SFA & SFM CEOs Weigh In on Coronavirus Impact to the $25 Billion Youth Sports Marketplace

CLEARWATER, Fla., March 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Parks and recreation, little league, travel sports, fitness facilities, and tournament venues play a vital role in community health outcomes, social outcomes, tourism, and our economy.

According to Evergreen Research, the youth sports marketplace is a $25B economy.  Additionally, the Aspen Institute Project Play has highlighted the important role that sports play in health and social outcomes, as well as the importance of providing access to sports for low income kids. Data from the Sport and Fitness Industry Association, which tracks trends in the youth sports marketplace, suggests that youth sports participation has been on the rise over the past several years in parallel to the growth in the economy.  However, COVID 19 is now impacting the youth sports landscape in thousands of communities across the U.S. impacting the 45 million + athletes and their families that drive the youth sports economy.

SFA & SFM CEOs Dev Pathik and Jason Clement, who have advised more than 2,000 communities and spoken about the sports marketplace on HBO Real Sports, NBC Today Show, Forbes Sports Money, CNBC and other media outlets, weighed in on the impacts of COVID 19 on the youth sports and tourism marketplaces that their firms serve. SFA CEO Dev Pathik said, "The youth sports marketplace has been recession resistant until now. In the previous downturn, parents stopped going out to eat or they would delay a vacation to fund their kids' sports programs. This is different. We still have the same consumer demand and priorities, but the places where kids play are now closed as we ride out this COVID 19 viral storm."

The Sports Facilities Management operates the largest network of sports tourism, league, and local sports venues in the U.S. hosting 25 million visits and producing $200M annually in tournament driven tourism into markets like Myrtle Beach (SC), Gatlinburg (TN), Sandusky (OH), and Panama City Beach (FL). SFM CEO and Founder Jason Clement heads up the team of 700+ employees who manage events, venues, food and beverage, community recreation, local league and other programs. Clement acknowledged, "The last week has been a reaction to the evolving situation. Closings and postponements will mean that 2020 projections will change. That is a reality. This week we have pivoted to strategize for the 'comeback.' We are already re-booking events, creating new events to aid in various sports recovery, and the marketplace is asking us when they can return. The good news is kids are not, so far, as severely impacted by the virus. We can already see a massive rebound in the fall. These changes will lead to a relocation of events, cancelled high school activities, new showcases for athlete exposure, and we know that tournament driven travel will be a major player in the tourism rebound. The youth and amateur sports industry will be a leading force in the economic recovery around the country."

About The Sports Facilities Advisory | The Sports Facilities Management

Sports Facilities Advisory, LLC (SFA) and Sports Facilities Management, LLC (SFM) are both headquartered in Clearwater, FL. Founded in 2003, SFA has served more than 2,000 communities, produced more than $10 billion in institutional-grade financial forecasts, and provided funding strategies and solutions for more than 70+ youth and amateur sports and recreation complexes worldwide. SFM provides industry-leading, results-driven management solutions for sports, fitness, recreation, and event venues nationwide. Since 2014, SFM-affiliated venues have hosted more than 100 million visitors and generated hundreds of millions of dollars in economic impact. For more information, visit: sportadvisory.com and sfmnetwork.com

Press Contact:

Ashley Whittaker
7274743845
[email protected]
https://www.sportadvisory.com

SOURCE The Sports Facilities Advisory | The Sports Facilities Management

Related Links

https://www.sportadvisory.com