- Florida Sports Foundation released a report on Tuesday that showed the positive economic impact sports has made in the Sunshine State
- According to the study, sports generated $146.5 billion in economic impact for Florida’s economy the past two fiscal years
- The FSF is the official sports promotion and development organization for the State of Florida
- It is charged with the promotion and development of professional, amateur, recreational sports, and physical fitness opportunities
A new study by the Florida Sports Foundation (FSF) revealed that the total economic impact of the sports industry on Florida’s economy amounted to $146.5 billion in Fiscal Years 2019-20 and 2020-21.
The new report, conducted by the independent research firm Tourism Economics, found that amateur and leisure activities were the largest contributors to Florida’s sports economy over the course of the study. This category, which includes golf, hunting, fishing, and other recreational activities, accounted for $113.6 billion in total economic impact. Notably, golf was the largest piece of the contribution pie, generating $44.2 billion in impact.
The report also showed that the billions injected into the economy by sports supported 978,200 part-time and full-time jobs on an annual basis and generated $13.9 billion in state and local taxes.
“We applaud the Governor for the extensive steps he has taken to ensure Florida has remained open for sports throughout his administration,” said Angela Suggs, President and CEO of the Florida Sports Foundation. “The findings of this report show the wisdom of the Governor’s strategy to prioritize access to golf courses, beaches, hiking trails and other recreational venues.”
Tuesday’s report also highlighted that the Sunshine State’s sports industry accounted for nearly 28.1 million non-resident visitors to the state, which equates to 14 percent of all Florida tourism.
In particular, professional sports accounted for $10.2 billion in economic impact, while college athletics contributed another $5.5 billion in impact.
Additionally, the state’s 36 sports commissions, which are supported by the FSF, generated $24.9 billion in total economic impact.