Home to nationally recognized lacrosse tournaments, My Lady’s Manor Steeplechase Races, the 2018 Bassmaster Elite at the scenic shorelines of the Chesapeake Bay and more, Harford County is a hotspot for the sport tourism industry, offering a wide variety of sports to suit everyone’s fancy.
Harford County is just 25 miles northeast of downtown Baltimore, accommodating those interested in fields, shorelines and nearly everything in between. The Bassmaster Elite will be coming to Harford County in the summer of 2018, estimating an economic impact of around $2.5 million. Greg Pizzuto, Director of Visit Harford, stated, “The selection process is highly competitive. We were selected for one of the 12 events awarded. To be one of these is exciting for the region. Cecil County hosted the event in 2015, and the expertise gained there will be helpful as part of the planning.”
Leaving the water and heading to the open space, My Lady’s Manor Steeplechase Races is one of Maryland’s oldest and most competitive days of timber racing. This event has taken place along the Monkton countryside since 1909, serving fun for all while also raising money for the community and having a large purse for its jockeys.
One of Harford County’s largest complexes is Cedar Lane Regional Park. Cedar Lane is located in Bel Air, just off I-95 and easily accessible to participants from all over. Cedar Lane Regional Park is an 110-acre multi-sport recreational complex serving adult leagues, youth soccer, lacrosse tournaments and several other events annually. Several of the tournaments that occur at Cedar Lane Regional Park see visitors from all across the country.
Overall, tourism has a significant impact in Harford County with roughly 1.85 million visitors to the county in 2015, up 3% from the previous year. The economic impact of sport tourism in Harford County is over $41 million per year, generating marquee events that are vital for the county’s growth and receiving national recognition as an optimal place to host one’s next sporting event.
For more information on Harford County’s sporting events and tourism updates, please visit their website and learn more about how to download their new Visit Harford! app on your iPhone or Android.
