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Salina recreation reports record league and tournament activity, estimates $10M+ economic impact
Summary
Parks and recreation staff reported 491 league teams, 1,217 total tournament teams across venues and an estimated economic impact of more than $10 million, based on a mix of event surveys and formulas provided by Visit Salina.
Parks and Recreation staff told the Salina Parks and Recreation Board that youth and adult league participation and tournament hosting continued to recover in 2024, producing what staff described as high facility use and an estimated economic impact exceeding $10 million.
Athletics staff reported 491 league teams tracked during the year and said outdoor tournament play accounted for 586 tournament teams. The fieldhouse recorded 33 events and 631 tournament teams for its calendar, yielding 1,217 tournament teams total across outdoor and indoor facilities, staff said.
"We use a combination of specific coach‑reported data (overnight stays and participant counts) and established formulas for youth basketball and volleyball to estimate economic impact," the athletics staff member said. Staff said Visit Salina provides supporting figures for certain marquee tournaments and that those submissions form the basis for the $10,000,000+ estimate.
Staff also reported trends at the fieldhouse: more community events and larger gatherings that are increasingly using flexible gym space. The board discussed potential needs for expanded lobby or overflow capacity for some community events.
Staff asked the board whether any additional data or analysis of tournament origins, hotel stays or economic assumptions would be useful; no formal action was taken on the report.
