2024 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 2022 Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism. This year’s winners are responsible for contributing more than $1.885 billion to the national economy over the past year.

“The nominations we saw were incredible,” said Publisher Scott Swoger. “What really struck us was the variety of events. We had everything from professional golf championships to a grassroots sports-based fundraisers for a local food bank – and everything in between. It is absolutely clear that there is a demand for quality sports events at every level, and that event owners and destinations are answering that call. ”

This issue of the magazine honors events that had a significant economic impact upon the communities where they were hosted; these numbers are a reflection of spectator fees, hotel room usage, restaurant business and shopping in local stores. Awards were presented according to market size, as well as in a separate category, Innovations in Sports Tourism.

Full event details can be found in a special feature published in the November/December 2024 issue of Sports Destination Management. The entire article, with full details on the winners listed below, can also be found online.
 

Read Now: Article on 2024 Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism

Hall of Fame Champion
51st AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships
Visit Orlando and the Greater Orlando Sports Commission
Orlando, Florida
Total Room Nights: 95,000
Total Economic Impact: $760.8 million
 

Large Market Champions
NASP® Eastern National Tournament
Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau
Louisville, Kentucky
Total Room Nights: 20,493
Total Economic Impact: $17.7 million

Top Gun Invitational
Visit Overland Park
Kansas City Metro: Kansas and Missouri
Total Room Nights: 10,573
Total Economic Impact: $13.8 million
 

YMCA National Gymnastics Championship & Invitational 2024
Valley Forge Sports
Oaks, Pennsylvania
Total Room Nights: 6,000
Total Economic Impact: $7 million
 

Mid-Market Champions
58th AAU Junior Olympic Games
Visit Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina
Total Room Nights: 40,000
Total Economic Impact: $67.69 million

Jefferson Cup
Henrico Sports & Entertainment Authority
Henrico, Virginia
Total Room Nights: 40,000
Total Economic Impact: $42 million
 

The Soccer Tournament (TST)
Cary NC
Cary, North Carolina
Total Room Nights: 8,000
Total Economic Impact: $30 million
 

USSSA Eastern Nationals
Mid-Atlantic Amateur Sports Alliance
Maryland: Wicomico County, Worcester County, Ocean City
Salisbury, Maryland
Total Room Nights: 18,237
Total Economic Impact: $15.8 million
 

2024 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships
Compete College Station
College Station, Texas
Total Room Nights: 22,324
Total Economic Impact: $10.83 million
 

Easter International Cup
Kissimmee Sports Commission
Kissimmee, Florida
Total Room Nights: 13,851
Total Economic Impact: $7.99 million
 

Youth Flag Football World Championships
Kissimmee Sports Commission
Kissimmee, Florida
Total Room Nights: 14,532
Total Economic Impact: $7.62 million
 

2023 Gulf Coast Challenge Powered by the Mobile Sports Authority
Mobile Sports Authority
Mobile, Alabama
Total Room Nights: 3,000
Total Economic Impact: $6.81 million
 

Adidas 3SSB Spring Series
Legends Event Center | Destination Bryan
Bryan, Texas
Total Room Nights: 4,800
Total Economic Impact: $5 million
 

IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside
Visit Oceanside
Oceanside, California
Total Economic Impact: $4.9 million
 

2024 Pennsylvania Middle School Basketball Championship
Happy Valley Sports & Entertainment Alliance
State College, Pennsylvania
Total Room Nights: 5,065
Total Economic Impact: $4.16 million
 

2024 Major League Soccer (MLS) NEXT Cup Playoffs and Showcase
Rutherford County Convention and Visitor Bureau
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Total Room Nights: 13,199
Total Economic Impact: $4 million
 

Albertsons Boise Open presented by Chevron
Visit Boise
Boise, Idaho
Total Room Nights: 7,500
Total Economic Impact: $4 million
 

2024 IHSAA State Wrestling Tournament
Explore Evansville
Evansville, Indiana
Total Room Nights: 2,482
Total Economic Impact: $3.74 million
 

Nike First in Show Volleyball Tournament
Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau
Ocala, Florida
Total Room Nights: 1,902
Total Economic Impact: $3.6 million
 

2024 US Figure Skating Theatre on Ice National Competition
Explore Evansville
Evansville, Indiana
Total Room Nights: 3,514
Total Economic Impact: $2.93 million
 

The TBF High School Fishing World Finals and National Championship
Visit Anderson SC
Anderson, South Carolina
Total Room Nights: 10,488
Total Economic Impact: $2.5 million
 

2024 Beer City Open
West Michigan Sports Commission
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Total Room Nights: 1,357
Total Economic Impact: $2.4 million
 

Spartan Combat Nationals 2024
Kissimmee Sports Commission
Kissimmee, Florida
Total Room Nights: 4,458
Total Economic Impact: $2.33 million


Small Market Champions
ABC Championships
Grand Park Sports Campus
Westfield, Indiana
Total Room Nights: 18,584
Total Economic Impact: $13.72 million
 

2024 UCI BMX Racing World Championships
City of Rock Hill Parks, Recreation & Tourism
Rock Hill, South Carolina
Total Room Nights: 54,104
Total Economic Impact: $30.16 million
 

2024 USFA Fastpitch World Series
Visit Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach, Florida
Total Room Nights: 26,854
Total Economic Impact: $23.52 million
 

