YOUTH/AMATEUR SPORTING EVENTS GENERATED RECORD $90.8 MILLION IN ESTIMATED ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR WEST MICHIGAN
West Michigan Sports Commission Also Saw Highest Economic Impact Ever for Meijer Sports Complex
Plus Year-over-Year Increases in Overall Hotel Room Nights and Number of Athletes/Visitors
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Jan. 7, 2025 – The West Michigan Sports Commission (WMSC) reported today that youth/amateur sports tourism generated $90.8 million in estimated economic impact (1) for the region in 2024 through 112 events – the highest year yet in the organization’s history for visitor spending and a 65 percent gain from 2019. It also experienced a record year for the Meijer Sports Complex at $9.3 million in estimated economic impact – up 7.4 percent year-over-year and 53 percent from 2019.
“The WMSC’s primary mission is to be an economic generator for West Michigan through sports tourism, and this past year demonstrates the power of youth and amateur sports in driving the local economy,” said Mike Guswiler, president of the West Michigan Sports Commission. “It is clear through our record-breaking estimated economic impact in 2024 that sports tourism only continues to grow in significance for our region.”
The WMSC was founded in 2007 to harness some of the $52.2 billion(2) national youth and amateur sports industry for the region. One of its key tenets is generating overnight stays from event visitors, which drives spending in area hotels, restaurants and other businesses. Since its inception, the WMSC has booked 1,328 sporting events and tournaments that attracted more than 2.4 million athletes and visitors, generating over $738 million in estimated economic impact.
2024 Highlights
The West Michigan Sports Commission tracked the following sports tourism economic highlights in 2024:
Record economic impact with increased hotel nights and athletes/visitors – Last year, 112 sporting events generated $90.8 million in estimated economic impact, attracting 282,170 athletes/visitors while filling 49,975 hotel room nights. Below is the change from 2023 and 2019 (pre-COVID):
Economic impact reached the highest level in the WMSC’s history, increasing 3.3 percent from 2023 ($87.9 million) and 65 percent from 2019 ($54.9 million). It also surpassed the WMSC’s previous best year in 2022 at $90.5 million.
Hotel room nights booked increased 14.2 percent from 2023 (43,775) and decreased 1 percent from 2019 (50,245).
Athletes/visitors increased 1.5 percent from 2023 (277,980) and 22 percent from 2019 (230,382).
Events decreased 7.4 percent from 2023 (121) and increased 13 percent from 2019 (99).
Meijer Sports Complex experienced the highest-ever estimated economic impact – The 2024 baseball/softball season was the strongest year yet in estimated economic impact at $9.3 million from hosting 20 tournaments and 31,194 athletes/spectators who booked 4,822 hotel nights – with most weekends full. Below is the change from 2023 and 2019:
Estimated economic impact increased 7.4 percent from 2023 ($8.7 million) and 53 percent from 2019 ($6.1 million).
The number of tournaments was on par with past years, with one less tournament than 2023 and two less tournaments than 2019.
Athletes/visitors increased 6.5 percent from 2023 (29,302) and decreased 8 percent from 2019 (33,943), mainly because of lower team participation rates.
Hotel room nights increased 8.4 percent from 2023 (4,450) and decreased 25 percent from 2019 (6,407) due to a 40 percent decrease in travel teams, though overall average daily hotel rates were up in 2024, contributing to the increase in estimated economic impact.
Meijer Sports Complex expansion project began, with 96 percent of funds raised – The WMSC raised $13 million in public and private funds toward the $13.5 million “Winning Streak” capital campaign to improve and expand the Meijer Sports Complex, breaking ground in October. See more about the Meijer Sports Complex expansion project below.
Meijer State Games of Michigan celebrated 15th anniversary, returned to pre-COVID levels – Celebrating its 15th year in 2024, the Summer and Winter Games held 63 cumulative events – attracting 8,085 athletes and generating $2.5 million in estimated economic impact, rebounding to pre-COVID levels.
Looking to 2025
Looking at 2025, the WMSC is focused on continuing to increase the number of traveling athletes and visitors, and related hotel revenue and visitor spending, plus bidding on more marquee events in 2025 and beyond. The WMSC also will be managing the Meijer Sports Complex expansion project as well as bidding on events that can be held at the new Amway Stadium when it opens in 2027.
