State track and field meet brings in the people

New hotels downtown help keep them in town.

La Crosse is prepared for one of its busiest weekends for tourism during the year.

At 9:30 a.m. today, the two-day WIAA state track and field meet gets underway. 

Jeremiah Buresh with the county convention and visitor bureau says the championships bring in about 25,000-28,000 people – increasing the city’s population by about 50 percent for the weekend.

The new hotels downtown have only helped those numbers.

“We’ve heard people staying in Wionna, Tomah and Black River Falls,” Buresh said. “With the expansion of the hotel rooms, it’s crucial for an event like this.”

This marks the 28th straight year that La Crosse has hosted the meet, dating back to 1990.