Sports tourism seeks $1.5M from Madison County in federal COVID funds

Jobe said the Bureau has been taking a hard look at sports tourism for several years and noted a Nationwide economic impact of more than $91 billion by sports tourism last year, according to Sports Tourism: State of the Industry Report 2021 by the Tourism Economics and Sports Event & Tourism Association.

We feel the region is poised to become a national destination for outdoor recreation and sports tourism development, Jobe said.

Sporting events provide high visibility, significant social and media impact, opportunities for residents and a chance to promote the region’s other tourism options, Jobe said. They also touted intangible benefits such as civic pride and quality of life.

Madison County has received about $51 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to offset COVID-related financial losses. Jobe said using ARPA dollars to promote tourism is appropriate.

Sporting events provide a unique platform for a community and region,” he said. “Using ARPA funds to support an industry that was decimated during the Pandemic is exactly what those funds were created for in the first place.”

The money would be used to create a sports commission with a regional and national marketing campaign. It also would be used as matching funds to offset the costs of bringing national tournaments to the region while supporting and expanding existing Sporting events.

There are a lot of great activities happening, Jobe said. They need additional support to take it to the next level, to grow it to a regional or national event.

Jobe said the marketing campaign would focus on adult and youth Amateur and Collegiate sports. Events could range from baseball and soccer tournaments to table tennis and fishing.

In 2019, the region hosted 11 such events, according to Jobe said, bringing 18,030 people into the area with a total economic impact of about $1.3 million. The number of events and participants dropped dramatically in 2020, they said, because of COVID. But in 2021 the region had 14 events drawing 18,992 people while creating a $3.3 million economic impact.

The committee took no action, but Chairman Chris Guy, R-Maryville, said the county has been discussing sports tourism for some time and will continue to examine.