Adapted Sports Events had $143 Million Impact in 2023

Adapted sports remain big business — and are growing, according to a new report conducted by All In Sports Consulting. According to the report, the total economic impact of adapted and para sport-related events nationwide totaled $143.9 million in 2023.

The latest figures reflect an increase of 3.45 percent over last year’s findings. The findings were announced at the 5th Annual Adapted Sport Leadership & Business Symposium (LABS), a two-day virtual conference presented by All In Sport Consulting on November 6 and 7. The study was conducted in partnership with Stitch Marketing Research and Huddle Up Group. Richmond Region Tourism and the Tempe Tourism Office also sponsored the research.

“The findings from this year’s economic impact study demonstrate the continued growth of the adapted sport industry and fortify the business case for adapted sport events, which benefit both the athletes who compete in their respective sports and the hosting communities,” said Dawna Callahan, founder and chief executive officer of All In Sport Consulting. “When we established the first economic impact report four years ago, we set out to measure the true economic footprint of the adapted sport industry. Since then, the data we’ve gathered support the adapted sport and disability community as the formidable economic force that we are and our place in sport business conversations.”

The new study builds on several previous versions. The inaugural study in 2020 measured a baseline from 2019, showing an economic range of $80.5 million to $134.2 million. A follow-up study in 2022 reported an annual economic impact of $77.8 million for 2021 events. In 2023, the study reported an economic impact totaling $139.1 million, an increase of 78 percent that showed the markets post-pandemic bounce back.

“Since the study began, we’ve seen growing participation from organizations wanting their voices heard,” said Nate Heckman, president of Stitch Marketing Research. “Adapted sport organizations have been instrumental in helping us capture a more accurate picture of the industry’s economic significance, providing communities with compelling business reasons to host events and building robust support for competing athletes.”

The latest study collected expenditure and budget data between July 17 and October 2, 2024, from a sampling of U.S.-based adapted sport entities to capture and project the economic power of the national adapted sports industry. Organizers emailed surveys to 292 contacts at 207 organizations. Data from 44 organizations were included in the report.

Among the study’s highlights:

• The organizations represented in the survey account for about 14 percent of the total number of adapted sport organizations in the U.S. market.
• The average economic impact of adapted sport and para events (only) from reporting organizations totaled $12.5 million in 2023.
• The study also found that adapted sport organizations are excited about the increased visibility and awareness the 2028 Paralympic Summer Games in Los Angeles will bring to the Paralympic movement in the United States.

“Factoring in the impact of local participants, day-traveler participants and overnight participants, it is evident that adapted sports are a thriving part of the sports tourism industry,” said Cole McKeel, vice president of partnerships with the Huddle Up Group. “Our consulting work shows communities across the country are placing more of an emphasis on these events and for great reason.”

The full report is available for download here.