Kalamazoo, Michigan – In 2024, records were set as the discovered Kalamazoo Sports hosted more than 50 sporting events a year, with records set in 2024.
The organization announced that the event had a record high of $30.3 million in estimated in-person visitor spending, according to a news release on Tuesday, March 18th.
The economic impact was made possible through more than 38,000 young people, amateur, university and professional athletes who competed in sporting events and tournaments in the Kalamazoo region in 2024.
These athletes, along with family, friends and fans, contributed to the local local economy by paying for accommodation, transportation, food and drinks, retail, recreation, space rentals and other business services.
The organization said it surpasses weight classes in sports, including ice hockey, figure skating, wrestling and tennis. These four sports accounted for 53% of the nights in the 2024 Discovery Kalamazoo Sports Room.
To enhance that impact, the organization plans a $40 million basketball and volleyball facility.
Related: Blank Filling: Why Kalamazoo County is Planned with a $40 Million Youth Sports Complex
Among the most well-known sporting events held in Kalamazoo in 2024,
Michigan Youth Wrestling Association Personal National Championship: 5,000 athletes, coaches and event officials, using a 2,000 hotel room night, with an estimated direct economic impact of $4.9 million.Kiss Soccer Tournament sponsored by TKO Premier: 3,000 people, using hotel rooms nights of over 1,000 people, estimated $2.4 million with direct economic impact.MHSAA Team Wrestling Final: Attracted 1,000 people for $737,361 with estimated direct economic impact and used over 500 hotel room nights. Teen CrossFit Game: Drawing the estimated direct economic impact and using 900 hotel room nights for $416,896.
Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, Kalamazoo has some new events on the horizon, including:
USA Hockey will be holding the 2025 14U Tier II National Championships at the Wings West & Wings Event Center from April 2nd to 6th.The 2025 Michigan Color Guard Championship will return to his second year at the University of Michigan Western University Arena on March 29th.The K-Town Shakedown Roller Hockey Tournament will return to Kalamazoo for the first time since 2020 at Wings Event Center from April 11th to 13th.Ziegler Kalamazoo Marathon will begin and end on Sunday, May 4th at the Arcadia Creek Festival Place. The USTA Boys’ 18U and 16U National Championships will be held in Kalamazoo for 82 consecutive years. The event will be held again at Stowe Stadium at Kalamazoo College, Sorensen Courthouse at Western Michigan University and other surrounding sites. The 2025 kickoff classic sync skates will take place at Wings Event Center from November 21st to 23rd.
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