SPG's State Guide to Sports in Illinois

With more than 1,200 sporting venues and state-of-the-art facilities, Illinois hosts everything from PGA tournaments and Olympic trials to college and high school sporting tournaments.

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Welcome to Illinois!

We look forward to welcoming you to the Land of Lincoln for your next sporting event. Sports tourism is going from strength to strength, and our state truly understands the importance of creating exceptional experiences for visiting participants and fans. We see it as an incredible growth opportunity and are committed to supporting the industry however we can. In 2023, sports tourism spending of $47.5 billion generated a total economic impact of $128.0 billion in the US, which supported 757,600 full-time and part-time jobs (Tourism Economics, 2023). This impact on our communities cannot be understated. In fact, Illinois was ranked 5th in the nation for economic impact from sports tourism in 2023. But we are still in growth mode and eager for more.

With more than 1,200 sporting venues and state-of- the- art facilities, Illinois hosts everything from PGA tournaments and Olympic trials to college and high school sporting tournaments. Sporting events are a vital part of our tourism industry in our state, and we continue to strive to be top-of-mind for sports associations and organizations planning their next event.

To find a sporting facility and to learn more about holding your next event in Illinois, please visit Sportsillinois.com. You can also plan an unforgettable trip to Illinois by visiting EnjoyIllinois.com.

Greg Mihalich

Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

Office of Tourism