In 2015 alone, sports teams are expected to generate some 7,500 overnight stays, the Maribor Tourism Institute data show. On average, teams stay up to three weeks and spend up to EUR 100,000 during their stay.

"Maribor holds great potential to further develop sports tourism," said training camps organiser Miran Ferk, adding that the teams are happy to return every year.

His opinion was echoed by head of the Maribor Tourism Institute Janja Viher, who said that Maribor's tourism providers were seeing an increasing trend of overnight stays, which could in part be attributed to sports tourism.

"Globally, sports tourism brings most upbeat results," she said and added that the town meets all conditions required to further improve its services in the domain.

Besides hockey and football teams, Maribor's sports facilities can also cater for teams of other sports, including swimming, volleyball, handball and basketball teams.

Many of these, however, could use a facelift here and there, but renovation works will have to wait as the city cannot afford them at the moment, Mayor Fištravec said.

At the same time, Fištravec embraced the multiplier effects of sports tourism and added that they offer the possibility of combining funds from different sources.