Americans took a record 204.9 million sports event-related trips in 2023, generating a total direct spending of $52.2 billion in the sports travel sector, according to the Sports Events and Tourism Association (Sports ETA). The State of the Industry Report shared at their conference in Portland defines a sports traveler as someone attending an adult or youth amateur event or collegiate sports tournament, race, or other event.
The lodging sector accounted for 21% of all sports-related travel spending, with 73.5 million room nights generated in 2023, a 6.5% increase from 2019. This is significant as lodging taxes are a major funding source for most destination marketing organizations.
According to SBJ research, over $1.5 billion was spent on building youth and amateur sports facilities from 2020-2023, with an additional $1.6 billion expected to be invested by the end of next year. The industry created 757,600 jobs and generated $20.1 billion in total tax revenue.
Sports ETA President & CEO John David highlighted the importance of sports tourism in the tourism industry, stating that sports have played a crucial role in sustaining the industry over the past few years. He emphasized the long-term impacts of sports tourism on communities and expressed optimism about the future of the sector.
The study underscores the growth of the sports travel industry, as evidenced by the increase in Sports ETA membership in recent years. The report paints a positive picture of the industry’s prospects and highlights its significant contributions to the economy.
Overall, it seems clear that sporting events have become increasingly popular among Americans and contribute significantly to both local economies and national tax revenue through increased hotel stays and facility investments.
In conclusion, it is evident that sporting events have become an integral part of American culture and have had a significant impact on both local communities and national economies through increased hotel stays and facility investments. As such, it is important for policymakers to continue supporting these events as they contribute positively to economic growth and job creation while also providing opportunities for entertainment and community engagement.
It’s worth noting that while sporting events can bring economic benefits to communities, they can also have negative impacts such as traffic congestion and strain on public services like emergency response teams during peak event times.
Therefore, policymakers must strike a balance between supporting these events for their economic benefits while also implementing strategies to mitigate potential negative impacts on local communities.
