KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – A local destination marketing organization says sports tourism is big business in Kalamazoo.
Discover Kalamazoo says the Kalamazoo area hosted 70 plus sports events in 2023, which resulted in $28.5 million in estimated direct visitor spending.
More than 30,000 youth, amateur, college and professional athletes competed in various sports events and tournaments held in the Kalamazoo area. Discover Kalamazoo says that contributed to the region’s local economy through lodging, transportation, food & beverage, retail, recreation, space rental, and other business services.
Discover Kalamazoo contracted Conventions, Sports & Leisure to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study to review potential growth opportunities in the sports tourism marketplace. They say findings of that study revealed a significant opportunity in Kalamazoo County for an indoor, tournament-ready hard-court facility which can accommodate at least eight basketball courts/16 volleyball courts for both local and regional use.
The facility is projected to host 372,000 local attendee days and 223,615 non-local attendee days, generate 36,000 hotel room nights, and deliver $48 million in annual economic output.
Brian Persky, Director of Business Development at Discover Kalamazoo says, “Kalamazoo continues to punch above its weight class in a few niche sports such as ice hockey, figure skating, wrestling, and tennis. 2023 was still one of our strongest years on record in terms of the economic impact generated from sports events in the community. However, we believe a gap still exists in our ability to host more diverse sports events with higher participation rates. Our team at Discover Kalamazoo continues to strategically work towards achieving these goals in 2024 and beyond.”
Discover Kalamazoo says the top events in 2023 included:
USA Curling Mixed Doubles Championships hosted by USA Curling & Kalamazoo Curling Club
Approximately 100 athletes, coaches, and various event personnel
Over 200 hotel room nights realized
Estimated direct economic impact of $103,518
MHSAA Team Wrestling Finals hosted by the Michigan High School Athletic Association
Approximately 1,000 athletes, coaches, and various event personnel
Over 500 hotel room nights realized
Estimated direct economic impact of $699,615
MYWAY Wrestling Individual State Championship hosted by Michigan Youth Wrestling Association
Approximately 5,000 athletes, coaches, and various event personnel
Over 2,000 hotel room nights realized
Estimated direct economic impact of $4.6 million
MAC Women’s Golf Championship hosted by Western Michigan University
Approximately 60 athletes, coaches, and various event personnel
Over 100 hotel room nights realized
Estimated direct economic impact of $57,793
Among the events planned for 2024: the Ziegler Kalamazoo Marathon Sunday, May 5, which will start and finish will be downtown at the Arcadia Creek Festival Place and route throughout Kalamazoo; the Black American Cheer Association summer cheer camp in Kalamazoo for the first time, held at Western Michigan University’s Student Rec Center July 31- August 2; the 81st USTA Boys’ 18 & 16 National Tennis Championships hosted at Kalamazoo College’s Stowe Stadium, Western Michigan University’s Sorensen Courts, and other surrounding sites; and the 2024 Teen CrossFit Games at Wings Event Center August 27-September 1, which will be the first international sporting event held in Kalamazoo.
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