Sports Planning Guide

12/23/2025

Thank you to the event planners, destinations, facility operators, partners, and contributors who make the sports tourism industry what it is. Your work creates moments that bring communities together and leave lasting impacts.

We’re grateful to share your stories, highlight your successes, and support the people building the future of sports tourism every day. From all of us at Sports Planning Guide, we wish you a joyful Happy Holidays and a healthy, successful New Year.

🔔 We look forward to what we’ll build together in 2026. 🔔

12/22/2025

Volunteers show up on game day, but what happens after the final whistle? Too often, great volunteers disappear until the next event, and destinations are left rebuilding from scratch.

In this SPG exclusive in partnership with VolunteerLocal, Nicole Allien explores what happens when sports tourism organizations flip that script by turning event-day helpers into a year-round volunteer community that drives retention, professionalism and destination pride.

From practical engagement strategies to real-world success stories (including how major events are managing 1,000+ volunteers more effectively), this feature breaks down why year-round volunteer culture isn’t a “nice to have,” it’s a competitive advantage.

👇 Rethink how you build your volunteer backbone. 👇

Behind every successful sports tourism event are dedicated volunteers who power operations, enhance experiences and help create memorable competitions.

12/19/2025

🥇 Stay ahead in Sports Tourism by subscribing to Sports Planning Guide!

The sports tourism landscape doesn’t stand still, and neither should the planners or destinations that are shaping it. A subscription to SPG puts you closer to the people, places, and projects moving the industry forward.

From original, on-site destination reporting and expert commentary to facility insights, trend analysis, and interviews with industry leaders, SPG delivers the context you need to plan smarter and stay competitive. Whether you prefer print, digital, mobile, or our email newsletter, the information comes to you, wherever you are—and it's all free!

👇 Subscribe to SPG and stay connected to sports tourism. 👇

🔗 https://sportsplanningguide.com/subscribe-to-sportsplanningguide/

12/18/2025

How 2025 Set the Stage for Sports Tourism’s Biggest Year Yet - https://mailchi.mp/ptmgroups/how-2025-set-the-stage-for-sports-tourisms-biggest-year-yet
Packed tournaments, new venues, and strategic insights—get the inside look at what’s driving sports events forward in 2026.

12/18/2025

In 2026, Santa Clara, California, will join one of the most exclusive clubs in global sports, with Levi's Stadium hosting both the Super Bowl and FIFA World Cup 26 in the same year. It’s a moment decades in the making, and one that goes far beyond game days!

In our latest Faces of Sports Tourism interview, Discover Santa Clara CEO Christine Lawson shares how strategic investment, venue evolution, and fan-first thinking are positioning the city for a lasting global spotlight. From what it takes to prepare for events of this scale to how destinations turn short-term moments into long-term momentum, Lawson's insights speak directly to planners, partners, and fans alike.

👇 Read the full conversation to see how Santa Clara and the San Francisco Bay area are preparing to meet the world and what other destinations can learn along the way.

Christine Lawson shares how Santa Clara, California, is preparing to leave a lasting impression following the FIFA World Cup.

12/18/2025

The last time the FIFA World Cup came to the U.S., soccer was still finding its footing. 😉 Fast forward three decades, and the landscape couldn’t look more different. With 2026 approaching, the beautiful game is returning to a country that has quietly built a strong soccer ecosystem.

In our 2026 edition of SPG, this latest feature explores what’s changed since 1994, how current and rising stars are reshaping fandom, and why this first-ever three-nation World Cup could mark defining moments for the tournament and America’s long-term soccer legacy.

The big question here isn’t whether the U.S. can host the world again, it's what happens after the final whistle.

👇 Dive deeper in print and digital. 👇

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted across three nations, including the U.S. Discover what makes this historic event a landmark moment for sports tourism.

12/17/2025

Everything’s bigger in Texas, including the opportunities for sports events.

SPG's State Guide to Texas Sports Facilities is your go-to resource for planning successful tournaments and events. From a statewide network of experienced sports commissions and CVBs to venues designed to deliver seamless operations, Texas raises the bar for event planners nationwide.

Inside the guide you’ll explore nine standout destinations like:

★ Visit McAllen, offering modern sports facilities, a warm climate within the Rio Grande Valley, and a welcoming community.

★ Go Round Rock, setting the standard for tournament-ready destinations, with nationally recognized venues.

★ Visit Arlington, Texas, delivering big-stage sports experiences in a central DFW location, with the infrastructure and expertise to match.

And that’s just the beginning!✨

Download the guide to discover facilities, insider insights, and more destinations ready to help your next event succeed both on and off the field.

👇 Explore SPG's State Guide to Texas Sports Facilities 👇

🔗 https://sportsplanningguide.com/texas-sports-facilities-guide/

12/15/2025

Where2Play in Greensboro, North Carolina - https://mailchi.mp/ptmgroups/where2play-in-greensboro-north-carolina
Host more, spend less in Greensboro, North Carolina. Discover affordable venues, hotels and 135 attractions built for winning sports events.

12/15/2025

New research from All In Sport Consulting shows adapted and para sporting events generated nearly $164 million in economic impact in 2024, a 14% year-over-year increase and more than double the impact since 2020. With LA28 on the horizon, momentum is accelerating.

However, the adapted sport movement is about more than dollars. From infrastructure and accessibility to fan engagement and destination investment, adapted sport is moving from a community initiative to a strategic pillar of sports tourism and event planning.

At the Adapted Sport Leadership & Business Symposium (LABS), industry leaders, sports commissions, and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee shared how inclusion is driving ROI, participation, and long-term growth for destinations willing to invest.

Why it matters for planners and destinations:
• Proven economic impact
• A rapidly expanding fan base
• Inclusion as a competitive advantage

👇Learn how adapted sport is shaping the next decade of the sports tourism industry.

The adapted sport movement in the U.S. is entering a new era marked by rapid growth, rising visibility and expanding economic impact in communities nationwide.

12/12/2025

The 2026 edition of Sports Planning Guide is free to download. Have you got your copy yet?

Along with over 400 pages of content in both digital and print formats, with the insight and quality you've come to expect, the 2026 launch is also accompanied by our new, in-depth facilities database.

With the online facilities database, you can search for facilities by:
• Facility type (arena, convention center, rec center, etc.)
• Ability to host a key sport
• Specific amenities
• Targeted location

Each facility links directly to its destination Site InSpection, so that you can learn all about the area and its activities. Once you've found that perfect match, you can map things out and get directions with a handy map feature.

👇 We're so excited to get this new feature into your hands. Be sure to download and subscribe!

🔗 https://sportsplanningguide.com/spg/

12/11/2025

US Sports Congress Recap + New Arizona Guide! - https://mailchi.mp/ptmgroups/us-sports-congress-recap-new-arizona-guide
From natural wonders near Phoenix to adaptive sports leadership and the latest Congress trends, see what is driving Arizona event success.

12/11/2025

Sports tourism trends for 2026 are here!

For the 11th year in a row, we’re proud to partner with Jon Schmieder and Huddle Up Group, LLC to spotlight the biggest forces shaping the future of sports tourism. If one thing is clear from this year’s Top 10 Trends feature, it’s that our industry is entering a new era of opportunity and innovation.

From the global pull of the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics, to the rise of AI, smarter data usage, and investments in "silent sports," destinations need to adapt fast and plan smarter than ever before.

👇 Read the full Sports Tourism Trends for 2026 feature over at Sports Planning Guide to see what’s shaping the next chapter of the industry.

Explore top sports tourism trends shaping 2026 from destination insights to fan-experience forecasts. Learn what’s driving global sports travel.