2025 Edition

Sports Planning Guide Magazine

Sports Planning Guide is dedicated to connecting sports event planners with premier facilities and destinations. For over 15 years, we’ve provided comprehensive resources to assist in planning and selecting ideal locations for tournaments and events.

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Sports Tourism Soars in 2025 and Beyond

Welcome to the 2025 edition of Sports Planning Guide.

As you can tell by the size of this mammoth guide, sports tourism is booming, and business is good.

How good, you ask?

According to the most recent Sports ETA State of the Industry Report, total direct spending associated with the sports travel sector was $52.2 billion and Americans took a record 204 million sports event-related trips in 2023.

Sports Business Journal also reports more than $1.5 billion was spent building youth and amateur sports facilities from 2020-2023, and another $1.6 billion is expected to wrap up by the end of next year.

Many of those facilities are featured in this year’s SPG (which is undoubtedly, our best issue to date). SPG not only features 18 state guides providing an in-depth look at what each state has to offer, we also spotlight more than 200 destinations in our industry-leading and beautifully redesigned Site InSpections. These SIs feature the most up-to-date information on venues and attractions and are an invaluable resource for event planners across the country.

SPG’s talented stable of writers and in-the-know guest contributors will keep you on top of the latest trends with our comprehensive feature stories.

We report on essential strategies for effective emergency action planning in sports event management, how virtual reality has become a game changer for sports tourism and we provide important details on the proper insurance coverage for youth and amateur sports. SPG also explores the economic and social benefits of sports tourism for local communities.

SPG also interviews Sports ETA President and CEO John David, who shares his thoughts about the state of the industry heading into the future. And, of course, legendary prognosticator Jon Schmieder returns with his sports industry trends for 2025. You won’t want to miss John, or Jon’s prescient thoughts.

These stories and more can also be found on our crowd-pleasing website, SportsPlanningGuide.com, which features in-depth planning guides, comprehensive facility spotlights and showstopping destination videos.

Once again, SPG sets the standard for coverage of the sports tournament industry. We hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as we loved creating it.

And when you pick it up, be sure to lift with your knees.

Jason Paha – Chief Editor

Digital Edition Sponsored by Myrtle Beach

Nothing brings people together like sports. And no place brings people together like The Beach. In Myrtle Beach, you’ll find first-class facilities and an experienced planning team that will make sure your sporting or e-sporting event goes off without a hitch. And when the clock ticks down, the real games begin. With 60 miles of activities, over 2,000 restaurants and 14 unique communities, there is no better place to raise the trophy.

Explore Sports in Myrtle Beach

Sports Planning Guide Feature Articles

Community First Champion Center - provided by Fox Cities

Sports Tourism: Economic Growth and Community Building

Exploring the economic and social benefits of sports tourism for local communities.

EventConnect: Revolutionizing Sports Tournament Planning

In the rapidly evolving world of sports tourism, tournament planning can often resemble a juggling act.

Youth and Amateur Sports Insurance

A rundown of the important details on the proper insurance coverage for youth and amateur sports.

John David Interview: Balancing Growth and Sustainability

Sports ETA president and CEO John David talks about the future of sports tourism and the industry’s evolving challenges.

Emergency Action Planning: Mitigating Risk in Sports Event Planning

Essential strategies for effective emergency action planning in sports event management.

The Next Evolution of Youth Sports Destinations

How mixed-use and multi-purpose will define the future of sports tourism complexes.

2025 Sports Tourism Trends

10 emerging forces shaping a milestone year ahead.

Virtual Reality: A Game Changer for Sports Tourism

By offering immersive, interactive experiences, VR is revolutionizing how sports destinations are marketed.

Dive Deeper with Sports Site Inspections

Sports Planning Guide’s Site InSpections offer in-depth analyses of premier sports venues and destinations across the United States and beyond. These detailed profiles provide event planners with essential information on facilities, amenities, and local attractions, facilitating informed decisions for hosting successful tournaments and events. Explore our comprehensive Site InSpections to discover the ideal location for your next sporting event.