Rocky Top Sports World Sets Record-Breaking Economic Impact Three Years in a Row
For the third consecutive year, Rocky Top Sports World has set a new economic impact record. During their ninth year in business, the 80-acre multisport facility welcomed more than 143,976 athletes, coaches, families, and friends to Gatlinburg. The award-winning complex contributed $76.3 million in economic impact during the 2022-2023 fiscal year.
“The city is pleased that Rocky Top Sports World contributed another year of strong economic success for Gatlinburg,” said Gatlinburg City Manager Cindy Cameron Ogle. “This facility continues to be another avenue to bring families into Gatlinburg and Sevier County. Having a successful year such as this is not achievable without the staff of Rocky Top Sports World helping to make the facility one of the nation’s most attractive venues for travel sports.”
Rocky Top Sports World saw an increase in the number of events, as well as the number of registrations at returning tournaments. The best-in-class facility hosted nearly 100 tournaments, camps, clinics, and events this past year and was booked 49 out of 52 weekends.
“Rocky Top Sports World continues to surpass expectations since the multisport complex opened in Gatlinburg in 2014,” said City of Gatlinburg Mayor Mike Werner. “Entering the sports tourism realm and introducing numerous families to Gatlinburg has proven to be an important element of the economic growth in the city over the past nine years.”
While youth sports are Rocky Top Sports World’s primary clientele, the complex hosts various other events, including church conferences and lock-ins, birthday and retirement parties, business meetings and luncheons, and team-building retreats.
“What an asset to the City of Gatlinburg and Sevier County Rocky Top Sports World has been for the past nine years,” said Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters. “The economic impact the facility has had year in and year out is a testament to the staff’s hard work. The experiences they help create for travel sports and other events at the facility are second to none.”
About Rocky Top Sports World
Rocky Top Sports World is an 80-acre sports complex located in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains offering seven outdoor fields and an 86,000-square-foot indoor venue equipped with six basketball courts. Rocky Top Sports World is part of the SFNetwork and managed by Sports Facilities Companies. For more information on our facility, visit our facilities page or call 865.325.0044.
