What's regarded as the premier world-class shooting sports event will return to southwest Illinois after all.
The Amateur Trapshooting Association and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources have agreed to bring the Grand American World Trapshooting Championships back to the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta.
The return of the event was in question after Governor Bruce Rauner temporarily closed the shooting complex last fall because of the ongoing budget stalemate.
Sparta City Manager Corey Rheinecker says this will be a big boost for his community and beyond.
"The Grand alone, is about a 30% increase in our sales tax, for just the City of Sparta. So, you figure county wide and region wide, that's a pretty big impact to the area for just those two weeks of the summer."
Rheinecker says the event may be bigger than ever this year.
"I think they're trying to expand that a little bit more. Usually it's 10 days, now I believe it's from the last few days in July all the way through the 14th of August. So, expanding that really helps out as well."
Rheinecker says the Grand American attracted over 17,000 shooters last year and the event fills hotel rooms from Springfield to St. Louis to Cape Girardeau.
If the State of Illinois doesn't open the Sparta complex by April 15th, the new deal allows the Amateur Trapshooting Association to operate the facility so the Grand American can take place as scheduled from late July to mid-August.
The trapshooting association has a contract with the state to hold its world championship in Sparta through 2026.
