Sports tourism is boosting Utah’s economy
Oct 29, 2024, 5:00 PM
Utah Hockey Club fans hold signs as they cheer against the Ottawa Senators during the second period of an NHL hockey game held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024. (Isaac Hale/Deseret News)
(Isaac Hale/Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — The growing sports market in Utah is having a huge impact on the state’s economy. Tourism experts say sports is now one of the biggest things driving people to visit and spend time in Salt Lake.
During Sports Salt Lake’s annual Sports Summit on Tuesday, Visit Salt Lake president and CEO Kaitlyn Eskelson said sporting events are now driving more than 30% of Salt Lake’s overnight hotel stays.
And now with pro hockey in town, other local businesses are benefiting too, Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson said.
“Now adding hockey on top of the Jazz when that’s the heart of their season is a very direct payoff to us. Not just to the revenues of Salt Lake City, the state and the county, but to local businesses,” Wilson said.
“You see people that don’t want to be in downtown. They choose to rent a car, and they want to stay out in Sandy because the hotel rooms are a bit cheaper. So you see the region benefiting.”
Youth sports in Utah play a big part in tourism
Eskelson said a lot of the tourism dollars come from parents bringing their kids in for youth sports including tournaments.
“They will come into Salt Lake and they’ll come for four or five days for a tournament. They spend a ton of money while they’re here.”
Eskelson said there’s a correlation between interest in youth sports and local professional sports teams.
For example, they are now seeing a surge in youth hockey demand after the Utah Hockey Club came to town. And youth sports is already an almost $37 billion industry.
Eskelson said the revenue and youth sports will only get bigger if we land more professional sports teams.
Why does it matter?
Executive Director of Sports Salt Lake Clay Partain explained the importance of sports tourism by highlighting its impact nationally.
“In 2023, over 200 million Americans traveled to four sporting events; everything from professional games to youth soccer tournaments.”
Partain said sports travel, especially for youth sports, is fundamental to our society.
“Parents are willing to do whatever it takes, including sacrificing their own savings, to ensure their kids get every opportunity. This is a key driver in the resiliency of the sports market.”
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