ALLENTOWN, PA – February 17, 2026 – Senator Nick Miller announced recent investments by the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to enhance Pennsylvania’s tourism economy by supporting major sporting events, including nearly $200,000 in targeted investments for Lehigh County through DCED’s Sports Marketing and Tourism Program.
These investments build on the success of the 2023 NCAA Men’s Division I Hockey Allentown Regional, which generated $4.37 million for the local economy when it was held at the PPL Center from March 24–26, 2023 and in 2025.
New investments include:
- $100,000 to the United States Golf Association (USGA) for the 2026 U.S. Junior Amateur Golf Championship at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem.
- $23,000 to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs to bring the 2026 Banana Ball World Tour to Coca-Cola Park in Allentown for up to three nights in summer 2026.
- $50,000 to the PPL Center for the 2028 NCAA Men’s Division I Hockey Regionals in Allentown.
“Bringing major sporting events to the Lehigh Valley is not accidental. It is the result of a deliberate strategy to support our small businesses and strengthen our local economy,” said Senator Miller. “When the NCAA Division I Hockey Regionals came to Allentown in 2023, they generated more than $4 million for our community, filling hotels, energizing downtown restaurants and shops, and supporting family sustaining jobs. We saw that momentum continue in 2025, with hotels across the region, including the new Moxy, at capacity. These new investments build on that success. From the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Saucon Valley to Banana Ball at Coca Cola Park and future NCAA regionals at PPL Center, we are bringing visitors from across the country who spend money at our local restaurants, retailers, and neighborhood businesses. That is real support for the small businesses that make the Lehigh Valley unique.”
For more information about the Department of Community and Economic Development, visit DCED website.
###