Kansas committee hears bill to create sports tourism grant program, proponents say it levels playing field

The Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development heard testimony on HB 2346, a bill to create a Kansas Sports Tourism Grant Program administered by the secretary of commerce.

Committee Reviser summarized the measure as creating a grant fund with a $1.5 million transfer to establish the program, annual transfers to bring the fund up to $1.5 million subject to appropriations, a $250,000 carve‑out reserved for events in rural counties outside Sedgwick, Wyandotte and Johnson counties, and a maximum grant equal to 12.5% of state sales tax revenue generated in the local jurisdiction during the event period. Reviser said awards would be pledged but paid after the event based on post‑event reports that verify economic impact and paid expenses, and that the program would sunset on 06/30/2030 and take effect on 07/01/2026.

Warren Wilkinson, president and CEO of Visit Overland Park, urged support for the bill, telling the committee that "sports tourism is a $52,000,000,000 annual industry" and arguing Kansas is at a competitive disadvantage because many neighboring states already fund sports tourism. "What we're trying to do here with 2346 is to provide a level playing field for all of the communities of Kansas," Wilkinson said, emphasizing the bill’s pre‑event measurement and post‑event accountability.

Proponents from the hospitality and destination marketing sectors said the bill’s post‑event, performance‑based approach limits fiscal risk. Scott Schneider of the Restaurant and Hospitality Association said the program’s after‑the‑fact payments make the liability "a knowable amount of money" for state budgeting. Susie Santo, president and CEO of Visit Wichita, described recent local events that produced measurable lodging and spending — she cited a week‑long youth soccer event that generated more than 6,000 hotel room nights and roughly $4 million in direct spending — and recommended including exhibition games in eligibility rules.

Dusty Buell, tournament director of the Wichita Open, said the event generates roughly $8 million in economic impact for Wichita, supports local charities and requires state‑level support to remain competitive after changes in national tour structures. Sean Dixon, president of Visit Topeka who identified himself as chair‑elect of the Travel Industry Association of Kansas (TEAC), said TEAC is neutral on the bill as written but asked the committee to weigh prioritizing new‑business attraction versus support for existing events, to preserve existing tourism funding, and to ensure objective accounting using the Destinations International Events Impact Calculator.

Committee members asked clerical and policy questions, including whether the initial $1.5 million transfer is subject to appropriation (the reviser said it is), how hotel room nights would be proven, and whether the program will be used to retain existing tournaments as well as attract new ones. The chair said he wanted to work with the reviser and stakeholders to consider amendments (including adding exhibition games and golf tournaments) and expects to "work this bill sometime next week." The hearing was then closed.

Next steps: the committee signaled plans to draft and consider amendments with the reviser and to schedule further work on HB 2346 in the coming week.