Sports events in North Little Rock, Arkansas, resulted in a $6.75 million economic impact last year.

“More than 31,600 athletes came to North Little Rock from all over the country,” said Erica Goss, North Little Rock CVB sales manager. “Because of our facilities and central location in the U.S., but also because North Little Rock is well-known for its hospitality and willingness to go the extra mile.”

The results from 2018 market research were very clear: sports is an economic generator for North Little Rock. All sports visitors dined out while in town, 50 percent went shopping and 22 percent visited a museum or attraction. Overall, each sports visitor spent an average of $456 per trip on lodging, food, attractions and transportation.

“North Little Rock has its own great sports team,” said Bob Major, North Little Rock CVB President and CEO. “The North Little Rock CVB, the North Little Rock Parks and Recreation Department and our hotels and restaurants all team up to ensure the players, their families and friends all have a winning experience in North Little Rock.”

Burns Park, North Little Rock’s largest city park at 1,700 acres, boasts facilities for a variety of sports, including baseball, softball, soccer and tennis. It averages 70 sports events a year. In 2018, the park was recognized as Public Park of the Year by Tennis Industry Magazine in its annual “Champions of Tennis” awards. It was also voted Best Park in Arkansas by the readers of Arkansas Times.

“North Little Rock is the perfect stop for not just sports teams, but also leisure visitors,” Major said. “We know from our research that people visiting North Little Rock love the dining and shopping, but also really appreciate the high level of customer service they experience while they’re here.”

Are you a sports event organizer? We’d love to hear from you.