Gallatin Valley Lacrosse League DBA Headwaters Lacrosse.
April 25, 2026

Location:
Montana State University

Requested Funding:
$15,000.00

Total Budget:
$48,000.00

Organization name:
Gallatin Valley Lacrosse League DBA Headwaters Lacrosse
 	
Street address:
3300 W Hollyhock Drive
 	
City:
Belgrade
 	
State/Province:
MT
 	
First name:
Leah
 	
Last name:
Grimm
 	
Position/Role in Event:
Club Secretary
 	
Email:
media.hwlax@gmail.com
 	
Phone number:
5302773720
 	
Which TBID are you applying to?:
Galaltin Valley TBID
 	
Event Title:
Headwaters Classic Lacrosse Tournament
 	
Proposed Date of Event:
April 25, 2026 

Event Location:
Montana State University
 	
Amount of Funding Requested:
15000
 	
Total Budget:
48000
 	
Summary of Event:
The Headwaters Classic Lacrosse Tournament is a regional youth sports event scheduled for April 2026 in Bozeman, Montana. The multi day tournament will bring approximately 800 youth athletes and up to 1,500 total visitors to the community, with the majority traveling from outside the Gallatin Valley and requiring overnight accommodations. 

The event is designed to create meaningful shoulder season tourism demand by generating hotel room nights, increasing visitor spending, and supporting local businesses during a period when occupancy is typically below peak summer levels. Games will be hosted at Montana State University athletic facilities and scheduled across a full weekend to encourage multi night stays. 

Participants include youth athletes, parents, siblings, coaches, referees, and event staff. The tournament aims to deliver a professionally managed competition experience while positioning Bozeman as a family friendly sports tourism destination that attracts repeat visitation. 

The primary objective of the event is to drive measurable economic impact for the community through lodging, food and beverage, retail, and service sector spending, while also supporting the continued growth of youth sports tourism in the region.
 	
Grant Request Purpose:
TBID grant funding is requested to help offset core event infrastructure and operational costs directly associated with hosting out of market visitors for the Headwaters Classic Lacrosse Tournament. Specifically, funding will support athletic facility rentals, field preparation, officials, athletic trainers, event staffing, and essential tournament logistics required to safely and professionally execute a multi day regional event. Headwaters Lacrosse is a volunteer board run organization, and these funds help subsidize the cost of delivering the event so the organization can continue to provide accessible youth programming while generating overnight stays, room nights, and measurable economic impact for the Bozeman community during the shoulder season.
 	
Lodging Facility Impact:
The Headwaters Classic Lacrosse Tournament is expected to attract approximately 800 youth athletes and up to 1,500 total visitors, with an estimated 65 percent traveling from outside the Gallatin Valley and requiring overnight accommodations. Participating teams are anticipated to travel from communities throughout Montana including Billings, Helena, Missoula, Kalispell, and Great Falls, as well as from surrounding regional markets such as Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado. The tournament is structured as a full weekend event to encourage multi night stays, with an average projected length of stay of approximately two nights. Based on these estimates, the event’s goal is to generate approximately 975 hotel room nights, representing an estimated $170,000 or more in lodging revenue based on a conservative average nightly rate of $175. 

In addition to lodging demand, the event is projected to generate approximately $180,000 in local restaurant and food and beverage spending and an estimated $60,000 in retail, transportation, and other visitor related expenditures. Overall, the tournament is expected to produce more than $400,000 in total direct economic impact for the Bozeman community. Room night impact and visitor spending will be measured through team registration data, post event surveys, and estimated attendance tracking including zip code and travel origin analysis. Headwaters Lacrosse will actively promote local lodging options by listing all participating hotels in tournament communications, registration confirmations, and digital marketing materials, and will include a direct link to visitbozeman.com to support visitor planning and drive bookings within the TBID lodging network.
 	
Organization Overview:
Headwaters Lacrosse is a Bozeman based youth sports organization dedicated to introducing and developing the sport of lacrosse for athletes in grades kindergarten through eighth grade. For more than 14 years, the organization has provided accessible, skill focused programming that supports both athletic development and positive youth experiences rooted in sportsmanship, teamwork, and healthy lifestyles. Headwaters Lacrosse serves hundreds of local families each year through seasonal programming, clinics, and competitive opportunities, while also contributing to regional sports tourism through the hosting of tournaments and events that bring visiting teams and families to the Gallatin Valley. The organization is governed and operated by a volunteer board committed to strengthening youth athletics and community engagement in Bozeman.
 	
Available Resources:
Headwaters Lacrosse actively pursues multiple funding sources to support programming and event delivery, including local business sponsorships, player registration fees, and year round community fundraising efforts such as volunteer service based initiatives and events with community partners like Town and Country Foods. These revenue streams help offset general operating costs, but regional tournaments of this scale require significant investment in facilities, staffing, and logistics to successfully host out of market participants. 

TBID funding is not being requested as seed funding. The Headwaters Classic is an established and repeatable event that already generates measurable visitation and economic impact. Rather, this funding is intended to support the continued delivery and sustainability of the event as a shoulder season tourism driver for Bozeman. As participation levels, sponsorship partnerships, and operational efficiencies continue to strengthen, the event is expected to remain financially viable while continuing to provide consistent lodging demand and visitor spending benefits to the community.
 	
