September 20, 2013 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch Page 15 . . County Council Eyes Md.Funding FROM PAGE 14 ico County and promote the MidAtlantic Amateur Sports Alliance, a report will be completed by the end of May 2014 giving a summary of the initiative, a performance matrix to demonstrate a return on investment for events as part of the initiative, and the justification with recommendations for expansion of this initiative from a county/regional approach to a statewide program. Recreation, Parks and Tourism Director Gary Mackes reported youth sports marketing is currently one of the fastest-growing businesses in the United States. For example, the USSSA Girls World Series held this past July through August in Wicomico County and Ocean City filled 13,000 hotel rooms and although the event cost Wicomico County $100,000 to acquire it created an economic impact of about $9 million overall. “What is going on with this is they [state] have commissioned us to demonstrate a return on investment on these events because what we really need to do is establish a state fund to help us acquire and retain these events,” Mackes said. “The idea is take three to four of our events and demonstrate a return of investment so that during the next session of the Maryland General Assembly the assembly will use that information hopefully to justify a fund in DBED to help the county retain these events.” Mackes furthered Wicomico County had partnered with Ocean City and Worcester County to accommodate the USSSA Girls World Series as the event has outgrown Wicomico County’s lodging space. The partnership has worked out as Wicomico had the land and sports fields and Ocean City has the beach destination and many hotels. The partnership has led to the concept of forming the Mid-Atlantic Amateur Sports Alliance between Wicomico/Worcester counties and Ocean City. A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been completed and is currently being reviewed by Ocean City officials. Although the MOU has not been finalized, the Maryland Stadium Authority Office of Sports Marketing is already spreading the word over the Wicomico/Worcester venue to hold large sporting events and a representative from AA Basketball has already toured the facilities between the two counties to hold an event in the area. “AA Basketball puts together huge events on the west coast primarily in Las Vegas and California. These events are so big there are thousands of teams playing in one of these tournaments,” Mackes said. “We are working on negotiations now but with the same organizers who are looking at bigger markets in Boston and Baltimore, but they like it here, and this new alliance is making that possible.” GOLFERS #1 WATERING HOLE FOR 14 YEARS OFTEN IMITATED, NEVER DUPLICATED world famous WEST N F L eighborhood ootball ootball ocation ocation NFL SUNDAY, 1 P.M. RAVENS vs. TEXANS ON OUR 54 TVS HD STEREO SOUND GET HERE EARLY FOR A GOOD SEAT! $5 NEW BLEED PURPLE Crushes • $4 Bloody Marys $2.50 22oz. Miller Lite, Coors Light & Bud Light Drafts $3.99 22oz. Blue Moon & Stella Drafts $10 Bud Light Cans Bucket with 1 FREE Coozie All Specials Are IN HOUSE ONLY! BETTER THAN YOUR AVERAGE PUB GRUB Sizzling Steaks, Jumbo Lump Crabcakes, Soft Shells, Ahi Tuna & Shrimp Tacos The Biggest And Freshest Salads & Much More! LOOK FOR OUR EXCITING NEW FALL SPECIALS! ### Saturday ### ESPN GAME PLAN•YOUR TEAM PLAYS HERE! $2.50 22oz. Miller Lite, Coors Light & Bud Light Drafts $3.99 22oz. Blue Moon & Stella Drafts Try Our Silder Sampler (Cheeseburger, Fried Chicken & Pulled Pork) $4.99 (Add Fries For 99¢) ENTERTAINMENT: FRIDAY: ✠✎¤✛✲✲✧¤ SATURDAY: ☛✤✶¤✘✷5✵✧✤✺¤x¤✘✫5¤✒5✹¤✟✷✵✶✤✧✵ KIDS’ MENU • CARRY-OUT • APPAREL SHOP • GAME ROOM • KENO • FUN FOR EVERYONE ROUTE 611• WEST OCEAN CITY • 410-213-1500 www.greeneturtle.com