Delaware Tourism Office Announces Major Sports Tourism Move

The Delaware Tourism Office announced it will begin accepting applications on March 1, 2024 for the Sports Tourism Capital Investment Fund. Established through the FY24 Bond and Capital Improvements Act, the fund provides financial support to new or existing sports facilities that hold events throughout the year to attract out-of-state visitors and contribute to the state and local economy. 
 

“Sports tourism is a growing industry in our state and the surrounding region, with millions of dollars spent each year by event participants, their families, and other attendees,” said Governor John Carney. “This fund will help keep Delaware’s sports tourism industry competitive by ensuring visitors can play at first-class facilities and enjoy the many benefits that our state has to offer while staying here.” 
 

In recent years, Delaware has been selected to host many national sporting events including the U.S. Lacrosse Youth Nationals, the MEAC Volleyball Championship, the U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships, and the state’s first PGA Tour event, the 2022 BMW Championship, which saw nearly 130,000 attendees and contributed more than $30 million to the local and state economy.  
 

“These national events showcase our state’s ability to host large-scale sports competitions and put Delaware in front of event planners and facility developers from around the country,” said Secretary of State Jeff Bullock. “As the $90 billion global sports tourism industry grows, this new fund provides us the opportunity to continue investing in our state’s sports venues to ensure Delaware remains top of mind for national and regional event decision makers for years to come.”
 

Facilities throughout the state also hold smaller-scale sporting events throughout the year in lacrosse, football, soccer, softball, baseball, and other sports. 
 

“Each year, thousands of people visit Delaware to participate in, or attend, sporting events – filling our hotel rooms up and down the state and providing a boost to local businesses,” said Delaware Tourism Office Director Jessica Welch. “The Sports Tourism Capital Investment Fund allows our state the opportunity to attract more visitors and continue shining a light on all the great reasons to visit Delaware. I encourage new and existing sports tourism facilities statewide to take advantage of this opportunity to apply for capital funding.”
 

The Delaware Tourism Office will be holding two informational webinars for prospective applicants to learn more about the Sports Tourism Capital Investment Fund on the following dates: Wednesday, February 21 at 11 a.m. and Wednesday, February 28 at 1 p.m. Pre-registration is required. 

Applications for the investment fund will be accepted by the Delaware Tourism Office until 4 p.m. on April 12, 2024. More information on eligibility, funding requirements and complete program regulations can be found on the Delaware Tourism Office website.  

The Delaware Tourism Office, a division of the Delaware Division of Small Business, promotes tourism and economic growth in Delaware. For more information, visit the official Delaware Tourism website at www.visitdelaware.com or call toll-free at 866-284-7483.