Youth sports generate over $2 million in economic activity for St. Joseph County
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A packed weekend of youth sports tournaments brought thousands of athletes, families, and spectators to South Bend and Mishawaka, generating an estimated $2 million in economic impact for St. Joseph County.
From July 17 to 22, four major events took place simultaneously across the region, filling hotels, restaurants and sports venues during one of the busiest stretches of the summer.
More than 80 baseball teams participated in Pastime’s Great Lakes Select Showcase, hosted at the University of Notre Dame and Bethel University. The ETS Sports BPA World Series kicked off with opening ceremonies at Four Winds Field and continued with tournament play at Newton Park and other area fields.
The Indiana District 14 Little League State Tournament brought 14 teams to Chet Waggoner Little League, with the winner advancing toward the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. At the same time, Rip the Wave Lacrosse returned to the Indiana Invaders Sports Complex, drawing 80 teams from six states, including Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin.
“These events are all recurring events for us but this is one of the first times that they’ve all ended up falling on the same weekend,” said Jeff Jarnecke, executive director of Visit South Bend Mishawaka (VSBM). “Compiling all of those on top of each other on one particular weekend in July makes South Bend and Mishawaka very busy places.”
Jarnecke speaks about the economic impact youth sports has in St. Joseph County
Jarnecke said the $2 million estimate is based on a formula developed by Destinations International that factors in visitor volume, hotel room nights and average daily spending. By comparison, youth sports events brought in more than $27 million across St. Joseph County in all of 2024.
“Generally, we’re seeing increases in terms of the number of teams,” Jarnecke said. “The BPA World Series has more than 100 teams in it. So just staggering numbers.”
To support the tournaments, VSBM provided sponsorships ranging from $2,500 to more than $10,000 depending on the event’s size and impact. Those funds help offset venue rental costs or provide enhanced experiences for athletes and families, such as team tours and dining options at Four Winds Field.
“These are all important partners for us, so we discuss it with them annually,” he added. “To the extent that they want to grow their events, then that generally means some additional dollars from us to help try to grow and further support them in a different way.”
Visitors received curated lists of restaurants and amenities near each venue to help maximize their experience and drive spending throughout the county.
VSBM collaborates regularly with partners like the University of Notre Dame and Bethel University to bid on events. The organization helps ensure organizers and players have a positive experience and continue choosing St. Joseph County year after year.
“ETS for example, we’re working with them in hopes that they might start or bring in another event to our community,” Jarnecke said. “So we’re regularly and aggressively pursuing new and growing events for our community.”
Jarnecke emphasized the growing importance of youth sports tourism in the county’s overall economic strategy. Sports like baseball, softball, hockey and baton twirling contribute thousands of hotel room nights annually.
“Youth sports continues to win for St. Joseph County,” Jarnecke said. “It’s a consistent, reliable driver of economic activity, second only to University of Notre Dame events.”
The county continues to invest in sports infrastructure, with recent improvements including a $3 million renovation of Byers Softball Complex and $2 million in upgrades at Leeper Park Tennis Center, both located in South Bend. Jarnecke said those investments, along with venues like the Mishawaka Fieldhouse, position the region to attract even more tournaments in the future.