Why the Charleston Region’s Sports Economy is a Winner

The Charleston sports scene is gearing up for another exciting season, with the South Carolina Stingrays hockey team set to kick off their Opening Night. This comes after a thrilling spring and summer of high-caliber sporting events in the region. From professional women’s tennis at the Credit One Charleston Open on Daniel Island to The Cooper River Bridge Run , Charleston’s decades-long history of hosting prestigious tournaments continues to grow.

The sports economy’s annual billion-dollar impact in the Charleston region is proof that residents and visitors alike are drawn to the Lowcountry’s championship feel. After all, it’s where you’ll find America’s first golf course, the oldest professional women’s tennis tournament that has close to a $1 million purse, and the largest keelboat regatta in the Western Hemisphere. A flourishing professional sports scene provides a special lifestyle and tourism amenity, creates job opportunities, and leads to local spending and hospitality tax revenues. What’s more, this is a natural opportunity for economic development and tourism collaboration to advance mutually beneficial goals.

Sports Tourism is a First Impression for Future Residents

First impressions are lasting impressions. Tourism brings more than 7 million visitors annually to the Charleston region, some of whom might be residents one day. The Charleston Open women’s tennis tournament, for example, attracts nearly 90,000 spectators over nine days, and it’s broadcast live globally. The third-largest U.S. Track & Field Association 10K, the Cooper River Bridge Run, draws 40,000 participants worldwide. When people attend sporting events, they get a glimpse of what it’s like to live in the area. That was true for professional tennis player Alison Riske, who bought her home in Charleston after visiting to play the Charleston Open. ??

Major and Minor League Events are a Home Run for Job Growth

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that employment in entertainment and sports occupations is growing faster than the average employment for all other occupations, with about 106,800 openings projected each year. One in 10 South Carolina residents works in hospitality, and from 2017 to 2022, Charleston's overall workforce grew three times faster than the national average. What’s special about the Charleston region is that it’s designated as the No. 1 minor league market by the Sports Business Journal. As more cities invest in minor league sports to meet demand for affordable family-friendly events, this also diversifies the job market. Charleston is home to the Charleston RiverDogs , the MiLB affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, the South Carolina Stingrays ice hockey team, and the Charleston Battery soccer team. Sports jobs aren’t limited to game day. When a sports economy grows, this means job growth in sports medicine, sales, event management, hotel management, and more.

Fan Support Extends to Local Businesses

The College of Charleston recently released its 2023 tourism impact study, which shows an astounding economic impact of $13.1 billion, accounting for nearly a quarter of the regional economy. On average, tourists in 2023 spent roughly $1,048 per stay, and tourism accounted for 24.7 percent of all sales in the region. Hotel occupancy across Charleston County was 70.7 percent with more than 4.9 million room nights sold. In response to this growth, local companies such as Beemok Capital, the parent company of Beemok Hospitality Collection (BHC) and Beemok Sports & Entertainment (which owns and operates the Charleston Open tournament), have increased hiring to support a growing portfolio of high-interest experiences and luxury accommodations. In 2025, Beemok Hospitality Collection will open The Cooper , Charleston’s only luxury waterfront hotel, to accommodate visitors. The hotel will create more than 450 jobs in the hospitality and food and beverage industries.

It's not surprising that Travel + Leisure Co. ranked Charleston as the best in the nation to visit for the 11th consecutive year, nor that Charleston International Airport reported a record 6.1 million arrivals and departures last year. Sports are a major driver for attracting a diverse range of visitors and residents to the Charleston region. It’s important not to lose sight of the potential for creating a healthy economy and for helping visitors and residents alike create memories that last a lifetime.