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With more Americans active than ever before, and with participation numbers higher than even 2019, the outlook is good for the sports tourism industry.
That’s the takeaway from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s Topline Participation Report: Sports, Fitness and Leisure Activities. And while it’s not a crystal ball, it’s a pretty good glimpse into the future of sports, including significant growth areas. Here is a synopsis of some of those findings:
Olympic Sports Saw Significant Participation Increases
Sports featured in the 2024 Paris Olympics, such as basketball, gymnastics, swimming, track & field, skateboarding, volleyball (indoor and beach) and wrestling, experienced significant participation increases. The Olympic “bounce,” as it has come to be known, is observed following each Games, summer or winter.
As a result of the bounce, it is expected that more players will result in a direct need for more programs, such as leagues, camps and tournaments – and for more facilities to host them.
Looking down the road, the Los Angeles Games in 2028 will include showcase sports like lacrosse and cricket, as well as flag football, meaning the industry can expect a repeat of this phenomenon. Softball and baseball will also be returning in 2028, leading to even more exposure for those sports.
Racquet Sports Are Hitting Winners
Racquet sports continued their recent unprecedented growth, much of which started in COVID when people came out to play tennis and pickleball in record numbers. (In fact, for the fourth consecutive year, pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the U.S)
In 2024, 19.8 million Americans participated in pickleball, a 45.8% increase from the 2023 figure and an incredible 311% increase from three years ago. Five of the seven racquet sports that SFIA tracks increased their total participation numbers, with the second-largest growth in tennis (8%).
The USTA has long promoted the establishment of separate facilities for tennis and pickleball. Between that, and its increased funding for grants for court construction and repair, it is likely to fuel a demand for tournaments at all levels, including for beginners.
Growth in Other Sports Will Create a Need for More Events
The SFIA report notes that team sports have continued to grow in participation numbers, and that growth will drive destinations to take a hard look at what they have, and to upgrade those facilities or build more, depending upon the sport. It will also encourage event owners to create a greater number of events to catch that participation wave.
The report shows that basketball, football (flag), football (tackle), football (7-on-7), gymnastics, softball (fast-pitch), track & field and wrestling all had a one-year increase of over 7%.
Outdoor Activities are On the Grow
The run/walk/hike category also saw substantial growth, with running/jogging surpassing 50 million participants for the first time since 2020, and hiking and trail running continued their decade-long growth trend. Expect sports like cycling and fishing to gain ground as well in terms of participants.
The report contains multiple insights about other aspects of sports participation, including activity within specific demographics, income levels and age groups. Those who want to obtain a copy of the report should visit the website at this link.
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