NET GAINS

Quincy is hoping that national TV exposure from volleyball tourney will have long-term impact

KARA DELAHUNT photos/For The Patriot Ledger

Vincent James works on assembling bleachers for this week’s pro volleyball tournament at Marina Bay in Quincy.

The nationally televised event starts Thursday, Aug. 16 in Marina Bay

By JOHN P. KELLY
The Patriot Ledger

QUINCY - When NBC’s cameras fade from close-up beach volleyball action to that panorama shot of Marina Bay, viewers in living rooms across the country are likely to wonder: where’s that?

Tourism and business leaders here are hopeful that national television exposure for Quincy during this weekend’s AVP Bob’s Stores Open will add to the city’s destination appeal. Likewise, restaurant and shop owners are setting their sights on the 3,000 to 4,000 daily volleyball fans as a potential onslaught of late-summer business.

What impact the four-day tournament will have on the city’s economy is largely a matter of speculation. Fenway Sports Group, the marketing company partnered in the event, estimates the city will reap between $1 million and $3 million.

“But the prestige impact is worth far more than that,” Executive Vice President Jay Monahan said.

During lulls in the action, NBC will air vignettes with aerial shots of the city’s coastline and commentary on the Quincy’s rich history, in what Monahan described a “national commercial to showcase the entire area.”

“People who would never have heard of the South Shore now will,” he said.

Ticket sales in Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island suggest the tournament is already having regional appeal. And it could quickly turn into an annual event if its debut is deemed a success.

Planners estimate the city will see at least 500 hotel bookings as athletes, corporate sponsors, and their clients fly in for the weekend.

Catering to the newcomers is a topic of discussion in the business community.

Nowhere is that more apparent than in Marina Bay, where the WaterWorks nightclub parking lot is being transformed into a mock-sand beach surrounded by spectator stands and promotional booths for the tournament, which brags some of the sports premier players.

“There’s definitely going to be a lot of confusion,” said Denise Renaghan, whose husband owns the waterfront restaurant Captain Fishbones. “But overall, the sense among businesses in Marina Bay is pure excitement.”

Renaghan said brainstorming is underway on how to capitalize on the crowd: restaurants are planning to distribute menus and discount prices; a gift shop is marking down Marina Bay apparel; Aria Salon & Spa staff plan to offer massages to spectators.

At Skyline restaurant, managers are scheduled to meet Tuesday, Aug. 14 to discuss a special menu, which one employee. said would include quicker-to-prepare meals for fans in a hurry to catch the next match.

Captain Fishbones, a seafood and steak restaurant, is giving 10 percent discounts to tournament ticket holders, staffing extra personnel, and planning to run an outdoor hotdog stand.

“We want to make sure we’re not turning people away,” Renaghan said.

Parking and traffic are a concern among residents and businesses, who fear the single roadway into Marina Bay won’t handle the inflow of fans.

“Personally, I’m weary of this,” said Marina Bay resident Elizabeth Duval. “Possibly it is a win-win for the city; I’m just not convinced its a win-win for Marina Bay.”

The South Shore Chamber of Commerce, which represents 2,500 businesses, signed on as an event sponsor, along with companies like McDonald’s, Shaws, and Boston Sports Clubs.

Peter Forman, the chamber’s president and CEO, said the organization stood to make no short-term gain from its $5,000 kick-in. The chamber donated its booth at the event to the Cultural Coast, a tourism organization that promotes coastal Massachusetts.

“We’re investing in the much longer vision of this tournament,” Forman said. “This will help show the city off as a great place to visit.”

John P. Kelly may be reached at jkelly@ledger.com.