leveille.
For more information on both tournaments, please log on to www.lakeplacidlax.com and www.summitlacrosseventures.com. To gather lodging and activities information, organizers recommend www.lakeplacid.com.
About Lake Placid Summit Classic
Established in 1990, Lake Placid Summit Classic (LPSC) is one of the nation’s oldest and most highly attended events with 250 teams participating in 2016. The weeklong event is made up of 13 different divisions of play across boys, girls, men and women, and, participant ages range from 15 to 60 and over. LPSC is owned and operated by Summit Lacrosse Ventures, LLC. Learn more at www.summitlacrosseventures.com.
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