WILKES-BARRE — Sen. John Yudichak Saturday announced the state’s continued support for funding tourism assets in Luzerne County with a $500,000 Marketing to Attract Tourists Program grant being awarded to the Toyota SportsPlex on Coal Street.
The SportsPlex facility serves as the practice facility and administrative offices for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and serves as a recreational hub for the region, hosting public skating, figure skating and hockey camps and clinics.
“For over two decades, Luzerne County, the City of Wilkes-Barre and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have partnered to attract thousands of visitors, which has helped to create hundreds of jobs and has driven millions of dollars into the northeastern Pennsylvania economy,” said Yudichak, I-Swoyersville. “State grant funding has been instrumental in strengthening this public/private partnership, which will be further fortified with the planned infrastructure upgrades to the Toyota SportsPlex facility that will enhance the experience for patrons.”
Just recently, in April of this year the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ “Project Power Play” broke ground on an outdoor Dek hockey rink outside the SportsPlex that was partially funded by another $250,000 tourism grant from the Department of Community and Economic Development. In January of 2021, Yudichak and Luzerne County officials worked to secure CARES Act Funding to make-much needed Mohegan Sun Arena improvements that allowed the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to continue to call the region and the arena home for years to come.
The $500,000 Marketing to Attract Tourists Grant will be used for the following renovations and upgrades:
• The pro shop will be renovated to service all skaters for hockey, figure skating and public skating.
• The ice rink player bench area will be upgraded to make it more participant friendly for all types of skaters.
• The plumbing infrastructure will be updated to make the facility more user friendly.
• New LED lighting for the rink and lobby areas will be installed to be more cost-effective and allow for interactive light shows during various types of skating events.
The renovation project is expected to be completed within one year.
“The Toyota SportsPlex is an incredible community asset, serving as the home base for more than a dozen youth hockey teams, local figure skaters, youngsters and adults learning to skate and those wishing to stay physically active,” said Jeff Barrett, CEO, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. “The tournaments, camps and clinics the facility hosts bring in thousands of visitors from outside of the area each year, and contribute to other local businesses, including restaurants, hotels and retail outlets. The proposed upgrades will allow the building to continue to provide high-quality instruction and entertainment in a safe environment and attract even more out of town guests for years to come.”
Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown said hen is thankful to Yudichak for securing this grant for the SportsPlex.
“Sen. Yudichak has always been a very significant leader in bringing investments to the City of Wilkes-Barre,” Brown said. “The SportsPlex renovations will be beneficial to our local athletes, teams, and families, as well as, visiting athletes, teams, and their families, thus bolstering tourism in the city.”
The Marketing to Attract Tourists Program provides funding to support and develop international tourism, sports marketing, outdoor recreation, and cultural attractions.
Non-profit organizations with a significant interest in the development of tourism products that provides a visitor experience to a tourist region are eligible to apply.
The SportsPlex houses the offices and practice facilities of the American Hockey League’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, offering programs to the public, such as camps and clinics, public skating, hockey programs and figure skating. Those programs will continue during the renovation project.