Wichita has been named one of six national finalists for the 2025 SportsTravel Awards in the Best-Sports-Event Host City category. Presented annually by SportsTravel magazine, this award honors cities that have demonstrated exceptional performance in hosting sporting events that generate significant economic and community impact.
From June 30, 2024, to July 1, 2025, Wichita hosted more than 100 sporting events, generating an estimated $61 million in total economic impact. That includes $33 million from 16 major events directly secured, hosted or supported by Visit Wichita, and another $28 million from additional events supported throughout the city.
Wichita’s 2024–2025 sports calendar featured a remarkable lineup of national competitions and championships, including:
- 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships (first time ever to be hosted in Kansas)
- NCAA Men’s Basketball Division I Championships – First & Second Rounds
- Athletes Unlimited Softball (AUX & Championship seasons)
- NAIA Men’s & Women’s Wrestling National Championships
- Professional Fighters League (PFL 6)
- The Basketball Tournament (TBT) – Wichita Regional, Semifinals and Championship
- AJGA Wichita Junior Championship
- US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup
- USA Lacrosse WCLA Championships
- NJCAA & NAIA Men’s and Women’s Soccer National Championships
“We’re thrilled and honored for Wichita to be recognized as one of the top sports host cities in the nation,” said Josh Howell, vice president of sports development at Visit Wichita. “The collaboration and partnerships we have with our top-notch venues and universities, plus the community’s enthusiasm for sports help us to successfully host events that draw national attention and deliver a meaningful boost to our local economy.”
In addition to drawing thousands of athletes, coaches and fans from across the country, the events brought widespread exposure to Wichita, reinforcing its reputation as a welcoming, centrally located hub with modern venues and world-class hospitality.
Other cities in consideration for the award are Atlanta, Georgia; Boise, Idaho; Charlotte, North Carolina; Des Moines, Iowa; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Voting for the 2025 SportsTravel Awards is open to the public through Aug. 22 at 11:59 p.m. PDT. Visit Wichita encourages fans, visitors and community members to help bring this honor home by casting a vote for Wichita by going to VisitWichita.com. Users can vote in three easy steps: sign in, navigate to the last page of the form and vote for Wichita as the best sports-events host city.
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About Visit Wichita
Visit Wichita markets the Greater Wichita area and advocates for the city as a destination, increasing travel and tourism as a key economic driver for the city, county, region and state. Visit Wichita is led by president and CEO Susie Santo, and in 2024 travel and tourism contributed more than $1.5 billion in economic impact to the greater Wichita area.
