Combat sports are continuing to flourish both in participation and viewership. For instance, in 2024 there were almost seven million martial arts participants, up from 6.6 million in 2023, according to Statista.
More broadly, the global combat sports product industry was valued at $9 billion in 2022 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.1 percent from 2023 to 2031, and reach $15.4 billion by the end of 2031, notes Transparency Market Research in its Global Combat Sports Products Market Outlook 2031.
Also helping to fuel the growth are social media platforms, international events such as the Olympics and the soaring popularity MMA and boxing, as well as an increasing interest in combat sports-related fitness activities.
Two big developments this year are expected to help with all this growth. The NCAA announced that Women’s Wrestling has officially exited the Emerging Sports for Women program and that its inaugural championship event will be held in spring of 2026. (Girls’ wrestling is growing at the high school level as well, providing a strong ecosystem for the sport in the years ahead.) Also, the International Boxing Association has added the discipline of bare knuckle boxing; its edgy, raw vibe is expected to attract new fans.
As a result of all this growth, many locales are adding or improving venues to better serve a growing variety of combat sports competitions. These destinations are all about helping event organizers keep their eyes on the prize.
Atlantic City, New Jersey
America’s Playground has a long tradition of hosting boxing and wrestling, and those competitions occur at the Atlantic City Convention Center, Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall and a variety of casino/hotel ballrooms and theaters. The Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall is home to the majority of boxing bouts and boasts its own ring onsite. Each event has a full card of 10 to 12 boxers with about 1,200 spectators and an economic impact of $270,401.
The city hosts an average of 10 boxing, wrestling and martial arts events annually, ranging from local athletes participating in regional qualifying events to nationally ranked televised events. Here’s even better news: Plans call for the addition of up to 12 more events.
Recently, Atlantic City hosted the following:
• Amerikick International tournament at the Atlantic City Convention Center in August 2024 (3,500 attendees and an economic impact of $1,166,938)
•
NJSIAA boys’ and girls’ high school wrestling at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in March 2025 (23,125 attendees and an economic impact of $4,285,181)
• Ennis Fight Matchroom Boxing Event at Boardwalk Hall in April 2025 (10,000 attendees and an economic impact of $2,804,985)
• USA Wrestling’s May 2024 Phil Portuese Northeast Regional Championships at Harrah’s (600 room nights and $530,900 in economic impact)
“Atlantic City continues to position itself at the forefront of the combat sports market segment and strives to entice combat sports of all calibers to our seaside destination,” says Dan Gallagher, executive director, Atlantic City Sports Commission.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
The Baton Rouge area has hosted a variety of combat sports competitions including Titan Combat Championships (professional and amateur MMA), USA Wrestling Louisiana State Kids State Championship, Louisiana High School Athletic Association State Wrestling Championship and Taekwondo United March Nationals, as well as local boxing events. The primary venues are Raising Cane’s River Center, Crowne Plaza and Marriott Baton Rouge.
“We hold several combat sports events per year from martial arts to MMA to boxing,” says Jason Suitt, director of sports development, Visit Baton Rouge. “Each event has had positive support from our community. We look forward to working with more groups to bring these types of events to the area.”
Many of the events hosted are youth competitions, which is in keeping with Baton Rouge’s reputation as a family-friendly destination that is able to provide an authentic Louisiana experience. About 60 percent of participants come from within a one- to two-hour drive.
Looking ahead, says Suitt, “With the set-up of our current venues and future venue growth, including a new arena coming to LSU, I think we can grow in the boxing space. We have some local partners who are doing smaller local boxing events and I think we can utilize those resources for some larger-scale events in the future.”
Bryan, Texas
Strategically positioned in the heart of the Texas Triangle, Legends Event Center offers outstanding accessibility for event rights holders and is primed to be the premier host for both regional and national competitions.
The venue features a 65,000-square-foot maple hardwood event floor that provides a flexible and spacious setting. Amenities include an athletic trainers’ room, a referees’ lounge, flexible meeting spaces, an indoor turf room and a family entertainment center.
Legends Event Center has hosted USA Wrestling, state championships that use 24 mats, Texas UIL District and Regional Championships, club wrestling and amateur boxing events. It also recently held its first-ever sanctioned USA Boxing event, which was a resounding success.
“Building on that momentum, we’re excited to explore future opportunities to host additional boxing events, both amateur and professional,” notes Mitchell Isbell, director of business development, events & marketing. “Legends Event Center currently hosts approximately seven combat events annually. These include a mix of youth wrestling tournaments, professional wrestling showcases and amateur boxing competitions. As we continue to build momentum in this space, we’re actively exploring opportunities to expand both the number and diversity of combat sports events, including professional-level programming.”
He adds that while the majority of combat sports events currently cater to youth and amateur participants, “We are well-equipped to host both highly competitive tournaments and recreational programming for all ability levels.”
Greensboro, North Carolina
Wrestling and martial arts are huge draws in Greensboro, which hosts three to five wrestling events annually.
The largest of these is the Super32 Wrestling Championship, one of the nation’s premier fall wrestling tournaments, which brings 9,000-plus attendees and an estimated 4,000 room nights to the area with an estimated economic impact of more than $4.3 million. This annual event attracts more than 2,000 elite high school and youth wrestlers along with their families from across the U.S.
