For Immediate Release
Emerald Acres Mid-Year Report Highlights $6.7 Million Economic Impact and Community Growth
[MATTOON, IL] August 4th, 2025 – Since opening in December 2024, Emerald Acres Sports Connection has quickly established itself as a regional hub for sports, events, and community engagement. In just over half a year, the facility has already surpassed key projections and delivered a meaningful impact to the Coles County economy.
Emerald Acres has welcomed over 10,000 athletes and more than 400 teams, drawing an estimated 24,926 guests to Emerald Acres. Of those, more than 15,900 were non-local overnight visitors, contributing to an estimated 36,383 visitor days in the market. In total, these events helped fill 7,294 hotel rooms.
The estimated direct, indirect and induced economic impact now exceeds $6.7 million, surpassing early projections of $5.2 million for the facility’s first year. These dollars reflect not just the activity at Emerald Acres, but the broader tourism effect on local hotels, restaurants, shops, and services.
“We’re incredibly proud of the role Emerald Acres is playing in bringing people to Mattoon and Coles County,” said Tyler Yoder, General Manager.
A variety of high-profile tournaments and events have helped drive this growth, including:
- NASP State Archery Tournament
- IKWF Wrestling Regional
- Hype Nation Central Illinois Challenge
- USJN March Mayhem
- Rural King Sales Expo
- Emerald Courts Summer Shootout
In addition to regional tourism events, Emerald Acres has also proudly hosted community-focused gatherings such as It’s a Girl Thing and the Mattoon Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner & Awards Banquet, reinforcing the facility’s commitment to serving both local residents and out-of-town guests.
As of July, Emerald Acres has helped create 47 local jobs, with continued hiring planned as operations grow.
Looking ahead, Emerald Acres remains focused on driving visitation, supporting the local economy, and being a home for both elite competition and community celebration.
All economic impact figures are estimated using a calculator developed by The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC), which manages more than 70 sports and recreation complexes across the United States.
For information about hosting an event or tournament, contact J.R. Hodges at jhodges@playemeraldacres.com.
