Sports Spot
The Top Ten States For
Sports tourism has surged in popularity, and is expected to reach a valuation of $53.5 billion by the end of 202. There has been a notable 3.25% increase in NFL attendance in 2022 to 69,442 per game, which is the second-highest figure in the last 19 years. With this in mind, Viator sought to uncover the best US states for sports fans to visit as part of their “All-American” Index.1,2 To accomplish this, the experts created a points-based index system that analyzed various metrics. These included the number of sports venues per state, average stadium capacities, number of male professional sports teams and college football teams, as well as the average attendance to ultimately uncover the best US states for sports tourism. Florida is the ultimate US state for sports tourism Viator can reveal that Florida is the top US state for sports enthusiasts to visit, with an overall sports tourism score of 9.24/10. With a -14- | ExtendedWeekendGetaways ~ December, 2023
total average of 341,978 fans per game across all sports, it secures the second-highest spot nationally and is more than double that of North Carolina (143,445), despite having a similar population. Visitors can immerse themselves in Florida’s sports culture, whether it’s by tailgating in the sunshine before a Florida Gators college football game or watching the Miami Dolphins, the highest scoring team in the NFL,3 amongst 65,000 passionate fans at the Hard Rock Stadium; one of the confirmed host venues for the FIFA World Cup in 2026 and six-time host of the Super Bowl.4,5 Texas claims the second top spot for traveling sports enthusiasts, with a sports tourism score of 9.19 out of 10. The state stands out for the highest number of college football teams in the country (12), as well as having the highest average attendance at college football games (479,127). Not only this, but Texas had the third-highest average attendance across professional sports teams per game in 2023 at 338,687. Visitors can experience the baseball culture in Texas by celebrating the Texas Rangers’ recent
