Hattiesburg Joins Six Cities in 2026 Sports Travel Honors

Hattiesburg, Mississippi, was named one of seven top sports host cities in the United States on Thursday. The honor was announced by Visit Hattiesburg as part of the 2026 SportsTravel Awards. This recognition follows an open nomination and nationwide voting process conducted by SportsTravel magazine, which evaluates the sports tourism industry annually.

The city was selected alongside Houston, Texas; Miami, Florida; Monroe-West Monroe, Louisiana; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Phoenix, Arizona; and Virginia Beach, Virginia. Miami received the top award in the category. In its application, Hattiesburg cited several major competitions held this past summer. These included a Southern Miss NCAA baseball regional and the opening round of the NAIA National Championship hosted by William Carey baseball.

Local officials also pointed to youth and recreational events as key factors in the selection. The Diamond Boys Baseball World Series, the Big Rip Classic, and a record-breaking Hattiesburg Half Marathon were all highlighted in the submission. Visit Hattiesburg reported that these combined events generated tens of millions of dollars in visitor spending for the local economy.

Marlo Dorsey, the CEO of Visit Hattiesburg, stated that the recognition reflects the growth of the region's sports tourism industry and the shared vision of community partners. Dorsey noted that more than $85 million is currently being invested in sports-related facilities across the city. These investments include projects at the Hattiesburg Sports and Recreation Event Center and at Reed Green Coliseum on the campus of Southern Miss.

Dorsey said the city worked intentionally to attract premier events, a success she attributed to the dedication of venues, stakeholders, universities, and volunteers. The organization expressed its honor in being recognized on the national stage for creating championship-caliber experiences for visitors and athletes alike.