The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) had its premier event honored as 2026 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management (SDM). The world’s largest volleyball tournament, the 53rd AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships, held in Orlando, has been recognized as the 2026 Hall of Fame Champion category by SDM.

Sports Destination Management is the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market and annually recognizes sport event excellence, through its Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism awards.
Among the winners was the 53rd AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships, hosted in Orlando, Florida at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC). The 24-day marquee event has held the Guinness Book of World Records mark for the largest volleyball event in the world since 2012, continuously setting a new mark for that record.

This year’s event brought in nearly 100,000 athletes from 6,000 different teams to the Orange County Convention Center, generating $760.8 million of economic impact to Central Florida. 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.

“It’s such an honor and privilege to work with our community partners to bring the world’s largest volleyball event to life each year,” said Jo Mirza, AAU President. “Without Orange County Convention Center, Greater Orlando Sports Commission, and Visit Orlando, we wouldn’t be able to host the premier event for AAU’s largest sport so seamlessly.”

This is the tenth 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.

Joining the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships in the Hall of Fame category this year was the 60th AAU Junior Olympic Games, held in Des Moines, Iowa. All of this year’s SDM winners are responsible for contributing 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.

The entire article with full details on the winners listed below can also be found online.

Read Now: Article on Champions of Economic Impact

About Amateur Athletic Union: 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 more than 20 years, Due North Media has embraced the definition of growth by evolving from a traditional publishing company to a dynamic marketing organization that leverages best practices to ensure engagement on all fronts.

Due North Media’s desire to look at things from all sides, combined with its employees’ thirst for knowledge allows it to embrace the ever-changing world of content creation, marketing technology and consumer engagement.

While at the forefront of innovation, the company takes great strides to remember its roots, ensuring the message reaches the desired audience in the most suitable strategy. 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, the end goal is never just about numbers; it is about creating a dialogue and interaction that leads to a fulfilling relationship.

Due North Media’s overarching mission is 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 its goal to serve its clients and employees with integrity and humility, as well as a continuing quest for the achievement of excellence.

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Media Contact:
Troy MacNeill, AAU Marketing & PR Manager
O: 407-828-3055 | tmacneill@aausports.org