The Rhode Island Sports Commission, a division of the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, is celebrating a successful winter season of sports tourism, with nearly $18 million in direct spending generated by 15 sporting events in the first quarter of 2025. These events, including cheerleading, gymnastics, volleyball, basketball, ice hockey, and the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, bring in over 78,000 attendees and book more than 22,000 hotel room nights in Providence, Warwick, and surrounding areas.
Jonathan Walker, senior director of sports sales, highlighted Rhode Island as a thriving sporting events destination, attracting a wide range of events from local tournaments to nationally televised championships. The events help fill hotel rooms, bring in families and fans from across the country, and utilize facilities throughout the state, boosting the local economy during traditionally light leisure travel months.
Tom Riel, senior vice president of the PWCVB, emphasized the importance of sports tourism in filling hotel rooms and generating business in the winter months. The proximity and variety of venues in Rhode Island play a key role in attracting regional and large-scale events. Some key events during the winter season include cheerleading competitions, ice hockey tournaments, and volleyball championships, with significant economic impacts.
The successful winter season of sports tourism in Rhode Island showcases the state’s ability to retain regional events and attract new opportunities, contributing to the overall economic growth and vitality of the region.
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