Annual Report

The Sports Commission’s role is to attract visitors to Onslow County to bring new dollars into our economy. The benefits of this have so many tentacles that it is nearly impossible to trace.However, the main tools used for this is estimating economic impact and room nights.

What Is Economic Impact?

Economic impact refers to the total monetary contribution that an event, activity, or visitor brings to a local economy. This includes direct spending—such as hotel stays, dining,transportation, and retail purchases. These are the items we can estimate based on an industry wide formula. They're also indirect and induced effects, like increased demand for local suppliers and job creation which really can’t be tracked. For example, a major event might bring in thousands of visitors who spend money locally. That spending supports jobs, generates tax revenue, and creates a ripple effect across various sectors of the community.

The Role of Room Nights

Room nights refer to the number of hotel rooms occupied over a given period of time due to a specific event or visitor activity. This is one of the most measurable and immediate indicators of tourism activity. For example, a four-day basketball tournament that draws 32 teams (which ECI just did in June) may generate hundreds of room nights in local hotels and accommodations.

Room nights are critical because:

•  They are a direct revenue stream for the hospitality industry.

•  They correlate closely with visitor spending on food, entertainment, transportation, and retail.

•  They provide valuable data for forecasting, staffing, and resource allocation.

•  They offer tangible evidence of an event’s success for stakeholders.

Our Numbers

With that explanation in mind and with our fiscal year just ending, I am happy to report that we estimated $2,909,277 in economic impact (we attempt to track all sporting events in Onslow County, not just JOSC events). This figure is up $701,399 over FY2023-24. Our estimated room nights were 11,666. This is a 22% increase over previous fiscal year. While our events also play into the quality of life for local citizens, our mission will be to continue to strive to bring these vital new dollars to our community.

Scott Smith

Executive Director