Sports Destination Management Magazine, an industry-leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, has announced the 2024 Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism. This year’s winners are responsible for contributing a more-than-welcome boost of over $1.88 billion to the national economy over the past year.
Panama City Beach earns the distinction of four winning events, the most of any city in the country. The winning events were hosted in cooperation with Visit Panama City Beach, including the 2024 USFA Fastpitch World Series, the 2024 Grand Slam World Series of Baseball, the USSSA Baseball Global & AA World Series, and the Edgewater Gymnastics Classic 2024. These events brought in athletes from all over the country and resulted in a total economic impact of over $57 million to the destination, with a total of 953 teams and over 39,128 visitors.
“We are honored to receive this amazing recognition from Sports Destination Management, highlighting the success of our sports marketing efforts,” said Dan Rowe, Visit Panama City Beach president and CEO. “Sports tourism plays a vital role in our destination, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to showcase Panama City Beach as a year-round destination for athletes and their families.”
All winners of awards have been recognized in a special feature published in the November/ December 2024 issue of Sports Destination Management. The entire article with full details on the winners can also be found online.