The 2024 Grand Slam World Series of Baseball
Visit Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach, Florida
Total Room Nights: 24,543
Total Economic Impact: $23.47 million
 

State Games of Mississippi
Visit Meridian
Meridian, Mississippi
Total Room Nights: 776
Total Economic Impact: $12.2 million
 

USSSA Baseball Global & AA World Series
Visit Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach, Florida
Total Room Nights: 11,027
Total Economic Impact: $12 million
 

2024 Mississippi Bombers Southeast Summer Invite
Visit Oxford
Oxford, Mississippi
Total Room Nights: 3,599
Total Economic Impact: $7.57 million

East Coast Homeschool Nationals Series
Rocky Top Sports World
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Total Room Nights: 7,323
Total Economic Impact: $5.3 million
 

2024 Snohomish United Bigfoot Soccer Tournament
Snohomish County Sports Commission
Snohomish, Washington
Total Room Nights: 7,125
Total Economic Impact: $4.9 million
 

The Grail and Mid America Invitational
Grand Park Sports Campus
Westfield, Indiana
Total Room Nights: 2,267
Total Economic Impact: $4.43 million
 

NXL Mid-Atlantic Major 2024
Atlantic City Sports Commission
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Total Room Nights: 4,673
Total Economic Impact: $4.39 million
 

Edgewater Gymnastics Classic 2024
Visit Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach, Florida
Total Room Nights: 4,569
Total Economic Impact: $3.66 million
 

Music City Sports USSSA Southeast Championship
Hendersonville Parks and Recreation & Sumner County Tourism
Hendersonville, Tennessee
Total Room Nights: 12,000
Total Economic Impact: $3 million
 

Little League Senior Softball World Series
Delaware District 3 World Series Committee | Little League International
Roxana, Delaware
Total Room Nights: 400
Total Economic Impact: $2.2 million
 

Premier Girls Fastpitch 13U Super Select Championship at Ridley Sports Complex
City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department
Columbia, Tennessee
Total Room Nights: 256
Total Economic Impact: $2.2 million
 

Nuway Combat Rumble
Cedar Point Sports Center
Sandusky, Ohio
Total Room Nights: 200-plus
Total Economic Impact: $2.07 million
 

2024 Pennsylvania State United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Open Championships
Erie Sports Commission
Erie, Pennsylvania
Total Room Nights: 3,853
Total Economic Impact: $2.04 million
 

Space Coast Spring Games
Space Coast Sports Commission
Viera, Florida
Total Room Nights: 7,496
Total Economic Impact: $1.17 million
 

Innovations in Sports Tourism
2024 USA Table Tennis National Championships
Huntsville CVB | Huntsville Sports Commission
Huntsville, Alabama
Total Room Nights: 2,955
Total Economic Impact: $1.9 million
 

West Texas All Stars Softball Tournament 2024
Discover Odessa
Odessa, Texas
Total Room Nights: 473
Total Economic Impact: $1.68 million
 

Boys California Live 2024
Placer Valley Tourism
Placer Valley, California
Total Room Nights: 1,838
Total Economic Impact: $1.5 million
 

Region 8 Level 6/7/8 Regionals
Foley Sports Tourism
Foley, Alabama
Total Room Nights: 4,100
Total Economic Impact: $1.14 million
 

2024 USA Softball International Wheelchair Softball World Series (IWSWS)
Visit Omaha | Elkhorn Athletic Association
Omaha, Nebraska
Total Room Nights: 790
Total Economic Impact: $900,000
 

War Eagle Run Fest
Auburn-Opelika Tourism
Auburn, Alabama
Total Room Nights: 2,038
Total Economic Impact: $653,609

The Battle in the Burgh
Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau
Butler County, Pennsylvania
Total Room Nights: 1,025
Total Economic Impact: $580,000
 

2024 DYB Division 1 & 2 AA Coach Pitch World Series
Orangeburg Parks and Recreation Department
Orangeburg, South Carolina
Total Room Nights: 525
Total Economic Impact: $500,000
 

Brett/Robinson Alabama Coastal Triathlon
Gulf Shores | Orange Beach Sports & Events
Gulf Shores, Alabama
Total Room Nights: 865
Total Economic Impact: $468,084
 

Farm to Fork: Ride | Run | Crit
Visit Hattiesburg
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Total Room Nights: 800
Total Economic Impact: $70,000

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
For over 20 years, Due North Media has embraced the definition of growth by evolving from a traditional publishing company to a dynamic marketing organization utilizing best practices that ensure engagement.

Our desire to look at things from all sides, combined with our thirst for knowledge allows us to embrace the ever-changing world of content creation, marketing technology & consumer engagement. While we’re at the forefront of innovation, we also take great strides to remember our roots, ensuring the message reaches the desired audience in ways they consume media.  Whether we’re serving clients in the business-to-business sector, delivering e-commerce solutions for merchants in a direct-to-consumer environment, or working with organizations trying to engage buyers, we realize that our end goal shouldn’t be just about numbers. It should be about creating a dialogue and interaction that leads to a fulfilling relationship.  Work with us to develop marketing strategies that go beyond the click to deliver the conversation.

Founded in 2001, Due North Media has helped marketers obtain their goals while adapting to new generations of media consumption. It has been our mission to serve our clients and employees with integrity and humility, and a continuing quest for the achievement of excellence.