2016 Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism Announced by Sports Destination Management

Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, has announced the 2016 Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism. This year’s winners are responsible for contributing over $800 million to the national economy over the past year. 

“Nominations exceeded expectations. We were overwhelmed by the volume and scope of entries — from team to individual, across all disciplines and all levels of play,” said publisher, Fonda Johnson. The most outstanding of those received were recognized and presented with event details in a special feature published in the November/December 2016 issue of Sports Destination Management. The entire article with full details on the winners listed below can also be found online along with a special feature on economic impact.  

2016 Champions of Economic Impact (Full List of Winners)

Special Feature: Economic Impact of Sports Tourism

Mid- to Large Market Champions

• Dallas Sports Festival & Dallas Sports Commission

• 43rd AAU Girls Junior National Volleyball Championships & Visit Orlando

• Atlanta Legacy Showcase & Cobb Travel & Tourism

• Youth Baseball and Softball Nationals presented by Athletx Sports Group, LLC & City of Myrtle Beach

• Sin City Shootout Sports Festival & Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

• The 5th Quarter Classic Powered by the Mobile Sports Authority & Mobile Sports Authority

• USA Volleyball Girls 18s Junior National Championships & VISIT Milwaukee

• The Youth Baseball Nationals presented by Athletx Sports & Reno Tahoe USA

• 2016 National Veterans Golden Age Games & Detroit Sports Commission

• MINTO US OPEN PICKLEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS & Collier County Convention and Visitors Bureau

• The National Softball Association Girls Fast Pitch 'B' World Series & The Evansville Sports Corporation

• Texas West State Little League Tournament & Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau

• National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship & Lubbock Sports

• 2016 USA Track and Field Masters Outdoor Championships & West Michigan Sports Commission

• Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival & Cable Area and Hayward Area Chambers of Commerce

Small Market Champions

• Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol: College Football's Biggest Ever & Kingsport Convention & Visitors Bureau

• HITS Ocala Winter Circuit & Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau

• American Birkebeiner & Hayward Lakes Visitors and Convention Bureau

• 2016 United States Fastpitch Association World Series & Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau

• 2016 National High School Finals Rodeo & Campbell County Convention & Visitors Bureau

• 2016 U.S. Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championships & Hamilton County Sports Authority

• 2016 Summit League Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships & Sioux Falls Sports Authority

• 2016 King James Shooting Stars Classic & Sports Alliance of Greater Akron – powered by Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau

• 2016 Washington Rush Cup & Snohomish County Sports Commission

• 2016 Forrest Wood Cup & Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau

• NCAA National Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championship & Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission

• Stars and Stripes Gymnastics Invitational & Erie Sports Commission

• National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics 2016 Men’s & Women’s Lacrosse National Invitational Championship & VisitGreenvilleSC

• 2016 ASA 14U Class A Girls Fast Pitch Eastern Championship & Prince George County, Virginia

• Speedo 2016 Summer Sectionals California-Nevada & Hosted by Placer Valley Tourism

Innovations in Sports Tourism

• Fish Dayton & Rhea Economic & Tourism Council, Inc.

• Red Bull Global RallyCross & Jacksonville-Onslow Sports Commission

• The Miramichi Striper Cup & The City of Miramichi

• 71st NFAA Outdoor Field Archery Championship & Darrington Archers

• Tehachapi GranFondo Presented by Kaiser Permanente & City of Tehachapi

About Sports Destination Management: Sports Destination Management is written for the largest audience of sports event managers and tournament directors in the sports tourism market and maintains a focus on the important issues surrounding event location decisions and event management. With content from experts and thought leaders, SDM provides in-depth coverage of sports event planning and execution through incisive and relevant articles as well as insightful, real-world case studies showcasing best practices and successful event production.

In addition to the publication, SDM offers extensive digital resources through www.sportsdestinations.com and the e-newsletter SDM Blitz, both providing decision support tools for organizers to ensure successful events at all levels of play.

About Due North Media: Due North Media, a division of Due North Consulting, Inc., is a niche business-to-business publisher providing media services to executives within specialized vertical markets impacting economic development including corporate site selection, business development, market-to-market events and sports tourism via publications, digital media, qualified list marketing and custom publishing.

Founded in 2001, Due North Consulting, Inc. has helped niche marketers obtain their goals for nearly a decade and a half. The principals of the company have over 40 years of business-to-business advertising and marketing experience. It has been their mission to serve readers, clients and employees with integrity, humility and a continuing quest for the achievement of excellence.