Playoff Energy in New England — Rhode Island’s Sports Tourism Remains Strong

New England fans are surely riding the excitement of playoff football this winter, and Rhode Island is celebrating wins of its own. Sports tourism continues to be a strong economic engine, driving visitation, hotel demand and statewide business activity during the coldest and often slowest months of the year.

In the first quarter of 2026, sporting events and sports-related meetings booked by the Rhode Island Sports Commission are projected to generate $15.5 million in direct spending. Across January, February and March, these 17 events represent more than 18,000 contracted hotel room nights and nearly 78,000 athletes, families and fans traveling to Providence, Warwick and surrounding communities.

"We continue to prove that Rhode Island is a powerhouse destination for sporting events of all sizes," said Jonathan Walker, executive director of the Rhode Island Sports Commission. "The next 11 weeks are packed with national youth tournaments and elite sports workshops that fill hotel rooms, energize local businesses and bring new visitors to every corner of the state."

Indoor sports – including cheerleading, dance, volleyball, basketball and ice hockey – remain essential drivers of winter tourism, helping stabilize hotel occupancy during a season when leisure travel typically dips. "We hear every day from event organizers who choose Rhode Island because our venues are accessible and our hospitality partners deliver exceptional experiences," Walker added. "One longtime partner now hosts seven annual volleyball events in Rhode Island."

"Sports consistently account for the majority of our winter room nights and direct spending," said Tom Riel, senior vice president of GoProvidence. "We see the impact statewide, as attendees travel to rinks, courts and fields across Rhode Island. Several marquee events have grown large enough to require multiple weekends. Rhode Island remains a premier destination."

Among the 17 events are two cheerleading competitions at the Rhode Island Convention Center, bringing in a combined 27,000 attendees and $5.5 million in direct spending. The third weekend in January features two ice-based events: the Pawtucket Providence Figure Skating Club High School Skating Festival at Providence College's Schneider Arena, alongside a major hockey tournament that will welcome approximately 3,500 attendees to ice rinks throughout Rhode Island.

Key Events Include:

• 2026 NIKE New England Winterfest (Volleyball) – 2,999 contracted hotel rooms and $1,471,080.03 in estimated direct economic impact
• 2026 CCM MLK Invite (Hockey) – 2,097 contracted hotel rooms and $1,345,975.71 in estimated direct economic impact.
• 2026 NIKE Providence SnowBrawl (Volleyball) – 1,200 contracted hotel rooms and $969,647.19 in estimated direct economic impact
• 2026 Athletic Championships Grand Nationals (Cheerleading) – 2,725 contracted hotel rooms and $2,456,245.78 in estimated direct economic impact
• 2026 NIKE VolleyFest-Providence (Volleyball) – 2,025 contracted hotel rooms and $1,395,764.37 in estimated direct economic impact
• 2026 Spirit Fest Grand Nationals (Cheerleading) – 2,829 contracted hotel rooms and $3,071,411.79 in estimated direct economic impact
• 2026 New England Basketball Chamipnship (Girls) – 470 contracted hotel rooms and $616,724.33 in estimated direct economic impact
• 2026 New England Basketball Championship (Boys) – 755 contracted hotel rooms and $886,345.94 in estimated direct economic impact