For the third consecutive year, Rocky Top Sports World has set a new economic impact record. During their ninth year in business, the 80-acre multisport facility welcomed more than 143,976 athletes, coaches, families, and friends to Gatlinburg. The award-winning complex contributed $76.3 million in economic impact during the 2022-2023 fiscal year.
Rocky Top Sports World saw an increase in the number of events, as well as the number of registrations at returning tournaments. The best-in-class facility hosted nearly 100 tournaments, camps, clinics, and events this past year and was booked 49 out of 52 weekends.

After analyzing over 2,000 communities over the last 20 years, The Sports Facilities Companies has predicted that the $39.7 billion youth and amateur travel sports and the $218 billion parks and recreation industries are colliding. They also predict that local government assets that are currently being operated by the parks department will require new models of operation and management to keep up with the demands of the private sector. With a 33% increase in the number of studies conducted for facilities from municipal clients, the evidence of the shift is already clear.

After Sand Mountain Park and Amphitheater’s first full year of full operation, they have brought in an estimated $23.2 million in economic impact. The park has not only generated increased revenue in the area, but also increased interest in the area by developers in the retail, hospitality, and entertainment industries. The increased revenue and interest was generated by the more than 100 events held at the facility over the past year including 62 sports tournaments, 11 concerts, and numerous community-oriented events. The park and the events that it held brought in more than 1 million unique guests and 1,750 teams from the all over the country.