Sports tourism events now have a new grant opportunity available to organizers. l PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEKSANDER SAKS/UNSPLASHa
DOVER — Delaware’s sports tourism industry has seen boosts by the millions over the past several years, but some say more funding is needed to help the First State become and remain competitive.
Earlier this year, the Sports Tourism Capital Investment Fund granted $11.3 million in awarded funds to sporting-based facilities across the state hoping to stimulate the economy in new ways. A new program through the Delaware Tourism Office is adding another $500,000 to help the industry reach the finish line offering grants to organizations that plan sports events or are developing new ones to draw teams to the area.
Funds to be awarded range from $1,000 to $25,000 and will be determined based on economic data and a post-event report which is to be completed by the event owner. Funding for this grant program comes from the Delaware Tourism Office’s budget, which in part, is funded through the state’s accommodations tax.
“The Delaware Tournaments, Events and Athletic Meets Sponsorship (TEAMS) Program is designed to assist organizations in the operation and development of sports events that will generate economic impact for the state. The program aims to attract new regional, national, and international sporting events at amateur, collegiate and professional levels and ensure that current sports events maintain their place and continue to grow for years to come in Delaware,” Delaware Tourism Office Director Jessica Welch told the Delaware Business Times in a prepared statement.
The new grant opportunity will help organizations hosting sporting events as they bring out-of-state visitors to the First State who will then likely book hotel rooms and seek out other amenities, she added.
“With our tax-free shopping and central location in the Mid-Atlantic region, we hope the program creates new opportunities for players from states in and around Delaware to participate in new events held here,” she told DBT. “We also see this program having a significant impact on our local businesses and hotels throughout the state. Participants and their families spend money in restaurants and other businesses while they are in Delaware, creating a positive economic impact on our cities and towns.”
Welch has watched Delaware’s sports tourism industry grow over the years, growth that she says has and will continue to be significant for the local economy. Tourism, as a whole, is currently the fourth largest economic driver for the state with sports tourism accounting for much of it.
“Sports tourism represents a $128 billion global industry, with Delaware’s sports events bringing in millions of dollars and drawing thousands of visitors each year,” Secretary of State Jeff Bullock said in a press release. “It is important that we not only keep and grow sports events the State presently hosts but also attract brand new events that further contribute to our state and local economy.”
Over the years, Delaware has successfully grown its sports tourism economy to include major events and brands such as the US Adult Figure Skating Championships, MEAC Volleyball Championship, USA Lacrosse Youth Nationals, BMW Championships and the PGA Tour.
“The economic impact of the industry now measures in the multi-million-dollar range and is growing each year,” Welch told DBT. “Many events that Delaware hosts are youth travel tournaments, meaning families will often travel to Delaware and extend their stay to explore all it has to offer, including its local businesses.”
She emphasized that one of the first steps, however, was accelerating the industry’s growth by enhancing facilities or even creating new sports-based facilities with the help of the Sports Tourism Capital Investment Fund. This year, four facilities were granted money through the investment fund including DE Turf which frequently attracts teams from across the country and a new pickleball facility near the beaches with a goal of hosting national tournaments.
Now that work is underway to make those things happen, the next step needs to be focused on bringing more out-of-area teams to Delaware with the help of the TEAMS Program.
“The more facilities that are enhanced, the more events that can be held in the state. The ripple effects of foot traffic that sports tourism brings to our state spreads throughout all three counties each time an event takes place, overall improving Delaware’s economy,” Welch said.
Organizations interested in applying for the TEAMS Program should contact the Delaware Tourism Office for more information. Applications are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and will be reviewed in the same manner, according to the office.
“In recent years, Delaware has hosted a number of sporting events that have brought thousands of visitors to our state and contributed millions of dollars in economic impact,” Delaware Tourism Office Sports Sales Leader Ryan Wolfe said in a press release. “This program gives us another resource in our sales and marketing toolkit and provides an opportunity to host additional sporting events that shine a spotlight on the state.”
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