City Times Staff

Mayor Mike Wiza has scheduled a press conference on Friday to announce “some exciting news” from the city’s parks department.

In a news release sent Wednesday, Wiza hinted the news was related in some way to sporting events.

In the release, Wiza noted the “large economic impact” provided by sports tourism to any community, specifically writing that “youth and adult sporting events bring participants together from all across the state and beyond.”

“Having large facilities dedicated to these events creates economic opportunities,” Wiza wrote, adding the announcement was timed to coincide with the NBA’s March Madness and the SPASH boys basketball team heading to state semi-finals.

A call to Wiza’s office for additional information was not immediately returned. Parks Director Tom Schrader confirmed he would be present at Friday’s press conference, but declined to comment on the announcement.

Sara Brish, executive director of the Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitors Bureau said she only became aware of the press conference Wednesday, and confirmed she too would be present on Friday.

“I’ve been asked to speak about the importance of tourism in Portage County,” Brish said.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the Redevelopment Authority, Michael Ostrowski, the city’s community development director, said the city has lost out on bids for large-scale sporting events and other conventions because of the city’s limited number of hotel rooms and lacks a large convention center-type of space.

More as we have it.