“To date, more than 30 future NCAA Wrestling Champions have competed in this event before advancing to their collegiate careers, making it a proven launching pad for some of the sport’s most accomplished athletes,” says Caleb Wilson, sports sales manager, Greensboro North Carolina CVB.
Greensboro also hosts the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Individual State Championships in wrestling for both boys and girls, as well as the NCHSAA Dual Team State Championships.
On the martial arts front, Greensboro has hosted the World Tang Soo Do World Championships in even years since 2010. The city has also been home to the 2019, 2022 and 2024 AAU Junior Olympic Games which feature karate and taekwondo events.
“Greensboro is expanding its martial arts presence, with taekwondo in its second year returning to the Greensboro Complex in 2026,” notes Wilson.
Most of the action takes place at the First Horizon Coliseum & Greensboro Complex, a state-of-the-art, 22,000-seat arena directly connected to a 120,000-square-foot exhibit hall that can hold 26 wrestling mats with nine conjoining meeting rooms frequently used for weigh-ins, coaches’ meetings and hospitality.
Mattoon, Illinois
Since opening in December 2024, the Emerald Acres Sports Connection has hosted three youth wrestling tournaments, drawing participants and families from across Illinois and neighboring states, and there are plans for the venue to significantly expand its hosting into other combat sports categories in the coming year.
The facility boasts more than 75,000 square feet of hardwood court space that can be configured to accommodate mats, rings or combat sport set-ups of various sizes. There is also seating for up to 75,000 spectators, making it well-suited for large-scale tournaments and multi-ring layouts.
“Our largest wrestling event to date brought in 499 athletes and approximately 2,300 total attendees. Based on average visitor spending for lodging, food, transportation and retail, we estimate this event generated an economic impact of more than $250,000 for the local Mattoon area. We are tracking this impact closely and expect future events to grow in both size and reach, says Tyler Yoder, general manager, Emerald Acres Sports Connection.
“We are actively pursuing additional wrestling tournaments, as well as martial arts and self-defense events, and working with potential partners to introduce new formats and age divisions in 2025,” says Yoder.
He reports that future plans include hosting karate, taekwondo, jiu-jitsu and martial arts tournaments or exhibitions as well as partnering with local providers to offer youth martial arts classes and introductory programs and developing age-specific tournaments and skills-based classes to encourage new participation and retention.
Placer Valley, California
Located just 20 miles east of the Sacramento International Airport, Placer Valley welcomes youth, high school, college and adult combat sports competitions.
One of the two main venues is the $34 million, 160,000-square-foot Roebbelen Center that provides 108,250 square feet of open contiguous floor space, electronic score boards, flexible meeting space, two complimentary Wi-Fi networks and more. The other is the 73,000-square-foot Hardwood Palace that offers hardwood flooring, complimentary Wi-Fi, a P.A. system and full-service concessionaire.
“Wrestling and martial arts are very prevalent in Placer Valley, and the area hosts multiple grappling and martial arts competitions,” says Donna Dotti, director of sales, Placer Valley Tourism. “We’re still going strong with the Women’s West Coast Tournament of Champions.” In fact, she points out, there has been an explosion of girls entering the middle school division of the tournament, which has expanded from eight teams in 2021 to 50 teams in 2024.
“The growth of the WWCTOC has been nothing short of extraordinary,” exclaims Dotti. “In just four short years, our newly added middle school division has grown by 525 percent — a true testament to the rising momentum behind girls’ wrestling.
As we proudly enter our 10th year, we remain committed to fostering this upward trajectory. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that we’re not only providing high-level competition but also helping to shape brighter futures for these remarkable young athletes.”
Springfield, Illinois
Combat sports competitions are growing in popularity in Springfield and up until now, the two key venues for these events have been Bank of Springfield (BOS) Center and the Orr Building at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. But in October 2025, the 196,625-square-foot Scheels Sports Park Air Dome will become Springfield’s premier sports destination, offering year-round play and competition.
The dome will boast two full-sized softball fields, six full-sized basketball courts (convertible to 12 volleyball courts), a multi-purpose 350-foot by 280-foot turf field and five batting cages. The Springfield Clinic will also have medical facilities on site. The facility is part of the Scheels Sports Park multi-use complex that will offer elite playing fields and event spaces and is slated to fully open in 2026.
“Springfield’s addition of the Scheels Sports Park Air Dome will give Springfield the largest air dome structure in the world,” says Terry Truman, sales manager, Visit Springfield, Illinois. “The flexible space and mobile bleachers will allow for large high-level competitions. The dome and park will have multiple concession options as well as a food truck park. The Yard is an entertainment area available for live music and multiple set ups. Visit Springfield will have a conex box onsite in order to provide concierge services to participants and families alike.”
Combat sports events previously held in Springfield have included NCAA DIII Wrestling Regionals and IKWF wrestling (BOS Center), and FUJI BJJ martial arts (Orr Building).
“Springfield typically holds three to five events per year, with plans to expand to include larger national events in wrestling and boxing,” says Truman. “Springfield is open to all genders, ages and abilities, and we have hosted youth all the way up to collegiate-level events.” SDM
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