Ready to make an impact in your community?
Sports Destination Management’s 2025 Champions of Economic Impact list is out—and our venues helped power several of the nation’s standout wins. Collectively, the honorees generated an estimated $1.422 billion in economic impact and 812,518 room nights across their communities, underscoring how purpose-built venues, great events, and a dialed-in guest experience translate into real dollars for local economies.
Here are a few of the honorees:
Rocky Top Sports World | Gatlinburg, TN
Rocky Top Sports World earned recognition for two of the Southeast’s marquee volleyball events—Peak Challenge and Rocky Top Bash—tournaments that book out fast, energize the destination in key windows, and convert family travel into multi-night stays. The events generated an estimated $3.56 million in economic impact and 5,474 room nights for Gatlinburg and Sevier County.
Why it won: Consistent sellouts, seamless large-field operations, and the ability to turn spikes on the court into spend on the parkway—lodging, dining, and attractions—brought these events from “popular” to “community difference-maker.”
“Volleyball weekends here don’t just fill brackets—they fill breakfast tables, lift Main Street, and spotlight what makes Gatlinburg special,” said General Manager Doug Grote. “Our team treats every match like a welcome mat for the whole community, and that pride shows up in the numbers you see—and the smiles you don’t.”
Cedar Point Sports Center | Sandusky, OH
At Cedar Point Sports Center, the NUWAY Combat Rumble—its largest event to date—showcased the venue’s capacity to scale operations for high-intensity, multi-mat competition while keeping families moving smoothly from weigh-ins to finals. The event delivered an estimated $2.23 million in economic impact and 214 room nights, validating the site’s growing regional pull and its proximity to an iconic family entertainment destination that extends stays beyond the final whistle.
Why it won: A high-participation combat sports meet that ran on time, looked big-league, and generated meaningful off-venue spend—proof that when the experience is frictionless, families stick around longer and spend more.
“When you host your biggest event ever, you find out who you are,” said General Manager Justin Kijowski. “Our staff, officials, and partners moved as one—every mat, every bracket,
every family supported. That’s how you turn a single weekend into lasting momentum for Sandusky.”
Legends Event Center | Bryan, TX
Legends hosted the NXTPRO Puma Pro16 National Finals, drawing elite basketball programs from across the U.S. and Australia. More than a championship, it became a multi-day showcase for athletes, families, and scouts—an event that filled hotels and restaurants while spotlighting a first-class arena experience. The Finals produced more than $5 million in economic impact and 7,263 room nights for Bryan/College Station.
Why it won: World-class competition with a welcoming, tournament-first environment—all the details that matter to teams (flow, flexibility, amenities) and all the details that matter to communities (nights, spend, return visits).
“From tip-off to trophy lift, our goal was simple: make every team feel like the headliner,” said Jamie Cox, General Manager. “The energy was electric, the play was elite, and the community support was all-in. That’s how a finals week becomes a calling card for Bryan.”
Publix Sports Park | Panama City Beach, FL
Panama City Beach delivered multiple honorees—an illustration of how a versatile outdoor complex can activate the calendar, diversify visitor segments, and keep heads in beds throughout the year. Combined, these events generated an astounding $48.95 million in economic impact and 70,866 room nights—an engine in itself, powering local businesses—from beachfront cafés to big-box retail and everything in between.
· USFA Panama City Beach World Series: $23.5 million in economic impact; 26,854 room nights.
· Grand Slam World Series of Baseball: $21.85 million in economic impact; 24,590 room nights.
· SNAP Soccer Panama City Beach Classic: $3.6 million in economic impact; 4,180 room nights.
Why it won: Scale, versatility, and reliability. From weeklong baseball and softball series to soccer events, the park thrives on operational excellence and destination appeal—sun, sand, and seamless tournament execution.
“Our teams don’t just run brackets and bike courses—we build experiences families talk about all year,” said Marissa Guarneiri, Assistant General Manager. “That’s what keeps teams coming back, restaurants full, and our community buzzing long after the medals are handed out.”
Other Champions in the SF Network
– Wintrust Sports Complex|Bedford Park, IL- Under Armour Association Boys Basketball Finals & The OneSix
– Rhythm & Rally Sports & Events|Macon, GA- Southern Pickleball Championships presented by Publix
What This Year Says About Our Venues—and Our Communities
This year’s Champions of Economic Impact have solved the winning equation: when exceptional event design meets guest-obsessed operations in the right destination, communities win—hotels, restaurants, attractions, and small businesses included.
The numbers are big, but the story is human: young athletes chasing goals, families making memories, and local partners rallying to deliver weekends that feel special and drive measurable impact.
Congratulations to our teams, event owners, and tourism partners for turning competition into community outcomes—again and again!
