Each time Erie Sports Center has done something like this before, turnout has exceeded expectations.
So, owner Troy Bingham decided it was time to expand.
The center is set to welcome 2,000 Erie County youths to its Summit Township campus this summer as part of its “Sport For All” initiative. Registrants will choose three sports from a list of nine and attend free clinics for each.
“Erie has a super high refugee population and one of the poorest zip codes in the country, yet a history of great athletes,” said Troy Bingham, owner of Erie Sports Center. “For me, it’s a case of saying, how do we tap into that? How do we get kids playing sports again without the financial hurdle?”
Discover your new favorite sport
Erie County children ages 3-12 can choose from three of the following sports: Soccer, lacrosse, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, softball, baseball, football, pickleball and tumbling/cheer. Registration opened Thursday, and once it closes March 31, camps will be scheduled April-August.