Delaware Tourism Office Reopens Sports Tourism Capital Investment Fund

The Delaware Tourism Office has announced it will reopen the Sports Tourism Capital Investment Fund for applications on August 1, 2024, with a deadline of September 13.

Established through the FY24 Bond and Capital Improvements Act, the fund provides financial support to new or existing sports facilities that hold events throughout the year to attract out-of-state visitors and contribute to the state and local economy.

“As a significant economic driver, sports tourism generates millions of dollars and brings thousands of visitors to our state each year,” said Delaware Governor John Carney. “This fund provides the opportunity to support new and existing sports facilities to ensure that Delaware remains competitive in the sports tourism field for years to come.”

During the fund’s initial application period from March 1 through April 12, 2024, the Delaware Tourism Office received 18 applications requesting more than $54 million. Available funds totaled $11.3 million and were distributed to four awardees, including Wilmington Sports LLC, DE Turf, Midway Motion & Fitness and STATS Tournaments. The FY25 Bond and Capital Improvements Act provided an additional $10 million for a second round of funding.

“Sports tourism is a $128 billion global industry that is continuously growing, and Delaware faces stiff competition from neighboring states to attract and retain sporting events,” said Secretary of State Jeff Bullock. “We welcome the opportunity to reopen this investment fund and provide financial support to our state’s world-class sports facilities so that sporting event operators keep Delaware top of mind when looking for locations for their tournaments and other competitions.”

Delaware has hosted many national sporting events in recent years, including the USA Lacrosse Youth Nationals, the MEAC Volleyball Championship, the U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships, and the state’s first PGA Tour event, the 2022 BMW Championship. The state has also hosted smaller-scale sporting events in lacrosse, football, soccer, softball, baseball and other sports.

“The first round of applications for the Sports Tourism Capital Investment Fund was incredibly competitive and showcased the variety of facilities hosting a range of sporting events throughout the year,” said Delaware Tourism Office Director Jessica Welch. “We are thrilled to be able to reopen the program for new applications and continue supporting these facilities who contribute significantly to our state’s economic growth and help promote Delaware as a prime destination for out-of-state visitors.”