MACON, Ga. — The winter slows things down in Macon.
“In the hospitality industry, we go through our slow seasons. Since summer ended, it's slowed down a lot," Sleep Inn General Manager Christina Walker said.
She says they cater to local contractors in the area that are regular customers, but she says one group keeps them booked and busy.
“Weekends we have pickleball is usually when pickings start getting slim,” Walker explained.
They've partnered with the Southern Pickleball Association for the past year, including this weekend. The group says it could be the biggest pickleball tournament held in Georgia ever.
“We offer them a special rate. 10% off of our bar rate. A lot of times we do sell out,” Walker said.
The Candy Cane Classic pickleball tournament this weekend is set to bring in over 650 participants. Paul Midkiff who is the Co-Founder of Southern Pickleball Paul says 2,000 people may come through the doors.
“Last time I looked, we had players coming from over 12 different states,” he said.
Midkiff who's lived in Macon his whole life says he's seen the mall area transform.
“To see this old Belk store---which I think has been vacant for 15 years-- and it's about to be slammed on a regular basis,” he said.
Midkiff says players usually bring family and friends who are looking for things to do when they're not playing.
“After they go play pickleball, hopefully we'll send them downtown. Check out the Christmas lights, get something to eat. I think a lot of Air BnBs have been taken up. We've got a lot of hotel space,” Midkiff said. "The words just getting out that Macon is the epicenter of pickleball for the southeast."
Hotels like the Sleep Inn.
“The fact that they've built that new amphitheater over there, it's gonna bring a lot more businesses, a lot more events. It's just gonna help boost the economy that Macon so desperately needs,” Walker said.
Visit Macon says sports tournaments in Macon bring in $14 million a year.
They say pickleball tournaments typically bring in 300- 500 players and they generate $150,000 in business.
They say this upcoming tournament is the biggest one Macon has hosted and predict it’ll bring in $350,000 this weekend.
They say two other pickleball tournaments are coming up in January.