What is Sports Tourism?
Sports tourism is one of the fastest-growing segments of the global travel industry. It’s the business of people traveling to take part in, watch, or support sporting events. From the FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games to local marathons and youth tournaments, sports tourism generates billions in economic impact and unites people across cities and countries around a shared moment.
As global competition intensifies, destinations worldwide are treating sports tourism as far more than a way to attract visitors. A well-run event becomes an engine for economic growth, giving a city reason to invest in new infrastructure and a stage on which to define who it is. At their best, these events reach a global audience while leaving lasting economic value in the community that hosts them.
Florida’s Sports Tourism Leadership
Florida stands at the forefront of sports tourism innovation, leveraging its year-round favorable weather, world-class facilities, and strategic location to capture significant market share in this booming industry. The state has positioned itself as an essential destination for both competitive sporting events and recreational sport activities.
In 2024, Orlando earned recognition as the nation’s number one Best Sports Business City for Attracting and Hosting Events. The Greater Orlando area currently features more than 40 venues dedicated to sport and recreation, with significant additional investment planned for continued growth — positioning Central Florida as an ideal laboratory for sport event management education and research.
Florida & Orlando: Sports Tourism Facts
Florida sports tourism economic impact, FY19–21
Best Sports Business City for hosting events (2024)
Florida sports tourism jobs supported
Sports tourism visitors (14% of all Florida tourism)
The Next Decade of Sport in the USA
FIFA World Cup
USA, Canada & Mexico
Summer Olympic Games
Los Angeles
Men’s Rugby World Cup
USA
Women’s Rugby World Cup
USA
Winter Olympic Games
Salt Lake City
This unprecedented concentration of major international sporting events in the United States creates exceptional opportunities for Florida destinations to host preliminary competitions, training camps, and associated tourism activities while building expertise in mega-event management.
Get the play-by-play from our experts on the tech, logistics, planning and operations behind the scenes at the 2026 Fifa World Cup.
UCF’s Leadership in Sports Tourism Education
The University of Central Florida is uniquely positioned to lead innovation in sports tourism education and research. Located in the heart of America’s premier sports tourism destination and home to the renowned Rosen College of Hospitality Management, UCF combines academic excellence with unparalleled industry access.
UCF is developing Florida’s first interdisciplinary undergraduate degree that integrates sport management, event production, and hospitality leadership into a comprehensive program designed for the modern sports tourism industry.
Program At-A-Glance
| Degree | Bachelor of Science in Sport Event Management |
|---|---|
| Home College | Rosen College of Hospitality Management |
| Program Focus | sport management, event production, and hospitality leadership |
| Distinction | Florida’s first interdisciplinary undergraduate degree |
Fall 2027
Planned Launch: Fall 2027
Why UCF’s Sport Event Management Program is Unique
The Bachelor of Science in Sport Event Management represents a pioneering approach to sports tourism education. While universities nationwide offer sport management programs, UCF’s program is the first in Florida to bring together sport event management within a single comprehensive major housed in a top-ranked hospitality college.
Students will gain expertise across the complete event lifecycle, including strategic planning, sponsorship acquisition, logistics management, marketing, and sustainability evaluation. This holistic approach produces graduates capable of leading in venues ranging from international sporting competitions to community recreation programs.
Academic Excellence
- Interdisciplinary curriculum combining hospitality, sport management, and event production
- Integration of emerging technologies for enhanced customer experiences
- Focus on sustainability and community impact
- Collaboration with College of Business Sport Business Management Minor
- Digital media, esports, and media management integration
Industry Immersion
- Partnerships with UCF Athletics and the Big 12 Conference
- Collaboration with USTA, Arnold Palmer Invitational, NBCUniversal
- Access to 40+ venues across Greater Orlando
- Internship opportunities with major employers
- Real-world event management experience
Globally Ranked Program
- Unique team-based integrative business approach with real-world experience and a global sports network
- MBA and MSBM dual degree pathway with valuable work experience in the sport business industry
- Undergraduate Sport Business Management Minor with volunteer, internship and experiential learning opportunities
- Orlando and Central Florida sports organizations as an integrated living classroom
- Ranked 8th best sport business program in the world (2022); named among the top five in America by the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Forbes
Hospitality and Sports Tourism Degrees at UCF
As a leader in hospitality management education, UCF students have the opportunity to learn from faculty and industry partners that guide them in becoming future innovators in a world-class destination. The Rosen College of Hospitality Management offers comprehensive programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels.
Bachelor’s Degrees
In-demand hospitality and sports tourism bachelor’s degrees- Sport Event Management BS (Coming Fall 2027)
- Hospitality Management BS
- Entertainment Management BS
- Event Management BS
- Restaurant and Foodservice Management BS
Graduate Degrees
Popular hospitality and sports tourism master’s and doctoral degreesUCF Online Programs
Nationally recognized online hospitality management programs
Research and Innovation at UCF
UCF’s commitment to sports tourism extends beyond classroom education to cutting-edge research that informs industry best practices and policy development. Rosen College faculty members are actively engaged in studying the economic, social, and environmental impacts of sports tourism, helping destinations optimize their event portfolios while ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth.
Key Research Areas
UCF researchers are investigating critical questions in sports tourism, including:
visitor spending patterns
and economic multipliers
technology adoption
for enhanced spectator experiences
community sentiment
toward sport event hosting
workforce development
needs in the growing industry
environmental sustainability
in sport facility operations
destination marketing
with a unified approach to destination growth
This research directly benefits students through data-driven curriculum development, provides valuable insights to industry partners, and positions UCF as a thought leader in the evolving sports tourism landscape.
Career Opportunities in Sports Tourism
The sports tourism industry offers exceptional career growth potential with compensation and advancement opportunities that exceed many traditional fields. As destinations worldwide increase their investment in sport event infrastructure and programming, demand for skilled professionals continues to accelerate.
Industry Growth Projections
Employment in sport and recreation management is expanding significantly faster than the overall job market. Entertainment and recreation management positions are projected to grow 11% between 2023 and 2033—much faster than the average for all occupations. Administrative services and facilities management roles are growing at 6%, still faster than average.
Job Growth Rate for Entertainment & Recreation Managers
Median Annual Wage (May 2024)
Upper-Range Compensation
Annual Job Openings Projected
Where Rosen College Students Work
Approximately 13% of Rosen College students currently work in the sport and sport event tourism industry, gaining valuable experience with leading organizations across Central Florida and beyond. These employers span professional sports teams, sporting venues, country clubs, recreation facilities, cruise lines, theme parks, and sport event management companies.
Major employers include:
Orlando Magic
TopGolf
ESPN Wide World of Sports
Orlando City Soccer Club
NBC Sports
USTA
Florida Citrus Sports
Disney Cruise Line
Universal Destinations and Experiences
leading Florida country clubs and recreation facilities
SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment
The forthcoming decade of major sporting events in the United States, combined with the expansion of Formula 1 racing in Miami and Las Vegas, is creating unprecedented growth in employment opportunities for sport event management professionals.
Join the Future of Sports Tourism at UCF
Be part of the first generation of sport event management professionals educated at Florida’s premier hospitality college