Mobile county sets new record for sports events, generates $35M in tourism

MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG) — According to the Mobile Sports Authority, which is the sports tourism agency for the City and County of Mobile, a record 41 sports events were hosted or supported during the 2025 fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.

Those events brought in an estimated $37.6 million for the Mobile economy, which was slightly less than the $38.1 million brought in during Fiscal Year 2024, and set a new record for the number of events.

The events included 21 different sports, including football, basketball, bowling, gymnastics, volleyball, baseball, fast-pitch softball, track & field, rugby, cheer, lacrosse, cornhole, road racing/marathon, golf, wrestling, soccer, tennis, pole vault, auto racing, and even a world turkey-calling championship, the release said.

During the last five years, Mobile has hosted an average of 36 sports events each year, a nearly 29% increase over the average for 2012-2020, which was 28 events per year.

Of the events held last year, 15 were first or second-time events, and 28 were for competitors from 4 to 19 years old. “And those youth events typically attract more visitors as more members of the families tend to travel for the youth events,” the release said.

“In total since 2012, the MSA has attracted, hosted, managed, and/or co-managed 433 sporting events, which have provided an estimated $305-plus million economic boost for the Mobile area,” MSA Executive Director Danny Corte said. “As we continue to tell our story, the future continues to look bright as we’re constantly engaging sports-event owners about the advantages of coming to play in our beautiful area.”

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