Sports Destination Management announced the 2026 Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism.
This year’s winners are responsible for contributing more than $1.85 billion to the national economy over the past year, and for consuming more than 943,810 hotel room nights, with both numbers reflecting a significant increase from those of 2025.
“The nominations we saw were incredible,” said Publisher Scott Swoger. “What really struck us was the variety of events. We had everything from a bucket-list marathon that draws international runners to a collegiate club aviation event – and everything in between. It is absolutely clear that there is a demand for quality sports events at every level, and that event owners and destinations are answering that call.”
This issue of the magazine honors events that had a significant economic impact upon the communities where they were hosted; these numbers are a reflection of spectator fees, hotel room usage, restaurant business and shopping in local stores. Awards were presented according to market size, as well as in a separate category, Champions of Innovation.
Full event details can be found in a special feature published in the November/December 2026 issue of Sports Destination Management. The entire article, with full details on the winners listed below, can also be found online.
Read Now: Article on 2026 Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism
HALL OF FAME
Champions
53rd AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships
Orange County Convention Center
Total Economic Impact: $760.8 million
Total Room Nights: 76,464
Champions
60th AAU Junior Olympic Games
Catch Des Moines
Total Economic Impact: $78 million
Total Room Nights: Data not available
Champions
The 2026 Grand Slam World Series of Baseball & Softball
Visit Panama City Beach
Total Economic Impact: $31.88 million
Total Room Nights: 34,828
Champions
Venice Equestrian Tour
Visit Sarasota County
Total Economic Impact: $20 million
Total Room Nights: 13,000
Champions
Mississippi Bombers Southeast Summer Invite
Visit Oxford
Total Economic Impact: $6.32 million
Total Room Nights: 1,787
Champions
Waupaca Boatride Volleyball Tournament
Discover Oshkosh
Total Economic Impact: $4.5 million
Total Room Nights: 1,000
LARGE MARKET
Champions
Winter Equestrian Festival
Palm Beach County Sports Commission
Total Economic Impact: $536 million
Total Room Nights: 169,128
Champions
Flying Pig Marathon
Visit Cincy
Total Economic Impact: $45.9 million
Total Room Nights: 21,300
Champions
The Soccer Tournament (TST)
Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA)
Total Economic Impact: $16.2 million
Total Room Nights: 22,385
Champions
2026 USA Fencing National Championships and July Challenge (Summer Nationals)
Travel Portland
Total Economic Impact: $9.75 million
Total Room Nights: 9,000
Champions
Puerto Rico Challenge 2026
Discover Puerto Rico
Total Economic Impact: $1.57 million
Total Room Nights: 1,222
MID-MARKET
Champions
MLS Next Fest 2026
Team Arizona Sports
Total Economic Impact: $80 million
Total Room Nights: 38,000
Champions
Unrivaled Flag Football World Championships
Kissimmee Sports Commission
Total Economic Impact: $15 million
Total Room Nights: 25,000
Champions
NIKE Savannah Showdown
Savannah Sports Council
Total Economic Impact: $9.12 million
Total Room Nights: 14,024
Champions
Easter International Cup
Kissimmee Sports Commission
Total Economic Impact: $11.3 million
Total Room Nights: 16,544
Champions
IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford-Illinois
GoRockford
Total Economic Impact: $7 million
Total Room Nights: 7,000
Champions
Youth World Series
Wicomico County Tourism
Total Economic Impact: $6.69 million
Total Room Nights: 5,683
Champions
World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26
Visit Tallahassee
Total Economic Impact: $6 million
Total Room Nights: 9,520
Champions
2026 YMCA National Gymnastics Championship & Invitational
Visit Greensboro
Total Economic Impact: $5.54 million
Total Room Nights: 6,700
Champions
NXTPRO Puma PRO16 Finals
Legends Event Center
Total Economic Impact: $5.3 million
Total Room Nights: 7,983
Champions
IRONMAN 70.3 Pennsylvania Happy Valley North American Championship
Happy Valley Sports & Entertainment Alliance
Total Economic Impact: $5.2 million
Total Room Nights: 7,995
Champions
USSSA Southeast Nationals
City of Hendersonville TN
Total Economic Impact: $4 million
Total Room Nights: 10,000
Champions
Texas 7-on-7 State Championships
Compete College Station
Total Economic Impact: $3.88 million
Total Room Nights: 5,440
