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Kansas City Royals owner David Glass recently said peo- ple were skeptical 10 years ago about whether Northwest Ar- kansas could support a dou- ble-A minor league baseball franchise. But the area has shown strong support for the Spring- dale-based franchise. More than 300,000 fans have gone through the gates of Arvest Ballpark in nine of the 10 sea - sons the Northwest Arkansas Naturals have existed, accord- ing to the team's attendance records. Glass, a Bentonville resi- dent, keeps an eye on his Roy- als' affiliate, attending a few games each season, particu- larly opening day. This year's home season opener is April 5 against the Corpus Christi Hooks. Baseball is just one of the professional sports available in the area. The Walmart NW Arkan- sas Championship, an LPGA golf tournament, is in its 12th year at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers. The overall purse increased from $1.2 million to $2 million in 2010. Crowds gather on the course to watch profession- als from all over the world compete, and former Razor- back standout Stacy Lewis draws some of the biggest galleries. A variety of events throughout the week such as a fairly new food festival, and a concert set the stage for the tournament on the weekend. The Joe Martin Stage Race is a four-day professional men's and women's cycling race and a two-day amateur stage race held each spring. This year marks the 41st anni - versary of the amateur races, 16th year being on the USA Cycling Pro Racing Tour and fourth year to be on the Union Cycliste Internationale Amer - ica Tour calendar. The racing event draws more than 750 athletes and teams from 27 countries and all 50 states, according to the race website. Rodeo of the Ozarks will come to Springdale for its 74th year this summer. The Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association rated the event as one of the top five outdoor rodeos in the country. More than 400 cowboys and cow - girls took part in events rang- ing from bull riding to team roping in 2017. The Fishing League World- wide Tour has stopped at Beaver Lake 19 times over the years. The 2017 FLW Tour drew 322 bass-fishing professionals and co-anglers to Northwest Arkansas. The tour is bypassing the region this year. J.R. Shaw, executive di- rector of Visit Rogers, said professional sporting events bring a level of awareness and credibility that show North- west Arkansas is a desirable destination. "If you have a marquee event that generates a lot of buzz, gets national attention, is televised, you can't buy that kind of stuff," Shaw said. "That's almost priceless." He said tracking economic impact is difficult, but called it major. The LPGA, for ex- ample, means more than just golfers are coming to the ar- ea. The event also draws fans, press and vendors, he said. "And what happens when someone goes down the street to catch an event? They make a day of it," Shaw said. "They will get something to eat, ride the trails, go shopping. There is a ripple effect." HOME RUN Justin Cole, general manag- er of the NWA Naturals, said it's a big task to stay relevant in an area where competition for the entertainment dollar grows with the population. "I look at the next 10 years just like the first 10," Cole said. "I hope to be sitting here say- ing some of the exact same things. We continue to aver- age over 300,000 fans. For us, the key is not differentiating yourself, but how do you con- tinue to generate excitement about something that isn't new anymore? "You always knew that was coming, but a lot of stuff has come online that is new. For us, it's maintaining affordabil- ity, being family friendly and accessibility. Those are three pillars that we can not lose sight of in the midst of every- thing else that we want to do." The schedule of 140 games, including 70 home games from April through July, is a challenge, Cole said. But it also gives fans lots of oppor- tunities. The Naturals are part of the Texas League, which in- cludes teams in Little Rock; Springfield, Mo.; Tulsa, Okla.; and Frisco, Corpus Christi, Midland and San Antonio, Texas. Many of the key play- ers who helped Kansas City win the World Series in 2015 played in Northwest Arkan- sas. Naturals fans developed a connection early on with players such as Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Salvador Perez. Hosmer and Moustakas were key cogs as the Naturals won the Texas League cham- pionship in 2010. But even nonbaseball fans are drawn to the Naturals be- cause of jersey or bobblehead giveaways and other special activities at the ballpark. Faith and Family Night, which in- cludes a pregame concert and postgame fireworks, contin- ues to be one of the most pop- ular promotions. There are two of those again scheduled this season, Cole said. TEEING OFF LPGA commissioner Mi- chael Whan said the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship stands out. "When we're talking to other sponsors and tourna- ments to assess what it takes to be a good LPGA event, eight out of 10 times we bring them to Northwest Arkansas," he said. This year's tournament will be one of 34 LPGA events around the world this season. The LPGA added three events in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Shanghai this year. Northwest Arkansas gives a welcoming, hometown vibe to the tournament, Whan said. "We have a large percent- age of our players that don't stay in hotels for this tourna- ment," he said. "People open up their homes. They are rid- ing up in golf carts of the peo- ple they are staying with. You walk around and see a block party or a cook out. As a com- missioner, it puts a smile on your face." The tournament is afford- able as prices for a daily tick- et were lowered from $15 to $10 in 2016, and crowds have continued to grow in the past couple of years, according to Jay Allen, event chairman. Tournament leaders sell a three-day pass for $25, while kids 17 and younger get in free with a ticketed adult. Whan said the Rogers tournament has a big purse with an incredible field. "You look at any other sport where 85 or 90 of the top 100 come to an event. That's a major on the men's side," he said. "With such a busy schedule, it's easy for them to skip an event and just pick and choose. Almost all of them pick this one." Paul Boyd can be reached at pboyd@nwadg.com or on Twitter @NWAPaulb. PAUL BOYD NWA DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE Professional sporting events draw crowds in region File photo/NWA Democrat-Gazette/ANDY SHUPE Northwest Arkansas Naturals third baseman Jack Lopez (right) makes the throw to first before leaping over starting pitcher Josh Staumont against Tulsa Drillers on Sept. 7 during the Texas League North Division Series at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale. NWA Democrat-Gazette File Photo Regina Plasencia of Guadala- jara, Mexico, putts on the sec- ond green during the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship on June 20, 2016, at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers. Out to the ballpark The Northwest Arkansas Naturals continue to pull in large crowds after 10 years in Springdale. SOURCE: texas-league.com 250,000 300,000 350,000 400,000 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 Home games: 69 Average attendance: 5,200 Home games: 66 Average attendance: 4,819 Home games: 66 Average attendance: 4,856 Home games: 65 Average attendance: 4,779 Home games: 69 Average attendance: 4,656 Home games: 68 Average attendance: 4,685 Home games: 69 Average attendance: 4,625 Home games: 65 Average attendance: 4,469 Home games: 70 Average attendance: 4,457 Home games: 68 Average attendance: 4,471 TOTAL ANNUAL ATTENDANCE YEAR NWA Democrat-Gazette/CHRIS SWINDLE ATHLETIC COMPETITION ∂ ∂ SUNDAY, MARCH 18, 2018 v 7U Live & Play With our production facility in Gentry, Arkansas, we are one of many McKee Foods locations serving over 6000 employees. Proud to be a part of Northwest Arkansas, we are privately owned and operated, and skilled with decades of experience in providing quality baked goods. 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