The state of Delaware has allocated $12 million in capital funds to support sports tourism, with the goal of building new facilities and staying competitive in the region. New Castle County has also contributed $100,000 in ARPA funds to the Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau to support sports tourism efforts.
Jessica Welch, the Tourism Office Director, highlighted the importance of staying competitive in the region when it comes to sports tourism. Despite not having large venues like Lincoln Financial Field, Delaware offers great facilities throughout the state that can save teams money compared to neighboring states like Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or New York.
County Executive Matt Meyer expressed optimism about the impact of even small investments in sports tourism. He noted that while attracting major events like the BMW Championship would be beneficial, the goal is to see returns on investments through multiple tournaments. In addition to these plans, Meyer mentioned plans to build an indoor track facility and explore a proposal to construct an Olympic-sized swim facility in the future.
The Greater Wilmington CVB will use its $100,000 in ARPA funds for a video marketing campaign showcasing the county’s sports tourism assets such as Chase Fieldhouse and STATS Sports Complex in Bear. The video campaign will also highlight other attractions in New Castle County such as dining options and tax-free shopping at the Wilmington Riverfront. Jennifer Boes, executive director of Greater Wilmington CVB stated that this investment will provide both infrastructure and marketing needed for boosting sports tourism in the area.
