Cheersport brings pep to Atlanta economy

They may not have the big TV audience like football bowl games or scouts watching the sidelines like basketball’s Final Four, but they pack a wallop when they’re here in Atlanta.

Cheersport, one of nation’s biggest cheerleading and dance competitions, is in Atlanta this weekend to determine some of the best of the field.

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Mikki K. Harris/mkharris@ajc.com

Megan Roca, 13, of Santa Clarita, Calif., practices with her team, California Flyers.

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Mikki K. Harris/mkharris@ajc.com

Nia Smith, 7, (right) talks with her Crimson Heat teammates of Prince George’s County Maryland after practicing Friday.

More than 70,000 attendees are expected to participate in the competitions.

The estimated economic impact: $36 million. That’s bigger than the Chick-fil-A Bowl ($32.6 million) and the SEC Championship ($29.4 million).

• The big number: More than 900 teams will compete in such divisions as school, dance, special needs and seniors.
• How big is big: Cheersport takes up more than 1 million square feet of the Georgia World Congress Center.
• What they get: every competitor on teams that place 1st, 2nd or 3rd will receive a medal. Teams that place first receive a National Champion banner; competitors on winning teams receive a National Champion jacket.
• Where they go from Atlanta: 44 bids will be offered to the 2009 Cheerleading Worlds competition in Orlando.

Source: Cheersport, Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau and Atlanta Sports Council