APPLETON (WLUK) — More and extra Midwesterners are heading to Appleton for his or her youth sports tournaments.
Sports guests spent a record $14.1 million in 2025 when visiting the Fox Cities. That determine has doubled over the previous decade, in response to the Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau (FCCVB).
“Basically every weekend of the year, and then some, there are sporting events that are taking place in the Fox Cities that are bringing visitors to the area,” mentioned Director of Sports Marketing with the FCCVB Matt Ten Haken. “And we know it when those visitors come to play in their sporting events, when they’re done competing, they’re out in the community spending dollars at hotels, restaurants, shops, and attractions.”
Community First Champion Center accounts for 30-40% of spending
Appleton turned a extra year-round youth sports vacation spot when the Community First Champion Center opened in late 2019, internet hosting Amateur Athletic Union basketball (AAU) from March by means of July, and membership volleyball and hockey November by means of early March.
It now hosts tournaments almost each weekend, averaging 100-150 groups per weekend, about two-thirds visiting from out of city. That means about 600 to 1,000 gamers go to each weekend, plus any relations who journey together with them.
“We’re using offsite courts and high schools and things like that to keep taking more teams in here,” mentioned Champion Center normal supervisor Adam Ligacki. “So we’re kind of capped out. Like we’re at the point right now where like we can’t take any more teams for a lot of our tournaments without adding more space.”
Community First Champion Center ice hockey rink. May 15, 2026. (WLUK/Mike Moon)
Most groups journey from the Midwest, however eight groups from Canada performed in a basketball event simply final month.
Ligacki mentioned the Champion Center plans so as to add a further 4 basketball courts as quickly as 2028, in half funded by an $800,000 state taxpayer-funded grant.
USA Youth Sports Complex on the north aspect of Appleton attracts 1,500+ groups per yr
The complicated has 15 full-size soccer fields and 4 baseball fields.
Soccer in the Fox Cities. May 15, 2026. (WLUK/Mike Moon)
“I think last year we had about 1,500 teams come into the Fox Cities,” mentioned Wisconsin United soccer coach Dennis Esposito.
Close to half of the groups journey from different areas.
“We’re looking for a steady growth,” mentioned Wisconsin United Executive Director Eric Gebhard.
Fox Cities not too long ago gained nationwide sports tourism award
The Fox Cities not too long ago gained a nationwide award for greatest Sports Tourism Organization of the Year (below 500,000) in a discipline of 400 cities.
The Fox Cities additionally hosts regional bowling tournaments, and national foosball, axe and knife-throwing competitions.