Project Budget Timeline & Requirements:
A detailed event budget has been prepared and is included with this application outlining projected expenses and revenue associated with the Headwaters Classic Lacrosse Tournament. Major cost categories include athletic facility rentals, field preparation, officials, athletic trainers, event staffing, safety infrastructure, equipment rentals, and operational logistics required to host a multi site, multi day regional tournament. Estimated total event expenses for 2026 are approximately $48,906, with projected revenues generated through team registration fees, sponsorships, and limited vendor participation. 

Headwaters Lacrosse understands that 75 percent of grant funding will be released upon award, with the remaining 25 percent distributed following submission and approval of final event reporting. The organization is prepared to execute the required funding agreement with the Gallatin Valley TBID and to comply with all reporting requirements, including post event financial reconciliation and impact documentation.
 	
Additional Comments:
The Headwaters Classic Lacrosse Tournament represents an important opportunity to strengthen Bozeman’s position as a regional destination for youth sports tourism while delivering measurable economic benefit during the shoulder season. As a volunteer board run organization, Headwaters Lacrosse is committed to providing high quality programming for local youth while responsibly hosting events that support the broader community. Continued partnership with the Gallatin Valley TBID helps ensure the tournament can be delivered at a professional standard that meets the expectations of visiting teams and families, encourages repeat visitation, and supports local lodging, restaurant, retail, and service businesses. Headwaters Lacrosse values the opportunity to contribute to the community’s tourism economy and is committed to transparent reporting and ongoing collaboration to maximize the impact of this event.
 	
Event Challenges:
The primary challenges associated with hosting the Headwaters Classic Lacrosse Tournament relate to managing the scale and logistics required to successfully deliver a multi site regional event while maintaining affordability for participating families. Facility availability, field preparation, staffing, and safety infrastructure all require significant coordination and upfront investment, particularly during shoulder season weather variability. As a volunteer led organization, balancing professional event execution with financial accessibility for youth participants is an ongoing consideration. Additionally, attracting out of market teams requires continued marketing investment and strong visitor experience delivery to ensure repeat participation. These challenges are manageable but require thoughtful planning, community partnerships, and financial support to ensure the event continues to generate consistent overnight visitation and economic benefit for the Bozeman community.
 	
How many volunteers are required?:
50 
 	
Has this event been in the Gallatin Valley before?:
Yes
 	
If this event has been in the Gallatin Valley, when?:
Same time, prior year
 	
Has this event been in Montana before?:
Yes
 	
If this event has been in Montana, when?:
Same
 	
Could this event cancel on the same day due to inclement weather?:
It is unlikely that the event would cancel on the same day due to inclement weather. Lacrosse is typically played in rain and variable spring conditions, and tournament scheduling is built with flexibility to adjust game timing or field assignments if needed. However, in the case of severe weather or unsafe field conditions, including lightning or extreme weather events, modifications or partial cancellation may be necessary to ensure participant safety. April weather in Montana can be unpredictable, and contingency planning is in place to minimize disruption while prioritizing the safety of athletes, officials, and spectators.
 	
Could this event cancel a month of less before its intended date for any reason?:
It is unlikely that the Headwaters Classic Lacrosse Tournament would cancel within a month of the scheduled event date. The tournament is supported by confirmed facility reservations, established operational partnerships, and registered team participation well in advance. As a repeatable and planned regional event, key logistics, staffing, and scheduling commitments are secured prior to this timeframe. Cancellation within one month would only occur under extraordinary circumstances beyond the control of the organization, such as major facility closure, public safety directives, or other significant unforeseen events. Contingency planning is in place to mitigate risks and support successful delivery of the tournament.
 	
What, if any, entities will proceed from this event?:
Headwaters Lacrosse partners with Treasure State Lacrosse, an experienced event operations organization, to support execution of tournament logistics including scheduling, officials coordination, and onsite management. Treasure State Lacrosse is compensated for professional services related to event delivery. Outside of contracted operational support, no additional entities are created or financially proceed as a result of the event. The primary beneficiaries of the tournament are participating youth athletes and families, as well as the Bozeman community through increased visitation and economic activity supporting local lodging, restaurant, retail, and service businesses.
 	
Why will proceeds be donated?:
Headwaters Lacrosse is a volunteer-run youth sports organization and any net proceeds generated from the Headwaters Classic Lacrosse Tournament are reinvested directly into youth programming, equipment support, and financial accessibility initiatives rather than retained solely for future event reserves. This approach aligns with the organization’s mission to expand participation opportunities and reduce financial barriers for local athletes and families. While event sustainability is an ongoing goal, maintaining affordability and supporting year-round programming remains a priority. As participation levels, sponsorship partnerships, and operational efficiencies continue to strengthen, the organization anticipates a continued reduction in reliance on external funding while still ensuring the event delivers consistent tourism and economic benefits to the Bozeman community.
 	
Grant Application Terms & Conditions:
Yes
 	
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	•	CONTACT 
•	Leah Grimm