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Utah Summer Games drew more than 10,000 athletes; organizers give preliminary $17 million economic‑impact estimate
Summary
Organizers reported 10,470 athletes competed in the 2025 Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games, with preliminary estimates placing June economic impact at about $17 million; staff said they will re-run numbers for verification.
John Hoglesby, speaking for the Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games, told the Iron County Commission that the 2025 event drew 10,470 athletes from across the state, including 1,437 participants from outside Utah and representation from 27 of 29 counties. He credited partnerships — including Special Olympics Utah and a new collaboration with the Las Vegas Raiders for football events — with expanding the event schedule and hotel demand.
Maria (tourism staff) presented preliminary economic‑impact calculations for June and said the county is estimating roughly $17,000,000 in direct economic impact over the month (staff said they will re‑run and verify the figures). Hoglesby highlighted growth in key sports: 118 girls fast‑pitch softball teams (a record), expanded youth soccer and high‑school basketball participation, and new or growing events such as wrestling and a drill‑team invitational that now draws out‑of‑county teams in December.
Hoglesby said the games now create sustained, year‑round opportunities that benefit lodgers, restaurants and other hospitality businesses. He and Maria noted ongoing facility constraints — the county is close to available field capacity and is pursuing partnerships to add fields and facilities to host more events. Commissioners asked about timelines for additional fields and Maria said facility readiness is "TBD" and that the county will pursue aggressive outreach as facilities come online.
The presentation included notes about visitor origin (80% of competitors do not live in Iron County), special events integration (Special Olympics Utah added an estimated 500 athletes beyond the main numbers), and a preliminary single‑weekend estimate of $1.3 million for a Utah basketball tournament. Organizers said they will provide updated and verified numbers after re‑running the economic calculations.
The commission thanked organizers for the report; no formal action was taken.
