FY 2023 Applications Open for sport tourism events happening after July 1st

(BALTIMORE, MARYLAND)  –  The Maryland Sports Commission, through the Maryland Sports Youth and Amateur Sports Grant & Michael Erin Busch Fund, distributed more than $1 million in grants to over 60 youth and amateur sport tourism events throughout the State of Maryland for Fiscal Year 2022.  The State of Maryland operates on a Fiscal Year calendar which runs from July 1st through June 30, meaning the grant funding was awarded to events which happened/ will happen between July 2021 and June 30th of this year.   

“It’s because of this grant that many of our local partners at the DMO (Destination Marketing Organization), CVB (Convention and Visitors Bureaus), and Recreation and Parks-level are able to attract and retain sport tourism events which have an incredible economic impact in their respective communities and regions,” said Terry Hasseltine, Executive Director of the Maryland Sports Commission, adding that Maryland Sports opened the application pool for FY 2023 events (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023) earlier this week. 

“The impact of the YASG & Busch Fund are allowing us to host over 900 teams in events in the state of Maryland through this summer,” said Krystin Porcella of Top of the Bay Sports, located in Harford County.  Top of the Bay Sports is a Maryland’s Own Events Rights Holder hosting numerous events in the State throughout the calendar year. 

“The grant enables us the opportunity to bring back elite runners to the annual Baltimore Running Festival…. (putting) a national – and international – spotlight on the State of Maryland and it’s marquee endurance event,” said Lee Corrigan of Maryland-based Corrigan Sports Enterprises (CSE), an Event Rights Holder based in Elkridge Maryland.  CSE hosts a number of local – and national – events including the Under Armour All America lacrosse tournament, and the Bay Bridge Run, which returned to Anne Arundel and Queen Anne’s counties in October of 2021.  

“For smaller destinations, we are limited in the ability to attract new events. In partnership with Maryland Sports, not only were we able to attract new events, we are able to bring them back for consecutive year(s),” said Eric Teisch, Sales and Membership Director for Visit Howard County, a TEAM Maryland DMO member.  “This type of awareness led to an increase in requests for more information about Howard County and the amenities we have available.”

Fourteen different jurisdictions in Maryland, including Baltimore City and Ocean City, received funding through the grant to assist (retroactively) and help offset the operating costs necessary to execute major sport tourism events, games, matches, showcases and tournaments.  Sporting events funded include everything from youth soccer and softball tournaments, to high school lacrosse showcases, high school All Star basketball and football games, endurance sports, and cycling, as well as the Major League Quidditch Championships in Howard County last summer.

“In past years with the Grant, we were limited as to how money could be allocated.  With the addition of the Michael Erin Busch Fund to the Grant, there is more flexibility in how money can be disbursed to organizations like the Next Collegiate League Crown Classic, which aims to grow the sport of lacrosse at local Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and MLS Next in Montgomery County, a program which focuses on growing youth soccer in the United States in Canada, currently operating and playing at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds,” Hasseltine said.

The inclusion of late Maryland House Speaker Michael Erin Busch’s name to the fund was by no means an accident.  Delegate Maggie McIntosh, a longtime friend and colleague of Speaker Busch, added an amendment to include the Speaker’s name to the legislation in committee hearings in 2019.  Busch, a highly recruited Blue Chip Athlete in high school and collegiate football player, dedicated his life to investing in youth and amateur sports, especially in his hometown of Annapolis in Anne Arundel County.   

Senator Cory McCray of Baltimore City, who co-sponsored the legislation in the Senate, shares the same sentiment as the late Speaker when it comes to supporting youth and amateur sports, “This funding would not only support state progress and increase appeal, but it would help our young people have access to sports as an outlet, and path to follow for their future. We can give more children a sense of purpose and connection if adequate funding is provided to open these doors and keep them safe while doing so. There are many people who avoid visiting or moving into our beautiful state, because they are under the impression that we do not have much to offer, especially for the development of our youth. This is not the case, and funding of this nature negates the notion that we do not enrich and empower our youth.”

The Maryland Sports Commission, a division of the Maryland Stadium Authority, has provided grant funding in the past, however, a permanent funding source was defined in 2020 and was approved by state lawmakers in 2021.  Hasseltine hopes Maryland Sports will remain competitive against other states and destinations when it comes to securing and attracting large-scale sport tourism events which have a positive impact on communities across the state.  

In addition to providing money to help offset the execution of sport tourism and other major sporting events, the Grant allows Maryland Sports & TEAM Maryland to attend various industry conferences around the country in an attempt to secure new events to the State, and to continue the operation of the Maryland Sports Spelling Bee, a regional qualifier for the perennial Scripps National Spelling Bee at National Harbor in Prince George’s County. 

For more information on the Maryland Sports Youth and Amateur Sports Grant & Michael Erin Busch Fund, visit: http://mdsporttourism.com/

What They’re Saying:

“Stevenson University partnered with USA Volleyball to host the Men’s Collegiate Beach Volleyball Tournament on campus in September 2021. This tournament provided a groundwork to expand men’s volleyball programs at the collegiate level and worked to create a network for USA Volleyball recruiting. The funds from this grant significantly impacted the success of this event by providing hospitality to the teams traveling to our campus and guests of the university. Additionally, it helped covered many costs associated with this event that allowed us to bring a high level of professionalism and excitement to this event. Additionally, the funds provided allowed Stevenson University to be able to continue this partnership with USA Volleyball and will allow us to continue to grow and expand this program for the next several years.”

Brett Adams, Stevenson University Athletic Director, USA Volleyball Men’s Collegiate Beach Challenge

“For eight consecutive years, JTCC has hosted this major international junior tournament, bringing hundreds of the finest male and female Under-18 international tennis juniors to College Park, MD. In 2021, the ITF event was held August 21-28 and is one of only three ITF Grade 1 Junior tournaments held in North America. The 2021 event drew 202 players, and over 110 additional visitors, including player coaches, family and college coaches. The YASG and Busch Fund supported the successful delivery of this event and helped offset expenses including balls, court officials, athletic trainers, tournament fees, food, trophies and transportation.”

Mike Flynn, 2021 Wayne K. Curry Prince George’s County International Junior Tennis Championships

“Elite Tournaments would like to extend a big THANK YOU to the Maryland Sports Commission and the Maryland Sports Youth and Amateur Sports Grant & Michael Erin Busch Fund for their impact on our 2021 – 2022 event series. This funding has not only directly supported events that are hosted in the state of Maryland, but has also supported the clients we represent and trust us in the management of their events.”

Elle Marks, Elite Tournaments

“The Youth and Amateur Sports Grant has allowed us not only to bring new events to our area, but has also allowed us to take some of our long standing events to the next level.  This grant has given us the opportunity to not only showcase our elite quality facilities, but also highlight everything the Eastern Shore has to offer through opening ceremonies and other various off the field activities.”

Cole Lacey, Wicomico County Recreation, Parks & Tourism (a TEAM Maryland Partner); MAASA

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About Maryland Sports Commission:

Our mission is to enhance Maryland’s economy, image and quality of life through the attraction, promotion, retention and development of regional, national and international sporting events.

The Youth and Amateur Sports Grand and Michael Erin Busch Fund allows Maryland Sports to be more responsive, effective and efficient within the sport tourism and sports event industry for Maryland’s betterment.