The Maryland Sports Commission (MSC) today announced a historic fiscal year (FY2025), showcasing the organization’s commitment to growing sports tourism, supporting local economies and promoting the State as a premier destination for sporting events.
In fiscal year 2025, MSC played a role in hosting and supporting more than 50 major sporting events across the State, generating an estimated $277.3 million in direct business sales and welcoming more than 595,793 attendees. These events delivered a return on investment (ROI) of 1:1,808, supported 37,115 jobs in hospitality, retail, and event management industries, and contributed $18,239,346 in total state tax revenue.
“This has been an extraordinary year for the Maryland Sports Commission and the communities we serve,” said Terry Hasseltine, Executive Director of the Maryland Sports Commission. “From youth tournaments to national and international competitions, we’ve been able to leverage sports to drive tourism, create jobs and showcase Maryland as a premier destination for sports and entertainment.”
MSC’s success is powered by its grant funding programs. The Youth & Amateur Sports Grant and Michael Erin Busch Fund brings competitions to communities statewide, promoting participation, access, and economic activity. The Major Event Fund, established by the Maryland General Assembly in 2022, helps recruit and retain large-scale sporting and entertainment events, further boosting Maryland’s profile as a destination for world-class sports.
FY2025 featured a diverse lineup of events, including the CIAA Basketball Tournament, Inland Beach Soccer Tournament, Major League Quadball Championships in Howard County, International Junior Tennis & Wheelchair Championships, Collegiate Rugby Championship 7’s, Turf Wars Kickball Tournament, Governor’s Challenge, USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships, and the Washington International Horse Show. These competitions attracted athletes, families and fans from across the country and around the world. Collectively, these events not only brought substantial economic impact but also delivered experiences to strengthen community pride, encourage youth participation and elevated Maryland’s profile on the national and international sports stage.
During the last fiscal year, the Maryland Sports Commission’s online grant portal relaunched, opening a 55-day application period for both the Major Events Fund and the Youth & Amateur Sports Grant and Michael Erin Busch Fund (Grant & Fund) programs. The updated portal streamlines the application process and introduces a more data-informed and equitable approach to evaluating events, with the addition of the Event Impact Calculator Tool. Funding from these programs, which typically ranges from $2,500 to $75,000 for youth and amateur competitions and supports major international events through the Major Events Fund, is designed to drive economic impact, attract tourism and elevate Maryland’s profile as a premier sports destination.
From the excitement of professional competitions to amateur tournaments, MSC’s efforts created more than just tourism dollars. These events inspired young athletes, created lasting partnerships with schools, businesses, and community organizations, and brought pride among Maryland residents.
“The economic impact is impressive, but the real story is the community impact,” Hasseltine added. “We are proud of how these events have brought people together, created jobs and showcased the best of Maryland to the world. Our work is about growing the economy and building connections that last long after the final whistle.”
About Maryland Sports Commission
Maryland Sports Commission is the definitive leader in the recruitment and retention of sporting events, both amateur and professional, to the state of Maryland. Since its founding in 2008, Maryland Sports Commission has enhanced the state’s economy, image and quality of life as the go-to resource for the sports tourism industry, attracting millions of visitors with over $3 billion in event recruitment and $2.25 billion in direct spending impact to date. For more information on Maryland Sports Commission, please visit: https://marylandsports.us/
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