As we sprint toward the end of the year, a quick look back tells us 2018 has been quite a ride, full of highs and lows. And between all the milestones, we’ve done our jobs, each of us making up a part of the big machine that is sports tourism and the economy it has created. In this issue, we celebrate our 2018 Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism. We also examine growing and emerging sports (pickleball and flag football) as well as equestrian and rodeo. Our industry thought leaders have also given us some excellent insights, making this issue worth your always valuable time.
Today’s Internet-dominated world is at the peak of evolution with smartphones gaining tremendous momentum. In the United States alone, more than 224 million people are smartphone users, making it one of the largest smartphone marketplaces in the world. If you’re not convinced, simply look around: it’s predicted that at least 75 percent of the people nearby right now own a smartphone. more....