SALT LAKE CITY — Bringing in just under $200 million to Salt Lake County last year, local experts are sharing why sports tourism has become a core part of Utah’s economy.

In 2024, people visiting the area for sporting events brought $194 million into Salt Lake County’s economy, according to Visit Salt Lake President and CEO Kaitlin Eskelson.

While some people might think the majority of that money comes from Utes, Utah Jazz, and Utah Mammoth games, Eskelson said a bulk of the money actually came from people visiting for youth sports .

“The amount of money that parents are willing to spend on their children, and, whether that’s to get them into college on a scholarship, or whatnot, or just to have fun and to grow, that is one of their non negotiables for a lot of parents,” Eskelson said.

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