Meijer Sports Complex Expansion
A focal point of 2025 will be constructing the $13.5 million expansion of the Meijer Sports Complex, which broke ground in October 2024. Approximately $500,000 remains to raise to expand the complex, which will generate an estimated additional $1 million in annual visitor spending through 200 more teams that can be accommodated.
The improvement and expansion project includes a new championship softball field for youth, amateur and collegiate softball; two flexible-use diamond fields for youth and amateur baseball and softball plus collegiate softball; 20 pickleball courts (including a championship court); resurfacing of the Miracle Field; a new playground; bleacher canopies; synthetic turf on the championship baseball field; new concession and restrooms; and 350 more parking spaces.
The improvement phase began following the 2024 season with installing synthetic turf to the championship baseball field and resurfacing Nate Hurwitz Miracle Field, providing 10 more years of play for more than 130 children with physical and cognitive disabilities annually. The expansion portion of the project begins in January 2025 and is estimated to be completed in January 2026.
Owned and operated by the WMSC and opening in 2015 with eight baseball and softball fields (including a championship baseball field), the Meijer Sports Complex has cumulatively attracted 190 events, 8,851 teams and 287,657 visitors for a total economic impact of $69.3 million in visitor spending.
Amway Stadium Booking Contract
In June 2024, the Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority Board of Directors voted that ASM Global, who will manage the new Amway Stadium on the west side of Grand Rapids, will work with the WMSC on a booking policy for the $175 million, 8,500-seat soccer stadium scheduled to open in spring 2027. The WMSC will begin bidding on regional and national field sport tournaments that can be hosted at Amway Stadium when not used by the MLS NEXT Pro soccer team for its games. Stadium developer Grand Action 2.0 estimates that 17 professional soccer matches can be hosted at the stadium annually, with the opportunity for an additional 50-plus events to be held there on an annual basis.
“We see a tremendous opportunity with Amway Stadium to attract more prestigious field sport events to West Michigan who are drawn to play in this beautiful new venue,” said Guswiler. “Our organization’s mission is also about driving the conversation of sports infrastructure in the region – and the more we have to offer from a venue standpoint, the more events we can host and the more dollars we can pour back into the local economy.”
2025 Youth & Amateur Sporting Events
Sporting events on the 2025 calendar so far include (signature events in bold):
Big Bear Hockey: Avalanche Tournament (Jan. 17-20)
USYF (United States Youth Futsal) Lake Shore Regional (Feb. 7-9)
2025 World Ice Fishing Championships (Feb. 11-16) - New to Michigan
Meijer State Games – Winter Games (Feb. 14-16 – Grand Rapids; 7-9 – Marquette)
Big Bear Hockey: Moon Dance Tournament (Feb. 14-17)
Grand Rapids Sled Wings Jr Sled Hockey Finals (March 21-23)
Star Spirit Grand Nationals (March 22-23)
Nuway Nationals (April 11-13)
NXT PRO Basketball Elite Youth Open (April 12-14)
Lakeshore Volleyfest (April 26-27)
NCAA DII Women's Golf Regionals (May 5-7)
Amway River Bank Run (May 10)
Grand Rapids Invitational Soccer Tournament (May 23-25)
MJVBA Championships/AAU Grand Prix Volleyball Tournament (May 31-June 1)
Meijer LPGA Classic (June 11-15)
Champion Force Cheer MI Invitational (June 14-15)
Meijer State Games – Summer Games (June 19-22 – Main Weekend)
Beer City Open (July 7-13)
The Hartford Nationals conducted by Move United (July 11-17) – New to West Michigan
Michigan Spartan Event Weekend (July 19-20)
Meijer Sports Complex baseball/softball travel tournaments almost every weekend May through August (with 15 by Perfect Game, 6 by Game Day USA and 2 by USA Softball)
Fly Fishers International Flyfest (Sept. 22-28)
(1) “Estimated economic impact” represents both direct and indirect visitor spending.
(2)From Sports ETA’s 2023 State of the Industry Report.
About the West Michigan Sports Commission
The non-profit West Michigan Sports Commission (WMSC) identifies, secures and hosts youth and amateur sporting events to positively impact the economy and quality of life in the region. Since its inception in 2007, the WMSC has booked 1,328 sporting events and tournaments that attracted more than 2.4 million athletes and visitors, generating over $738 million in estimated economic impact. Visit westmisports.com, Facebook.com/ WestMichiganSportsCommission and.Instagram.com/westmisports for more information.