The Central Illinois Challenge, hosted by Hype Nation at Emerald Acres Sports Connection, marked the largest tournament hosted at Emerald Acres to date. Held over two days, the event welcomed 90 teams and nearly 950 athletes, with more than 200 matches played throughout the weekend. Teams traveled from four states — Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Missouri — representing 19 different zip codes, underscoring the regional reach of the tournament.
While peak single-day attendance reached just over 3,100 people, the full impact of the event is best reflected across the entire weekend. Over the two-day tournament, more than 5,000 people passed through Emerald Acres, creating sustained activity from morning through evening on both days. This level of consistent traffic highlights the scale of destination-level events and their ability to generate extended engagement rather than a single-day spike.
From an economic standpoint, the Central Illinois Challenge delivered a significant and measurable return to the community. The event generated over $469,000 in direct economic impact (lodging, food & beverage, retail spending, etc.) The $469,000 in direct spending does not include the secondary effects such as local restaurants restocking after busy nights, employees spending their earnings locally, and regional suppliers supporting the surge in demand. Although these indirect and induced impacts were not included for this report, they represent a meaningful layer of economic activity that pushes the tournament’s total contribution near $1 million in estimated impact. On-site activity reflected the duration and volume of attendance, with concessions selling 1,356 chicken tenders, over 3,600 pretzel bites, 137 pounds of fries, more than 2,900 assorted drinks (coffee, water, and soft drinks), and 70 pounds of grapes over the course of the weekend.
Beyond visitor spending, the tournament also produced meaningful projected tax revenue at multiple levels. Economic modeling estimates over $29,000 in State of Illinois tax revenue, approximately $5,000 for Coles County, and more than $41,000 for the City of Mattoon. These figures demonstrate how sports tourism translates into tangible public return on investment, benefiting local services and the broader community.
The success of the Central Illinois Challenge reinforces the long-term value of hosting recurring, large-scale tournaments in Coles County. Events like this are not one-time occurrences, but part of a growing pipeline of repeat competitions that continue to bring athletes, families, and visitors back to the region. Through ongoing partnerships with organizations like Hype Nation, Emerald Acres is helping position Mattoon as a premier destination for youth sports while delivering sustained economic impact for years to come.
