Economy benefits from playoff games

By GWEN ALBERS Western News Reporter

Hardin High School's football team spent $2,000 last weekend for rooms and meals at Libby's Venture Motor Inn and Restaurant.

Dillon's football team has 24 rooms reserved for this weekend.

With Libby hosting the Class A state football playoffs, hundreds will travel to the far reaches of northwestern Montana to stay in its motels, eat at its restaurants and shop. As long as the Northwestern A champion Loggers remain in the playoffs, the games will be held here and the economy will prosper.

"It's a big bonus," said Louise Rice, executive director for Libby Area Chamber of Commerce. "It fills up the hotels, restaurants and gas stations. That's just an added plus for the community."

After traveling 600 miles to Libby last Friday for the quarterfinals, the Hardin football players and coaches stayed in 21 rooms at the Venture Inn. They also ate breakfast and dinner there, said assistant manager Lydia Mysee.

The Loggers on Saturday sent Hardin packing with a 33-13 victory, which means Libby at 1 p.m. this Saturday will host the semifinals and defending state champions, Dillon. A Logger victory would mean the state championship would be played here the following weekend.

Dillon is 65 miles southwest of Butte, which means the team and its fans will travel 360 miles to Libby.

The school on Monday booked 24 rooms at the Venture Inn, Mysee said.

"Weekends are slower so this helps us a lot," she said.

Gary Haverfield, assistant principal and activities director for Beaverhead County High School in Dillon, expects the team of 40 and 10 coaches to spend a total of $3,000 on rooms and meals. The money will come from the school's athletic budget.

Haverfield also expects that a lot of fans will drive to Libby.

"We've got a good base of support for our kids," he said.

When Dillon traveled the 190 miles to Frenchtown for last year's state championship game, the team left the night before.

"It's easier than having the kids get up early. Libby is too far away to go (back and forth) in one day," Haverfield said.

The staff at Treasurer Mountain Casino Restaurant and Lounge next to the Venture Inn worked overtime this weekend, said owner Dori Munro.

"It was a wonderful weekend for us," Munro said. "On Friday night, we had people from Hardin in and then on Saturday, most of the Hardin people were gone."

Customers came to Treasure Mountain for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

"We're really thrilled about having these games here because this time of year things slow down," Munro said.

At Super 8, four rooms were rented to Hardin fans, said front desk clerk Misty Willis.

Willis initially expected more guests.

"They were supposed to charter a bus, but couldn't get enough people to buy tickets," she said.

Libby Sports Center also kept busy thanks to the game.

"The store did really well. We had a big Saturday," said manager Gary Halvorson. "A lot of it had to do with the bad weather. There were a lot of people in town that needed stuff to sit out there and watch the game. They came to Libby Sports Center."

Halvorson hopes for the best for the Loggers in the playoffs.

"We just love our town and our team," he said. "We're behind them 100 percent."