BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Nov. 27, 2017) - Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, today announced the 2017 Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism. This year’s winners are responsible for contributing more than $400 million to the national economy over the past year.

“This year’s nominations were incredible,” said Publisher Fonda Johnson. “We were amazed not just by the sheer volume of events, but by the scope. We saw an amazing array of entries — from team to individual, from youth to seniors, and across all disciplines and all levels of play.”

The most outstanding of those received were recognized and presented with event details in a special feature published in the November/December 2017 issue of Sports Destination Management. Among those events were the 44th AAU Girls' Junior National Volleyball Championships; the 51st AAU Junior Olympic Games; and the Jam On It Reno Memorial Day Tournament.

Full List of Winners:

Mid- to Large Market Champions

• 2017 NFL Draft & Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau
• 44th AAU Girls’ Junior National Volleyball Championships & Amateur Athletic Union, ESPN Wide World of Sports, Visit Orlando
• 2017 National Senior Games Presented by Humana & Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau
• 2017 AAU Junior Olympic Games, Amateur Athletic Union & Detroit Sports Commission 
• Adidas Windy City National Qualifier & Choose Chicago
• 2017 Icy Hot IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships & Chattanooga Sports Committee
• Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix & SportsPITTSBURGH
• State Games of America & West Michigan Sports Commission
• American Youth Football and Cheer National Championships & Kissimmee Sports Commission
• 2017 Jam On It Reno Memorial Day AAU Tournament & Jam On It and Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority
• Head of the Hooch & Chattanooga Sports Committee
• USA Gymnastics Championships & VISIT Milwaukee
• TSSAA Spring Fling & Rutherford County Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Emerald City Open- 2017 Spartan’s US Championship Series & Snohomish County Sports Commission
• 6th Annual ISSA/WBSC World Tournament of Champions & Tampa Bay Sports Commission, World Baseball Softball Confederation, International Senior Softball Association

Small Market Champions

• 2017 UCI BMX World Championships & City of Rock Hill, Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department
• California Rodeo Salinas & City of Salinas
• IRONMAN Florida & Visit Panama City Beach
• Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon & Visit Champaign County
• Akron Children’s Hospital Akron Marathon Race Series & Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Oregon Wrestling Classic & Deschutes Fair & Expo
• WSL Panama City Beach World Series & World Sports League
• Minto US OPEN Pickleball Championships & Collier County Convention and Visitors Bureau
• NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship – Preliminary Round & VisitGreenvilleSC
• National Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament of Champions & Lafayette Convention & Visitors Commission, Townsquare Media and Ragin’ Cajun Boxing Club
• Cape Express Beach Blast Sand Soccer Tournament & Morey’s Piers and Waterfront Beach Parks
• 2017 National Theatre on Ice Competition & Evansville Sports Corporation
• Sports Force Parks 4th of July Fireworks Classic & Sports Force Parks at Cedar Point Sports Center located in the Lake Erie Shores & Islands Region
• US Junior Nationals Hershey Showcase & Hershey Harrisburg Sports & Events Authority
• Little League Senior League Softball World Series & Delaware World Series Committee of Little League International

Innovations in Sports Tourism

• Passport2Pain & Vashon-Maury Island Chamber of Commerce
• 2017 Southern Zone Age Group Championship & Tupelo Convention & Visitors Bureau

Sports Events Presented as a Series

• USSSA Global World Series – Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, Alabama & Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission
• United States Hockey League Development Series Phase I, II and III Combines & Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau

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About Sports Destination Management
Sports Destination Management is written for the largest audience of sports event managers and tournament directors in the sports tourism market and maintains a focus on the important issues surrounding event location decisions and event management. With content from experts and thought leaders, SDM provides in-depth coverage of sports event planning and execution through incisive and relevant articles as well as insightful, real-world case studies showcasing best practices and successful event production.

In addition to the publication, SDM offers extensive digital resources through www.sportsdestinations.com and the e-newsletter SDM Blitz, both providing decision support tools for organizers to ensure successful events at all levels of play.