The Redfish Elite Series Classic will have its final season tournament in Orange in April. The tournament is broadcast on the Discovery Channel’s Destination America. On Tuesday, the Orange City Council approved using $20,000 in hotel-motel occupancy taxes to help the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce sponsor the event.
John Gothia with the chamber said he had tried to attract the saltwater fishing tournament to Orange a few years ago. But after two Bassmasters tournaments drew record crowds, the redfish group called and wanted to come to Orange.
Gothia told the City Council that Orange doesn’t have the best bass fishing in the country. “We do know our redfish is some of the best in the country,” he said. Besides attracting an audience for the tournament, he hopes the redfish competition will draw people here to fish.
Ida Schossow, president of the chamber, said the group had not made an announcement of the tournament because contracts have not been signed with major sponsors.
The chamber is planning to have a festival, carnival and music concerts as part of the three-day tournament.
Bassmasters will be back in Orange in 2017. Gothia said he hopes the city can attract a major tournament every year.
The hotel-motel tax comes from a 7 percent charge to people who stay in a hotel or motel in the city. State law requires that the expenditures be used only for things that promote tourism or conventions with a maximum of 15 percent for the arts and a maximum of 50 percent for historical restoration and preservation.
This year, the Lutcher Theater will be getting $55,000 to help pay for the shows. In 2015, the city had drastically cut the amount to the theater. The move drew criticism and the city restored some of the amount.
Theater Director Jim Clark thanked the council and said the occupancy tax is also to encourage activities that get people to stay in the local hotels. He said the touring companies coming to the theater each year book 350 to 800 room rentals for the casts and crews. In addition, the theater draws visitors from as far away as Metairie, Louisiana, and Houston. Already, the theater has sold out the Vince Gill concert and Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth’s Lutcher appearance will be her only one in Texas.
Most of the occupancy tax income goes to the city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau. For the 2015-16 budget year, the CVB will get $386,800. The CVB budget includes sponsoring events like Art in the Park and advertising the events and tourism. Director Ashley Mahana said the CVB will add a Jazz and Wine Festival to the list of activities. The event will be in March at the Riverfront Pavilion.
The occupancy tax income will also pay $70,000 for adding bathrooms at the pavilion. The bathrooms were eliminated from the original construction because of cost overruns. The city has been bringing in portable toilets for events.
The budget includes a total of $50,000 for historical preservation with $15,000 to the Friends of the Orange Depot and $35,000 to the Heritage House Museum.
Other budgets include $10,000 to the chamber for the Mardi Gras parade plus $5,000 to the chamber for the Sabine Riverfront Festival. Also, $5,000 to the Southeast Texas Arts Council Off Ramp Magazine, $4,000 for advertising to Orange Trade Days and $5,000 for advertising to the annual Gulf Coast Cajun Festival.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
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