Sports tourism has reached a total economic impact of $274.5 billion, according to a new industry report, as millions of travellers continue to attend and participate in sporting events across the United States. The study, released by Sports ETA, highlights the growing influence of sports-related travel on destinations, jobs and local economies.
The report shows that 339 million sports travellers generated 124.3 million room nights, contributing $111.2 billion in direct spending and supporting 1.6 million jobs. It also produced $20.5 billion in state and local tax revenue, underlining the sector’s role as a major driver of economic activity.
Key findings from the report include:
- 339 million sports travellers recorded across the US
- 124.3 million room nights generated
- $111.2 billion in direct spending
- 1.6 million jobs supported nationwide
- $20.5 billion in state and local tax revenue
“Sports tourism has firmly established itself as one of the most powerful economic engines in the United States,” said John David, President & CEO of Sports ETA.
“With $274.5 billion in total economic impact, millions of jobs supported, and hundreds of millions of travelers moving through communities each year, the scale and influence of this industry is undeniable. For the first time, this report captures that full impact in a unified way, bringing together both participatory and spectator sports to tell the complete story of how sports tourism drives visitation, fuels local economies, and creates lasting value for destinations.”
The findings bring together, for the first time, data on both participatory and spectator sports tourism, presenting the sector as a unified system rather than separate segments.
Participatory sports tourism, driven mainly by youth and amateur events, generated:
- $60.1 billion in direct spending
- $149.1 billion in total economic impact
- 227.6 million travellers
- More than 880,000 jobs supported
- $11.3 billion in state and local taxes
Spectator sports tourism, led by fans travelling to attend live events, generated:
- $51.1 billion in direct spending
- $125.4 billion in total economic impact
- 111.4 million travellers
- More than 730,000 jobs supported
- $9.2 billion in state and local taxes
Together, these two segments provide a balance of steady, year-round demand and high-impact event-driven travel peaks, supporting more than 1.6 million jobs nationwide and delivering significant tax revenues to local governments.
The report also points to rising international demand, with 3.6 million overseas visitors travelling to the United States for sports in 2025. These travellers generated $6.3 billion in direct spending, while international spectator travel increased by 3.4% compared with the previous year.
This growth comes as the United States prepares to host major global sporting events, including the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. These events are expected to strengthen the country’s position as a leading destination for sports tourism and attract long-term international visitors.
“International sports tourism represents one of the most significant opportunities for the next decade,” said John David, President & CEO of Sports ETA.
“Destinations that think globally and act strategically will be positioned to capture new visitors, new revenue, and new visibility on the world stage.”
The report also identifies leading US states in sports tourism performance, including Texas, Florida, California, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Georgia, Illinois and North Carolina. These destinations benefit from strong infrastructure, large populations and the capacity to host a wide range of events.
In addition to economic data, the study introduces expanded benchmarking insights across destinations, venues and industry partners, offering guidance for organisations aiming to attract events, secure funding and increase returns.
Sports ETA said the findings mark a turning point for the sector, positioning sports tourism as a measurable and scalable global industry that continues to shape travel demand and economic development.
