Our annual awards program, Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism, is exceeding its pre-pandemic numbers. This year alone, the economic impact of all award winners was more than $2.42 billion, nearly tripling our highest number prior to the year 2020. And that’s just winners – who represent a very small fraction of the entire industry. Read on!

Run like a turkey. It might not be everyone’s goal but come that last Thursday in November, you’ll find people taking to the streets in all manner of races, all loosely grouped under the heading of Turkey Trots. And over the years, those races have become THE most popular in America, even overtaking those held on July 4th and New Year’s Day.

Artistic swimming (you might remember it by its former name of synchronized swimming) is an Olympic sport. USA Artistic Swimming is seeking homes for a number of its events from the 2023-2025 period, including national events, camps, trials and convention. The right destinations stand to benefit greatly from these events. Here’s what’s in store.

Online payment for sports events is the norm but a recent survey showed that more than half of consumers (54 percent, in fact) are concerned with being victimized by fraud as we head into the holiday season. What can event owners do to help ease those fears during the busy period of travel tournaments during school breaks? Here are some strategies.

Technology is evolving rapidly. We see this every day in ever-more powerful cellular phones and electric, self-driving cars. The same can be said for the electronic sign industry, which is experiencing advances in technology that allow sports facility and event managers to install better displays that deliver superior results. Is your venue up to date?

Which sports events are having the hardest time getting back on their feet? In-person road races of the 10K-and-up distances, apparently. The Boston Athletic Association’s 2022 10K was down a whopping 35 percent in runners. Even the ever-popular (and frequently sold out) Cherry Blossom 10-Miler saw a decline of 15 percent. And yes, fees are a factor.