National bowling tournament to spark economy

ADDISON - The DuPage Sports Commission is set to host the second largest bowling tournament in the country beginning Sunday.

The United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships is a 71-day tournament that will involve 3,400 teams and 13,000 bowlers before it wraps up July 3, the Oak Brook-based tourism group said.

Early numbers indicate the event will generate an estimated economic impact of more than $12 million, according to the commission.

The event is being held at the 84-lane Stardust Bowl in Addison, one of only a few venues in the country large enough to host a tournament of this magnitude. Organizing officials have been working with the DuPage Visitors and Convention Bureau, the sports commission's parent organization, since 2017 to bring this event to fruition. Approximately 400 visitors and competitors will attend each day over the tournament's 10 weeks.

"The village of Addison is proud to support the vision of Stardust Bowl owner Henry Barber along with DuPage Sports Commission's vision for sports tourism," said Addison Mayor Richard Veenstra.