State Games of Mississippi Honored as a 2024 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism in Sports Destination Management
PICTURED: From left, Amanda Bratu, Sonya Rowell, Carolyn Smith, Laura Carmichael (Visit Meridian), Missye Dozier and Rhonda Brand.
Meridian, MS – Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, has announced the 2024 Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism. This year’s winners are responsible for contributing a more-than-welcome boost of over $1.88 billion to the national economy over the past year.
Among the winners was State Games of Mississippi in cooperation with the City of Meridian and Visit Meridian.
The 2024 Opening Ceremony for the State Games of Mississippi was held on the City Hall lawn in Meridian. The 2024 Games featured more than 5,200 athletes competing in more than 40 sporting events across 18 counties in the state during May, June and July. The majority of events took place in June, with 30 held in Meridian or Lauderdale County. In addition to introducing two new venues, a new sport — Ultimate Flying Disc — was added in Ridgeland. Pickleball was relocated to Vicksburg, and Youth Baseball moved to the Brandon/Pearl area, where over 80 teams and 1,200 athletes participated. Youth Soccer in Meridian continues to grow, drawing an estimated 2,500 athletes and their families to the Opening Ceremony weekend. The Games are estimated to have generated over $12 million in economic impact for the Meridian/Lauderdale County region.
All winners of awards have been recognized in a special feature published in the November/December 2024 issue of Sports Destination Management. The entire article with full details on the winners listed below can also be found online.
Read Now: Article on Champions of Economic Impact
About State Games of Mississippi
The State Games of Mississippi, a privately sponsored, non-profit organization, has been dedicated to promoting amateur athletics and a healthy lifestyle for Mississippians of all ages and abilities since 1992. From our humble beginnings with 1,200 athletes competing in 12 sports, we have grown to become one of 37 states hosting State Games competitions annually. These Games not only promote physical activity but also offer an Olympic-like experience. Competitors vie for gold, silver, and bronze medals, emphasizing personal achievement, physical fitness and teamwork. Our athletes also have the opportunity to advance to the national level at the State Games of America and we are proudly affiliated with the U.S. Olympic Committee.
The State Games of Mississippi is able to keep entry fees affordable thanks to the generous support of its sponsors, including Founding Gold Sponsors: Meridian Coca-Cola Bottling Company and Ochsner Rush Health, as well as Gold Sponsors; BlueCross BlueShield of Mississippi, Paul & Sherry Broadhead Foundation, Meridian Community College, the City of Meridian, Pearl River Resort, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, WTOK-TV, The Meridian Star and Coastal Television.
For more details about the Games, call 601-482-0205 or visit the official website at www.stategamesofms.org.
About Sports Destination Management: Sports Destination Management is written for the largest audience of sports event managers and tournament directors in the sports tourism market and maintains a focus on the important issues surrounding event location decisions and event management. With content from experts and thought leaders, SDM provides in-depth coverage of sports event planning and execution through incisive and relevant articles as well as insightful, real-world case studies showcasing best practices and successful event production.
In addition to the publication, SDM offers extensive digital resources through www.sportsdestinations.com and the e-newsletter SDM Blitz, both providing decision support tools for organizers to ensure successful events at all levels of play.
About Due North Media
For over 20 years, Due North Media has embraced the definition of growth by evolving from a traditional publishing company to a dynamic marketing organization utilizing best practices that ensure engagement.
The company’s desire to look at things from all sides, combined with our thirst for knowledge allows us to embrace the ever-changing world of content creation, marketing technology & consumer engagement. While we’re at the forefront of innovation, we also take great strides to remember our roots, ensuring the message reaches the desired audience in ways they consume media.
Whether we’re serving clients in the business-to-business sector, delivering e-commerce solutions for merchants in a direct-to-consumer environment, or working with organizations trying to engage buyers, we realize that our end goal shouldn’t be just about numbers. It should be about creating a dialogue and interaction that leads to a fulfilling relationship. Work with us to develop marketing strategies that go beyond the click to deliver the conversation.
Founded in 2001, Due North Media has helped marketers obtain their goals while adapting to new generations of media consumption. It has been our mission to serve our clients and employees with integrity and humility, and a continuing quest for the achievement of excellence.
#########