Champions
US Youth Soccer Girls National Championships
Rutherford Convention & Visitors Bureau
Total Economic Impact: $3.26 million
Total Room Nights: 15,000
Champions
Conference USA Men’s & Women’s Basketball Championships
Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Total Economic Impact: $3.2 million
Total Room Nights: 4,103
Champions
Ripken Nationals
Cooperstown All Star Village
Total Economic Impact: $2.4 million
Total Room Nights: 4,000
Champions
OHSAA State Championships Double Play Akron Softball & Baseball Tournaments
Sports Alliance of Greater Akron
Total Economic Impact: $2.2 million
Total Room Nights: 4,000
SMALL MARKET
Champions
SEC (Southeastern Conference) Baseball Tournament
City of Hoover
Total Economic Impact: $29.26 million
Total Room Nights: 11,845
Champions
Road to 26 Series Presented by Turkish Airlines: Argentina vs. Iceland
Auburn-Opelika Tourism
Total Economic Impact: $18.14 million
Total Room Nights: 8,600
Champions
USFA Panama City Beach World Series
Visit Panama City Beach
Total Economic Impact: $17.72 million
Total Room Nights: 19,232
Champions
Visit Panama City Beach IRONMAN Florida 2025
Visit Panama City Beach
Total Economic Impact: $11.6 million
Total Room Nights: 14,850
Champions
2026 Air Force Reserve Big South Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships
Visit Johnson City
Total Economic Impact: $10.8 million
Total Room Nights: 13,914
Champions
Missouri National Archery in the Schools Program (MoNASP) State Tournament
Explore Branson Sports
Total Economic Impact: $10 million
Total Room Nights: 11,000
Champions
Perfect Game 14U WWBA National Championship
Hoover Met Complex
Total Economic Impact: $8.77 million
Total Room Nights: 11,124
Champions
PGF Super Select Series at Ridley Sports Complex
City of Columbia
Total Economic Impact: $8.08 million
Total Room Nights: 38,938
Champions
Game Day USA New Year’s Baseball & Softball Festival
Visit Panama City Beach
Total Economic Impact: $7.86 million
Total Room Nights: 9,523
Champions
USSSA Panama City Beach World Series 2026
Visit Panama City Beach
Total Economic Impact: $7.78 million
Total Room Nights: 8,200
Champions
2025 NASP® Championship Tournament
John T. Rhodes Myrtle Beach Sports Center
Total Economic Impact: $4.26 million
Total Room Nights: 6,572
Champions
3v3 Live National Championship 2025
Visit Panama City Beach
Total Economic Impact: $3.79 million
Total Room Nights: 4,577
Champions
New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) State Wrestling Championships
Atlantic City Sports Commission
Total Economic Impact: $3.72 million
Total Room Nights: 441
Champions
2026 Florida Babe Ruth Softball State Tournament
Columbia County Sports Commission
Total Economic Impact: $3.71 million
Total Room Nights: 777
Champions
USSSA Louisiana Fastpitch State Championships
Broussard Sports Complex at St. Julien Park
Total Economic Impact: $3.01 million
Total Room Nights: 6,168
Champions
D2 Lone Star College Classic
Visit Mansfield
Total Economic Impact: $3 million
Total Room Nights: 1,000
CHAMPIONS OF INNOVATION
Champions
Gulf Coast Classic
Alabama’s Beaches Sports & Events
Total Economic Impact: $6.26 million
Total Room Nights: 9,449
Champions
State Wars
PSM Ice House
Total Economic Impact: $2.3 million
Total Room Nights: 3,288
Champions
SAFECON
Visit Quad Cities
Total Economic Impact: $2.19 million
Total Room Nights: 868
Champions
2026 National Wheelchair Basketball Association’s (NWBA) Junior Division and Adult Division National Championship Series
Discover Monroe-West Monroe
Total Economic Impact: $2 million
Total Room Nights: 2,235
Champions
VNEA PA State 8-Ball Championships
Erie Sports Commission
Total Economic Impact: $1.5 million
Total Room Nights: 2,777
Champions
Combat Life Rumble
Sandusky, Ohio
Total Economic Impact: $1.74 million
Total Room Nights: 290
Champions
2025 Sitting Volleyball World Cup
Visit Fort Wayne
Total Economic Impact: $1.2 million
Total Room Nights: 2,500
Champions
Oxford Open Black Rodeo
Visit Oxford
Total Economic Impact: $1.2 million
Total Room Nights: 140
Champions
Southern Coast Cup
Foley Sports Tourism
Total Economic Impact: $1.07 million
Total Room Nights: 870
Champions
2026 Tulalip March Madness Indigenous Basketball Tournament
Snohomish County Sports Commission
Total Economic Impact: $836,000
Total Room Nights: 1,195
Champions
TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship
Visit Anderson SC
Total Economic Impact: $750,000
Total Room Nights: 2,331
Champions Queen of Kentucky
Kentucky Sports Factory
Total Economic Impact: $505,000
Total Room Nights: 1,000