Travelers Spent $4 Million When Visiting Goldsboro’s Bryan Multi-Sports Complex in 2019

For Immediate Release

April 17, 2020

Goldsboro, N.C. – The Travel and Tourism Department for the City of Goldsboro and Wayne County, also known as Visit Goldsboro, has published an economic impact report on the 2019 calendar year of the Bryan Multi-Sports Complex located in Goldsboro. The report reveals that during January 1 – December 31, 2019, the complex generated an estimated $4,006,124 of new revenue into the local economy from visitor expenditures, which translates into approximately $270, 416 of sales tax and $16,952 of occupancy tax revenues.

The report is based on data collected from multiple sources. These include the Bryan Multi-Sports Complex’s internal reports for sporting events during the 2019 calendar year, Goldsboro-Wayne County Travel and Tourism market research, and Visit NC’s Visitor Profile Study.  Additionally, the Travel and Tourism Department collaborated with local hotels to document actualized room nights based on events held at the venue.

There were 236 events between January 1 – December 31, 2019 at the sports complex. Soccer is the most popular sport hosted at the complex, but the venue also regularly hosts cross country, Ultimate Frisbee, and football. One of the most exciting new sporting events the complex saw in 2019 was the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships of U.S. Quidditch. It was the organization’s first time bringing its sport to North Carolina, which attracted 1,200 spectators and nearly 20 teams from as far away as Pennsylvania. U.S. Quidditch plans to return to Goldsboro in November of this year for the regional championship.

The success of the complex is also reflected in the strong community partnerships with area minor league teams and youth sports clubs. The city’s partnership with Wayne County United Soccer Club (WCUSC) is the key factor for why the Bryan Multi-Sports Complex has become a favorite venue for the NC Youth Soccer Association’s State Cup (NCYSA) series. The NCYSA is based in Greensboro, N.C., and their organization hosts spring and fall Kepner Cup tournaments in Goldsboro along with Olympic Development Programs for youth soccer. Those events attracted well over 10,000 visitors since the Bryan Multi-Sports Complex opened in April 2018.

“We couldn’t thank you (City of Goldsboro and WCUSC) enough for being such gracious, attentive, prepared and thoughtful hosts,” said Colby Morton, NCYSA assistant director of Classic/State Cups. “You all put such an emphasis on making the teams, players and families feel welcome and that alone creates a one of a kind atmosphere.”

Serving as the home site for two semi-professional minor league teams, the Bryan Multi-Sports Complex welcomed athletes and spectators of the East Carolina Phantoms and Goldsboro Strike Eagles Football Club in 2019. The East Carolina Phantoms are part of the Independent American Football League (IAFL) and were formerly based in Wilson before transferring to Goldsboro to make the new facility their home in late 2018.

The Goldsboro Strike Eagles are a semi-pro soccer team in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL). The Strike Eagles’ head coach, Yacouba Niandou, said, “winning the UPSL Mid-Atlantic […]