ORLANDO, Fla. (November 5, 2025) – The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) had two of its premier events honored as 2025 Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management (SDM). 

The 52nd AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships has been recognized as the 2025 SDM Hall of Fame Champion and the 59th AAU Junior Olympic Games has been named one of SDM’s Large Market Champions. These winners will be recognized in a special feature published in the November/December issue of Sports Destination Management. 

Sports Destination Management is the leading publication in the sports tourism market with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors. This award recognizes events that have made positive impacts in stimulating local economies through bringing out of town guests to the area. The calculations reflect money that was spent at local hotels, restaurants, attractions, and other businesses in the host city during the event.

52nd AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships

The AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships is the largest volleyball tournament in the world, showcasing boys and girls teams from every corner of the United States, as well as Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. This year’s event brought in approximately $825.5 million in economic impact to Central Florida.

This is the ninth time since 2016 the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships has been named a Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by SDM, placing the event in their prestigious “Hall of Fame” category. The AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships were the only event in this year’s Hall of Fame category.

The 24-day event brought together 325,500 attendees to the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Florida from June 13 through July 7. The 2025 AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships was the largest sporting event ever held at the OCCC – breaking last year’s record. The event also holds the Guiness World Record mark for the largest volleyball event in the world.

An event of this magnitude would not be possible with the help of local partners such as Visit Orlando, the Orange County Convention Center, and the Greater Orlando Sports Commission.

“Congratulations to President Jo Mirza and the entire AAU leadership team on this well-deserved recognition from Sports Destination Management,” said Jason Siegel, President & CEO of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission. “In collaboration with the Orange County Convention Center and Visit Orlando, the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships continues to exemplify the powerful economic and community impact of sports tourism in our region. We’re proud to support this world-class event and look forward to helping it reach even greater heights in the years ahead.”

59th AAU Junior Olympic Games

The AAU Junior Olympic Games is the largest multi-sport event for youth in the United States. This year marked the 59th edition of the event. Held in Houston, Texas in partnership with Harris County – Houston Sports Authority (HCHSA), the event brought in more than 19,000 athletes and approximately $90 million in economic impact to the Greater Houston area.

The 12-day event was hosted across five (5) different venues across the Greater Houston area from July 22 to August 2, brining in athletes, coaches, and spectators from every corner of the country and territories of the US. This premier event features 13 different sports. Including the marquee track and field event which showcases the nation’s best youth athletes.

This is the eighth time since 2017 that the AAU Junior Olympic Games have been named a Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by SDM.

“The AAU has a long history of producing some of the most renowned athletes in the country, and we loved seeing the next generation of talent compete in this year’s events,” HCHSA CEO Ryan Walsh said. “It’s an honor to bring the AAU Junior Olympic Games back to our city.” 

All of this year’s winners are responsible for contributing a more-than-welcome boost of more than $1.4 billion to the national economy over the past year. You can read all about the winners in the November/December special edition of Sports Destination Management. 

ABOUT THE AAU:

The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is the largest, non-profit, event-driven multi-sports organizations in the country. Founded in 1888 to establish standards and uniformity in sports, the AAU philosophy of “Sports For All, Forever” is now shared by nearly 1,000,000 members and 150,000 volunteers across 45 sports programs and 55 U.S. districts annually. For more information, visit www.aausports.org. 

About Sports Destination Management: 

Sports Destination Management is written for the largest audience of sports event managers and tournament directors in the sports tourism market and maintains a focus on the important issues surrounding event location decisions and event management. With content from experts and thought leaders, SDM provides in-depth coverage of sports event planning and execution through incisive and relevant articles as well as insightful, real-world case studies showcasing best practices and successful event production. 

In addition to the publication, SDM offers extensive digital resources through www.sportsdestinations.com and the e-newsletter SDM Blitz, both providing decision support tools for organizers to ensure successful events at all levels of play.

About Due North Media:

For over 20 years, Due North Media has embraced the definition of growth by evolving from a traditional publishing company to a dynamic marketing organization utilizing best practices that ensure engagement.

The company’s desire to look at things from all sides, combined with our thirst for knowledge allows us to embrace the ever-changing world of content creation, marketing technology & consumer engagement. While the company is at the forefront of innovation, its staff takes great strides to remember its roots, ensuring the message reaches the desired audience in ways they consume media. 

Whether serving clients in the business-to-business sector, delivering e-commerce solutions for merchants in a direct-to-consumer environment, or working with organizations trying to engage buyers, Due North Media realizes that the end goal shouldn’t be just about numbers. It should be about creating a dialogue and interaction that leads to a fulfilling relationship.  Work with Due North Media to develop marketing strategies that go beyond the click to deliver the conversation.

Founded in 2001, Due North Media has helped marketers obtain their goals while adapting to new generations of media consumption. It has been the company’s mission to serve its clients and employees with integrity and humility, and a continuing quest for the achievement of excellence.

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Media Contact:

Troy MacNeill, AAU Marketing Manager
o: 407-828-3055 | troy@aausports.org