North Carolina Grants and Funds Fuel the Future of Sports Tourism

Grants and funds targeting big sporting events and youth and amateur sports to elevate North Carolina’s position within the industry

North Carolina is emerging as a go-to state for sporting events and tournaments, with pro and semi-pro teams to take in and top facilities for amateur and youth competitions. To bolster this push in the sports tourism market, the state has carefully put together several grants and funds that not only aim to bring in larger tournaments to boost economic impact, but also to benefit their communities with places to play and be active.

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North Carolina Youth and amateur sports grants

North Carolina has put together multiple opportunities for the industry’s growth. By taking a percentage of sports wagering tax revenues, which was initiated at the beginning of 2024, the State of North Carolina and North Carolina Amateur Sports established an annual youth sports grant fund to be used on sports equipment, facility upgrades and more. All 100 counties in the state receive $20,000 for the fiscal year, and then $10,000 annually thereafter.

In addition to funding for equipment and facilities, the state is also looking to assist with the number of financial difficulties that can exist for traveling teams. Out-of-state teams attending tournaments and events in North Carolina can apply for the Youth Sports Grant fund, which offers up to $5,000 for travel costs. Established by the North Carolina General Assembly and the N.C. Youth Outdoor Engagement Commission, the fund also offers up to $25,000 to attract new sporting events and tournaments at the national, regional and state levels.

Major Events, Games and Attractions Fund in North Carolina

Also fueled by sports wagering, the Major Events, Games and Attractions Fund allows the N.C. Department of Revenue to collect an 18-percent tax on the practice, including 1 percent of the total wagers placed on horse race betting. North Carolina estimates that the fund will have $16.2 million collected by fiscal year 2027–28.

The idea behind this fund is not only to draw in major national and international sporting events like the Super Bowl, NCAA Final Four and world championships like a world cup, which will provide the state a big boost in its tourism appeal, but amateur and youth sports and non-sporting events as well.

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“We strive to be in the top five states across the United States that are identified as a true sports state, whether it’s our professional teams or amateur and youth in the sports tourism industry,” said Bonny Bernat, senior sports development manager at Visit Winston-Salem. “Wilkesboro is a great example of having done a great job bringing the NASCAR All-Star race to the home of motorsports. Accessibility to the fund will [further] help bring in more marquee events like that and establish the state at a higher level.”

The collection has been initiated and once the opportunity for applications have opened the distribution will be an additional notch for the state’s ability to boost its travel and tourism industry. It is a creative approach to add additional means of bringing in visitors and athletes alike, one that only Pennsylvania also has in their repertoire but is surely to gain traction as success is calculated.

North Carolina’s Esports grants to help the esports industry move up

With its state-of-the-art arenas and convention centers, powered by its strong fanbase, North Carolina has become a powerful hub for esports events. To help further boost esports and in turn provide the state’s tourism industry as well, North Carolina offers producers financial rebates on production expenses up to 25 percentwith a minimum of $150,000 spent to qualify. Officially called the N.C. Esports Industry Grant, a designated amount of $5 million is made available annually.

SportsNC, part of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, manages the esports grant and works as a liaison to public and private groups across the state. Event planners interested in hosting an esports event or tournament would then also have SportsNC’s direct connections with destinations and their sports commissions to find the best facility or multiple ones to host. This will not only help event planners get the financial boost they’re hoping for but also eliminates part of the venue selection process.

“We’ve started to invest in becoming an esports educational hub for both the game publisher and production industry and an advocate for destinations,” said Loren Gold, executive vice president of Greater Raleigh CVB, speaking on Raleigh’s particular position and success within the esports industry. “We strive to host two or three major national or international events, two to four regional events and four to eight local events and programs per year [regarding esports].”

With esports grants on the table, destinations like Raleigh can further boost their position, while others in the state will be able to look at the City of Oaks’ success story and utilize funding to elevate their own game.

By Christopher D. Silbernagel