Detroit gets raves as host of USA Girls Volleyball nationals

DETROIT (WJBK) - It means a spike for Detroit - USA Girls Volleyball Competition at Cobo Center is pumping millions into our local economy.

"Detroit has really good french fries just so you know," said one player. "If you're here you should definitely get some."
 
A little food for thought.  These girls from California are thrilled to be in Detroit. One, they made it to this National USA Volleyball championship.  And yes, the fires are pretty fly.
  
Then there's what you can see in the D.

FOX 2: "So what are you think of Detroit so far?"

"It's pretty lit, you know," said one player. "There's some really cool stuff like we just went to a baseball game! And we saw Canada so we thought that was pretty cool. Canada is right there. That's so cool."

What's cool for the city and the suburbs is the fact there are more than 30,000 people in town for the championship games that started Monday and goes until July 4th. 
 
Hotels are booked to capacity.  Good luck finding a room this week. The convention and visitors’ bureau beaming because of it.  
 
"(They say) I read this, I heard that and when they come here they discover this really is a wonderful place to be, one of the great American cities," said Kris Smith of the Detroit Sports Commission. "So I'm hearing wonderful things."

Kristy Cox with USA Volleyball helped bring the tournament here. 

"It’s been amazing to see the changes Detroit has made," said Kristy Cox with USA Volleyball. "I think they're just surprised. They're surprised at what the city really is and most people have never been here and never really knew what Detroit was about 

"The space you guys have, the city has been friendly and welcoming so it's been good."

Good and sweet.  Kristy is being sent home with a little luggage for her relatives.  It's the only bumpy part of the trip. 

"Well, they brought me a few bumpy cake to take home so my family at home will be thrilled," Cox said.

 More than 70 courts packed with action. When they're done here for the day, they're out there. 

"I really like the nice places to eat and shop," said one player. "We went to Greektown and it was really nice. Greektown was very cool."

About $50 million in economic impact will be felt for metro Detroit because of this tournament.  
 
The city's reputation gets a bump thanks to thousands of new ambassadors.  

"Oh, I love it," said one coach. "We got here yesterday and everything I saw so far is great. I expected something else and I am really impressed. It's awesome."

"You expect the stereotypical stuff right?" said another coach. "And we went to the baseball game yesterday and that was awesome. We got to walk around downtown and that was pretty cool so far it's been a blast."