Jan 2026
According to a November 2025 article from The National Association of REALTORS®, the youth sports facility market is a growing niche that is driving sports tourism. This year, the youth sports industry was valued at $56.2 billion and is expected to reach $154.5 billion by 2035.
Many amenities, like hotels, are under development to support families traveling hours away from home for their children to participate in tournaments. In addition to the hotel sector, the rise in youth sports facilities offers commercial investors specializing in hotels, restaurants, retail and entertainment sectors opportunities to expand their portfolios.
Hotels, in particular, are a priority amenity in order to accommodate traveling young athletes and their parents. Having hotels nearby is especially important for sports facilities that plan to host large events. Ashley Whittaker, partner and senior vice president of The Sports Facilities Companies, said that developing hotels concurrently with youth sports complexes would be ideal, allowing both sites to open at the same time.
While larger sports complexes are rising in popularity, smaller facilities can still compete in this sector. This is particularly true for communities whose schools can’t support a wide range of youth sports.
