The sports travel industry experienced a total direct spending of $52.2 billion in 2023, with Americans taking a record 204.9 million sports event-related trips. According to the Sports Events and Tourism Association (Sports ETA), a sports traveler is someone attending an adult or youth amateur event or collegiate sports tournament, race, or other event.
The State of the Industry Report shared by Sports ETA at their conference in Portland highlights the importance of sports tourism in the tourism industry. Sports ETA President & CEO John David emphasized that sports have played a crucial role in sustaining the industry over the past few years and expressed optimism about the future of the sector.
Based on data from various sources, the analysis found that 63% of respondents considered youth and amateur sporting events as their top room night generator. With 73.5 million room nights generated in 2023, a 6.5% increase from 2019, the lodging sector accounted for 21% of all sports-related travel spending. 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, underscoring its growth potential and positive impact on the economy.
In summary, the sports travel industry is experiencing significant growth and has become an important contributor to both local economies and national tourism efforts. The continued investment in youth and amateur sporting facilities highlights its commitment to promoting physical activity and supporting community development initiatives while generating economic benefits for everyone involved.