The next wave of sports travel might be destination hiking, cycling, kayaking and more, according to studies. In other words, the journey is as important as the sport, and it all adds up to good economic impact, provided planners know how to leverage it.

Zika might scare golfers, but nothing scares golf sponsors. Worldwide spending on golf is expected to total $1.82 billion in 2016, up 5.1% from 2015, according to research, with spending including significant sponsorship of professional and amateur sanctioning bodies and tournaments, charity fundraisers, endorsement deals and corporate hospitality.

Whatever floats your boat, particularly in Rockford, Illinois, where a homegrown raft race raised $9,000 and brought in nearly 20,000 spectators to watch the offbeat procession of goofy watercraft. And honestly, with T-shirts reading "Get Your Ship Together," what wasn't there to love?

Thousands of runners and 100,000-plus spectators are tinkering with their schedules, thanks (or no thanks) to train mass transit problems that have resulted in changes to the Marine Corps Marathon. But it's not the first time big events have suffered, and planners have scrambled, trying to accommodate last-minute problems.

In New Jersey, the Pop Warner football association that canceled its season after losing many players to flag football (thanks, or more likely, no thanks to concerns over concussions and other injuries), is making a concerted effort to get back on the field.

Olympic inclusion is a big deal, sure, but one sport is celebrating its first inclusion in a multi-sport event without Olympic rings. It's floorball, a form of indoor hockey, and will be seen at the World Games. Oh, and it's looking for host cities for its next championship events.