It was a busy weekend in the Mankato area with homecomings and sports events happening all around the city. The city benefits economically from a weekend like this.
If you had a hard time finding something to do this weekend in Mankato, you weren't looking very hard. A number of events over the last three days brought in lots of people looking to have fun.
"It was certainly good for the hotels, the restaurants, the bars," Preston Lougheed said.
Minnesota State Mankato celebrated their homecoming, along with two local high schools, Mankato West and Loyola.There were also a number of sporting events to chose from, including homecoming football games, a Maverick hockey game, and even a preseason Timberwolves game.
All these events added up to a windfall for the hospitality industry.
"Since we're a new hotel in town, they definitely had a great stay and will be back and just getting to know the Express is here," said Gerry Burke.
"Homecoming in general is good," Lougheed added. "And then with a good season the football team is having, family, friends."
The impact of a busy weekend like this one won't just be a short-term boost. City leaders hope the exposure Mankato gets will enhance its profile and make it a place people want to visit again.
"You can't be vibrant as a community in one weekend," Jonathon Zierdt said. "When we get thousands of people in town that come visit from close and far, they become accustomed to that kind of activity in the community, and they come back again."
Local business owners said the city was buzzing with visitors from downtown to the hilltop. And Zierdt says for some of those visitors, the area is starting to grow on them.
"I got an email this morning from an individual that was here over the weekend, and she said to me, 'what a fantastic community,' Zierdt said. "And she made this quote if I can remember it. 'You may come to Mankato and you may visit and leave. But Mankato won't leave you.'"
And it's this response that gives him confidence the area will continue to grow.
For the online KEYC-TV story, go to http://www.keyc.com/node/28525
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