Frankenmuth

13 There will also be other special events including a Faith Unity Day, which will feature faith leaders on stage and an Ice Cream Social on Sunday, May 26th at 12:00pm (noon). There will also be a Student Day for select grades throughout the region to partake in a field trip to the Dow for a speaker and activities. A ball hockey jamboree over Memorial Weekend will take place adjacent to the Dow Event Center Campus. Youth Hockey Skills Sessions presented by Zehnder's of Frankenmuth will be led by Spirit alumni at the Saginaw Bay Ice Arena throughout the week. There will be other non-public events for league officials, scouts, media, national partners and sponsors as well. Saturday, June 1st, is the day before the Championship game and there is no scheduled game for the Memorial Cup tournament. Thus, they will feature a headliner concert at the Jolt Event Park with country star and Grammy-award winner, Walker Hayes. That same day in downtown Frankenmuth fans and guests can enjoy the Christmas with the Cup event. Admission will be free for this event in Zehnder Park from 1pm-10pm, featuring Christmas-themed activities, décor, and live entertainment in a festive beer tent atmosphere. Many of the league officials and teams will be hosted in Frankenmuth, and it is anticipated that many families and fans will stay in our neighboring communities during the first weekend when Frankenmuth hotels are expected be sold out. It is also anticipated that some guests will come into the area mid-week or even for the second weekend for the final games and Championship, depending on the ticket package they purchase. Tickets are available for local fans to purchase as well, and availability can be found on the CHL's website, if you want to catch one of these highly anticipated games to witness some of the best hockey in the world, right in our own backyard. By the end of April, maps and printed schedules will be coming out with final details. The Frankenmuth and Go Great Convention & Visitors Bureaus intend to host a series of "Get Your Head in the Game" training sessions for regional hospitalities partners to provide training and resource materials for our frontline tourism professionals to be ready to execute on the great hospitality we intend to provide our international guests. An event like this does not happen without a lot of volunteers. They anticipate over 500, in fact, and the shifts may be full by the time this publication is printed, but you're encouraged to check the CHL website where there is a volunteer link if you're interested. There are some exciting opportunities to volunteer and will allow you to see a bit of the event from a different perspective. The Memorial Cup is anticipated to provide $25M in economic impact to the Great Lakes Bay Region. However, the legacy impact is far greater due to the collaborations and partnerships that have occurred via the Saginaw Spirit's Host Organizing Committee. This committee is working closely with the CHL and OHL to organize the event in Saginaw. The partners from multiple municipalities, various levels of law enforcement and emergency services, the sponsor support, and involvement in events from countless groups across the region are all examples of the relationships and teamwork that will leave a lasting impact. These positive efforts have laid the groundwork for good things to come. Additionally, hosting this event would not be possible without Saginaw County's significant investment into the county-owned Dow Event Center. They have modernized the facility to the standards of the CHL which was required to be awarded the bid, but those improvements provide new opportunity to attract many future events and concerts to continue the revitalization of downtown Saginaw. Beyond the improvements to the Dow, there are new mural and artwork projects, lighting upgrades, and other park improvements that extend into the community. The national Canadian broad- cast of this event will beautifully shine a light on what many may never have known existed. It's a very exciting time for the hockey fans of the region, and there is so much to be proud of related to the 2024 Memorial Cup for everyone in the Great Lakes Bay region. To learn more, visit chl.ca/memorialcup/

• Cover