MORE THAN 120,000 VISITORS EXPECTED OVER A COMBINED 20 EVENT DAYS
Spectra, which provides Venue Management, Food Services & Hospitality and Partnerships Services to the Atlantic City Convention Center and Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Meet AC, and The Atlantic City Sports Commission are pleased to announce two of the biggest annual events returned to Atlantic City this past weekend with very strong attendance. In total, more than 70,000 patrons attended the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association State Wrestling Championships and/or the Progressive Insurance Atlantic City Boat Show presented by Discover Boating. In the following weeks, an additional 50,000 patrons are expected to visit the facilities.
Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall played host the annual NJSIAA State Wrestling Championships from Thursday, March 3 through Saturday March 5. The event opened its doors to athletes from more than 50 High School Wrestling Programs as well as thousands of spectators from across the state of New Jersey. During the high school wrestling competitions, Boardwalk Hall had more than 35,000 guests in attendance.
The Progressive Insurance Atlantic City Boat Show presented by Discovery Boating brought more than 36,000 boating enthusiasts over the course of the five-day event. Show highlights included more than 300 exhibitors with displays of new models and luxury boats, boating equipment and other accessories for marine recreation. New activities helped education and inform Boat Show goers, including the Boat Show “Keeping our Waters Clean: Conservation Village” a mini beach clean-up station from The Clean Earth Project and the first annual “AC Says No to Plastic Clean Water” contest, a virtual fishing simulator, as well as kid-friendly exhibits like paddle boating on the mini indoor lake. The Boat Show also hosted the annual the Captain’s Table Gala benefitting the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.
“Atlantic City and the venues were electric this past weekend,” said Jim McDonald, General Manager of Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall and the Atlantic City Convention Center. “We at Spectra were happy to welcome back two of the larger annual events hosted in the City and the 71,000 visitors that attended them. Additionally, we look forward to the upcoming events schedule at the facilities starting this week, hosting the 2022 MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships and The American Camp Association’s Tri-State Camp Conference. In total, the two Spectra managed venues anticipate over 120,000 visitors through their doors in the month of March.”
“We are seeing great pent-up demand for live business and consumer events this year with a robust schedule of meetings, conventions and sporting events. Atlantic City will continue to see a boosted impact through this healthy tourism influx,” stated Meet AC and Atlantic City Sports Commission President and CEO Larry Sieg.
In the coming weeks, both venues will feature a full schedules of events. Currently, Boardwalk Hall is hosting the 2022 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championships through Saturday, March 12, followed by the sold out Re-Lit in AC concert, featuring rap and hip-hop artists Lil’ Kim, Ja Rule, Ma$e, Fat Joe and more, on Saturday, March 19. Boardwalk Boxing Rd. 1, a new professional boxing series, presented by Rising Star Productions will take place on Saturday, March 26 in the Adrian Phillips Theater.
The Atlantic City Convention Center will be hosting three Trade and Industry Conferences this month: The American Camp Association’s Tri-State Camp Conference March 13-16, the Impressions Expo March 24-26, and Mary Kay Career Conference March 25-27.
Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall and the Atlantic City Convention Center are owned and funded by the New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA). Spectra provides Venue Management, Food Services & Hospitality and Partnership Services to Boardwalk Hall and the Atlantic City Convention Center.
About Spectra
Spectra is an industry leader in hosting and entertainment, partnering with clients to create memorable experiences for millions of visitors every year. Spectra’s unmatched blend of integrated services delivers incremental value for clients through several primary areas of expertise: Venue Management, Food Services & Hospitality, and Partnerships. Learn more at SpectraExperiences.com.
About Meet AC
Meet AC, Inc. is a 501(c)(6) organization formed and funded as a public-private partnership by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) to create economic development through conventions, sporting events, film production and group tourism. Meet AC focuses on three primary objectives: sales, marketing and services. For complete Atlantic City tourism and convention information, visit www.meetac.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About the Atlantic City Sports Commission
The Atlantic City Sports Commission was officially formed on January 13, 2015 as a 501 (c)(3) organization with the support of Meet AC and the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) to attract sporting events, conventions and competitions to Atlantic City.
About the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA)
The only agency of its kind nationwide, the CRDA has used Atlantic City casino reinvestments as a catalyst for meaningful, positive improvement in the lives of New Jersey residents since 1984. Under the 2011 Tourism District Act, the Authority’s mission evolved from statewide projects to becoming the state’s key economic development agency for Atlantic City. CRDA’s expanded responsibilities now include land use regulation, tourism marketing and clean and safe initiatives. The CRDA also oversees Historic Boardwalk Hall (the leading entertainment venue of its size in the country) and the Atlantic City Convention Center. In total, CRDA has invested nearly $2 billion in more than 400 projects statewide, of which $1.8 billion has been invested in Atlantic City, spurring business investments and expansions, and creating permanent jobs in the process. For more information about CRDA and our projects, visit www.njcrda.com. Follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/njcrda, and Twitter at www.twitter.com/njcrda.
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