OKC hosts major sports events, boosting tourism and economic growth in 2024

Visit OKC’s Sports Development team showcased Oklahoma City’s ability to host major events in FY24, attracting visitors nationwide.  

• The US Olympic Team Trials for Canoe Slalom and Kayak Cross made its second appearance in Oklahoma City, attracting nearly 50 athletes competing for spots at the Paris Olympics. The event, streamed nationally on Peacock, highlighted the city's capacity to host elite events at RIVERSPORT.  
• The 24th OKC Memorial Marathon set a post-COVID record with 22,224 participants and registrations from all 50 states and 15 countries. The event had a $14 million economic impact, supported by a crowd of 57,000 at the Health & Wellness Expo. 
• The Savannah Bananas sold out for a second year, drawing 28,745 fans over three nights, with over 55,000 on the waiting list. Their games reached 349,000 views on YouTube, with clips garnering 21 million social media views.  
• US Rowing’s RowFest National Championships combined two national championship events for the first time, attracting 1,600 athletes from across the country. Total attendance reached over 17,000 over a nine-day span, and the total economic impact was $3.5 million.  
• The NCAA Women’s College World Series had 109,748 attendees, with the championship games setting viewership records of over 2 million on ESPN. Games one and two reached the 2nd and 3rd spot for most viewed softball games in ESPN+ history, and the University of Oklahoma team won its fourth NCAA National Championship in a row.  

These events emphasize the city's growing reputation as a premier event destination.