Complex thought: Communities look to sports tourism to boost coffers

When it comes to the economic impact of sports facilities, including some shiny new ones in the region, there’s a lot more to them than 'If you build it, they will come.'

By Brian Hartz
| 6:00 a.m. September 25, 2020
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Courtesy. The Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County.

Travel-Tourism

With traditional leisure travel on the decline because of the COVID-19 crisis, Gulf Coast communities with economies that rely on visitors are hoping sports tourism will make up for lost revenue. Collier, Manatee and Pasco counties have all recently opened new or improved current major sports complexes intended to serve residents while also attracting big-time scholastic, collegiate and amateur athletic events and competitions.