New Report: Pennsylvania Ranks as a Top State for Economic Impact Generated by Sports Tourism

The Commonwealth ranked fourth in the nation in two separate categories according to Sports ETA's "2026 State of the Industry Report" ― participatory sporting events and spectator sports.

Pennsylvania is at the center of America's biggest moments this year, hosting world-class events spanning sports, culture, and national celebration including the NFL Draft, NCAA March Madness, the PGA Championship, the FIFA World Cup, America250PA, the MLB All-Star Game, and more - driving hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity.

Harrisburg, PA - Today, Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger highlighted the major positive impact that sports tourism has on Pennsylvania's economy, as the Commonwealth landed in the top five twice in a new national report that provided the first-ever unified analysis of both participatory and spectator sports tourism.

Sports ETA, the trade association for the sports events and tourism industry, released its 2026 State of the Industry Report, ranking Pennsylvania fourth in the nation for both sports segments. Participatory sporting events include youth and amateur tournaments, races, etc., while spectator sports include attendees of professional, minor league, and collegiate sporting events.

"This new report underscores just how crucial the sports and tourism industries are to Pennsylvania's overall economy," said Secretary Siger. "That's why Governor Josh Shapiro has been laser-focused on making targeted investments to continue strengthening these industries and promote our Commonwealth on the national stage."

Pennsylvania's ranking in the top five states across both segments highlights the strength of its balanced sports tourism ecosystem, combining both high-volume, repeat visitation from participatory sports as well as high-impact, fan-driven demand from spectator sports that include professional, minor league, and collegiate events.

This balance positions Pennsylvania for continued growth as the U.S. prepares to host a decade of global sporting events, including the FIFA World Cup 2026 and LA28 Olympic Games. This year in Pennsylvania alone, the Commonwealth is hosting a landmark slate of events including the PGA Championship, FIFA World Cup, MLB All-Star Game, NFL Draft, NCAA March Madness, UFC 330, and more.

"Pennsylvania continues to be a strong and reliable destination for participatory sports tourism," said John David, President & CEO of Sports ETA. "Its ability to attract diverse events and deliver consistent economic impact makes it a key player in the national sports tourism landscape."

Pennsylvania's Strong Sports Tourism Sector

Preliminary visitor data from 2025, gathered by Longwoods International for Visit PA, shows growth across both participatory and spectator sports. This data shows that 21 percent of overnight visitors to Pennsylvania included a sporting event as part of their trip, up from 15 percent the previous year. For day trip visitors, 14 percent included a sporting event in their itinerary, up from 13 percent the previous year.

PA Sports, a team of the leading sports tourism organizations from across the Commonwealth and supported by DCED, works to attract and host international, national, regional, and local sporting events, and showcase Pennsylvania as a viable sports event destination for professional, collegiate, interscholastic, amateur, and youth sporting ventures, which will foster economic development and enrich the quality of life in the Commonwealth.

"Pennsylvania's success in sports tourism is driven by a strong network of destinations, standout attractions, and quality facilities across the Commonwealth," said Danielle Vincenti, Chair of PA Sports. "Combined with our central and accessible location, it creates a compelling environment for hosting everything from youth and amateur events to major spectator experiences. This achievement reflects the collaboration and alignment happening across Pennsylvania's sports and tourism partners, supported by PA Sports' efforts to bring destinations together and attract events that drive economic impact statewide."

Some upcoming events hosted by PA Sports members include:

• IRONMAN 70.3 North American Championship - June 14, 2026
  Happy Valley Sports & Entertainment Alliance
• Disc Golf Junior World Championship - July 7-11, 2026
  Experience Butler County
• Federation of International Ninja Athletics World Championships, Ultimate Ninja Athlete Association World Series Finals/USA Ninja World Cup - July 11-16, 2026
  Hershey Harrisburg Sports & Events Authority
• USGA US Junior Amateur Golf Championship - July 20-25, 2026
  Discover Lehigh Valley
• State Games of America - July 24 - August 2, 2026
  Happy Valley Sports & Entertainment Alliance
• Continental Youth Championships (largest youth Gaelic games tournament outside of Ireland) - July 30 - August 2, 2026
  Visit Chester County
• USGA US Amateur Golf Championship - August 10-16, 2026
  Visit Delco & Valley Forge Sports
• Firefighter Challenge U.S. National Championship - September 23-26, 2026
  Erie Sports Commission

Tourism is Big Business in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is primed to once again be in the national spotlight in 2026 as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia and host major events throughout the Commonwealth.

These events are huge tourism and economic development opportunities for the Commonwealth, as millions of people prepare to visit Pennsylvania. Over the last three years, Governor Shapiro has rebranded Pennsylvania as the "Great American Getaway" and increased funding for Visit PA to nearly $60 million.

To build on that momentum and prepare for America's 250th anniversary, Governor Josh Shapiro and his Administration secured $57.5 million in the last two budgets specifically for the 2026 celebrations. The Governor's 2026-2027 proposed budget continues to fully fund the Tourism Office to ensure that Pennsylvania obtains the maximum benefit from the events celebrating America's 250th anniversary.

Since taking office, Governor Shapiro and his Administration have worked to position Pennsylvania as a leading destination for visitors from around the world:

• Governor Shapiro secured $50 million in FY 2025-26 to ensure the Commonwealth is ready to host millions of visitors in 2026, including $10 million for the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, $7.5 million for security, and $40 million to support marketing, security, events and infrastructure for events.
• In FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26, Governor Shapiro secured $15 million for tourism marketing to boost Pennsylvania's economy, attract more visitors, and support good-paying jobs.
• In February 2026, the Shapiro Administration announced $5 million in funding to support 15 sporting events through DCED's Sports Marketing and Tourism Account Grant Program.
• To prepare for America250PA, the Governor also secured $10 million for the America250PA Commission.

Read more about the Shapiro Administration's preparation to welcome the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

About Visit PA 

Visit PA, the official tourism resource of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and part of DCED, leads promotion of the state's 67 diverse and inviting counties. Lauded as The Great American Getaway, Pennsylvania blends rich history with vibrant cities and tranquil landscapes. From historic battlefields and three UNESCO World Heritage sites to fresh-air adventures across 124 state parks and a thriving arts and culinary scene, authentic moments await around every corner of Pennsylvania.

To learn more about traveling to Pennsylvania, go to visitpa.com and follow along on social media with @visitpa, #VisitPA, and #PAGetaway.

For more information about the Department of Community and Economic Development, visit the DCED website, and be sure to stay up-to-date with all of our agency news on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

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