SYRACUSE, N.Y. - After almost six weeks of construction, the transformation of Syracuse's Oncenter Convention Center is complete, and the one-of-a-kind bowling venue is ready to welcome nearly 6,000 teams for the 2011 USBC Women's Championships.

With the start of the 88-day event just a little more than a week away, local media, dignitaries and tournament sponsors were given a sneak peek of the venue, which includes 48 lanes, custom scoreboard, office and vendor space, locker room, squad room, concessions area and seating for approximately 500 bowling fans.

Onondaga County Deputy County Executive William Fisher and Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau President David Holder each spoke about the excitement buzzing through Syracuse as the city prepares to welcome the Women's Championships for the first time since 1954.

Holder stressed the warm treatment visitors can expect during the tournament, which will run from April 7 until July 3.

"We've been waiting a long time for the tournament to get here, and we're excited to show off all that the Syracuse area has to offer," Holder said. "It will also be nice for our hotels and businesses to have the steady flow of visitors. This is a great opportunity for our community and the local economy, and we definitely plan to make the bowlers feel welcome."

With more than 30,000 bowlers and their guests headed to Syracuse for an average stay of three and a half days, the city can expect an economic impact of approximately $40 million.

USBC Managing Director of Tournaments Brian Lewis and USBC Women's Championships Tournament Manager Eric Pierson were on-hand to put the event in perspective.

"The start of the tournament is right around the corner, and it's amazing how the Syracuse community has come together to make us feel welcome," Lewis said. "For many of our bowlers, this is as much about a vacation as it is about competing, and we know they're going to enjoy their time in upstate New York."

The 2011 Women's Championships is the 92nd edition of the storied event, which was contested for the first time in 1916 and is open to all female USBC members. Outside of the National Bowling Stadium, where it has been held every third year since 1997, the tournament was held traditional bowling centers until making its convention-center debut last year in El Paso, Texas.

Competition at this year's event will run from 7 a.m. until 1 a.m. daily as bowlers compete in team, doubles and singles in three average-based, all-handicap divisions for a prize fund of nearly $2 million.

The 2011 tournament will take a brief hiatus from April 22-27 as the top women bowlers in the world head to Syracuse for the USBC Queens and Senior Queens.

Previous visits to Syracuse in 1940 and 1954 attracted 1,185 and 4,538 teams, respectively. The 1999 Open Championships brought more than 50,000 bowlers to the area.

There are still spots available for bowlers interested in competing in the 2011 Women's Championships. The entry deadline is April 7.

Sponsors for the 2011 USBC Women's Championships sponsors include Turning Stone Resort and Casino, official brackets sponsor, Humana, official registration sponsor, Miller Lite and Molson Canadian, official beer sponsors. Supporting sponsors include Storm Bowling Products, Nationwide Insurance, The Oncenter, Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau, Caz Limo & Tours, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and Brunswick, official lane provider.