Charm City will be on display for an international audience in more than 100 countries this weekend.
Views of the Camden Yards Sports Complex, the Inner Harbor and the rest of downtown Baltimore will be shown during four hours of NBC?s coverage of the AST Dew Tour?s Panasonic Open on Saturday and Sunday.
“You can?t pay for that kind of exposure,” said Nancy Hinds, vice president of public affairs for the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association. “In terms of exposure and a television presence in Baltimore, it?s priceless.”
The Panasonic Open, which kicks off today and runs through Sunday, is the first of five Dew Tour events happening across the country this summer.
The Dew Tour is the world?s premier, season-long action sports tour, bringing skateboarding sensations Ryan Sheckler and Dundalk-native Bucky Lasek and other BMX and motocross stars to Baltimore.
In all, about 300 action sports athletes will compete over the weekend.
About 55,000 people attended the event last year ? the Panasonic Open?s first year in Baltimore ? and tour officials are expecting a bigger turnout the second time around.
“Baltimore?s home to very passionate and educated fans,” said Chris Prybylo, vice president of events for AST.
The multimillion-dollar event should create a nice economic boost for the local economy, Prybylo said. There are many short-term, local jobs needed to construct and break down the skateboard and bike parks around the stadiums, and many stadium workers are needed on the days of the event.
Events like the Dew Tour also help attract a younger audience to Baltimore, said Mike Evitts, spokesman with Downtown Partnership of Baltimore.
“This is an important event, bringing people to the region at a time when we?re looking for new visitors,” Evitts said. “It helps us fill hotel rooms and drive traffic to downtown attractions.”
The action sports crowd is also a “very fashion-conscious crowd,” meaning Baltimore retailers who sell clothing and equipment associated with skating and biking should benefit from the influx of fans this weekend, Evitts said.
The Panasonic Open appears to have found a long-term home in Baltimore, Prybylo said.
“We hope to be here for the foreseeable future,” Prybylo said.
