Tourism Uptick: Big Events Bring More Visitors and Dollars to Columbus in 2023
The city saw a big boost through the first nine months of the year, and multiple major sporting draws in 2024 are expected to bring another boom.
Tourism in Columbus is having a bit of a heyday, and a significant driver has been sports. And officials expect that the Columbus Crew’s MLS Cup win on Dec. 9—projected to generate $8 million in direct visitor spending—could help propel even more growth.
According to the most recent 2023 State of the Visitor Industry report from Experience Columbus and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, the city saw a 40 percent boost in the number of events and groups through the end of the third quarter, and several major events on the calendar for next year are expected to also drive big numbers.
What’s driving the interest? “I think it’s a combination of things,” says Linda Logan, CEO and president of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission. “The infrastructure is growing, the reputation of the city is growing and all those things combined really make it a very attractive tourism destination.”
Major sporting events on the 2024 calendar include:
- The 2024 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, which was expected to generate up to $15 million in spending in late January
- The NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship, held March 14-16 at Capital University
- The USA Volleyball Adult Open Championships in May at the Greater Columbus Convention Center
- The USA Fencing Championships starting June 29 at the convention center
- The 2024 Major League Soccer All-Star Game, on tap July 17 at Lower.com Field
Logan says events like these that put Columbus in the national spotlight—both for visitors and TV viewers—are a boon to the city and help drive future business.
This story is from the Winter 2024 issue of Columbus CEO.