The Sports Marketing and Tourism Account Program is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) and is established under the Pennsylvania Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund. The program is designed to support the attraction of high-quality amateur and professional sporting events, as well as e-sports events, to Pennsylvania. The primary goal is to enhance year-round tourism, drive economic impact, and improve the quality of life through sports-related events. The program provides funding for activities such as event preparation, marketing, site fees, and infrastructure improvements necessary to host events.

Eligible applicants for this grant include municipalities, local authorities, nonprofit organizations, and other legal entities that plan to participate in a competitive selection process conducted by a site selection organization outside of Pennsylvania. Applicants must be seeking to secure a single-year or multiyear commitment from an external entity to host sporting or e-sports events within the state. The program specifically targets prestigious sporting events such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships, Major League Baseball All-Star Game, National Basketball Association All-Star Game, Super Bowl, Formula One races, U.S. Golf Association championships, and various Olympic-related activities.

Funds awarded under this program can be used for a variety of expenses, including promotional activities, event production and technical expenses, site costs, insurance, security, and certain infrastructure upgrades. However, the program does not cover costs associated with soliciting professional sports franchise relocations, constructing permanent sports facilities, or standard maintenance costs. Funding is capped at 20% of the cost for improvements, renovations, or land acquisitions unless the facility is publicly owned.

Applications are reviewed on a quarterly basis, subject to fund availability. The evaluation process considers whether applicants meet eligibility criteria and demonstrate clear economic and tourism benefits. Required application components include partnerships with sports commissions or destination management organizations, projections for economic impact, and past event impact reports if available. Successful applicants will be notified via email and must sign an electronic contract within 60 days. Funds will be disbursed via direct deposit.

Monitoring and reporting are required for all awarded projects. Recipients must maintain detailed records and submit interim and final reports detailing project outcomes, expenditures, and economic impact. If total grant funding exceeds $1 million, a formal audit is required; otherwise, a grant closeout report suffices. Applicants with outstanding audit or reporting requirements from previous grants are ineligible for new funding until compliance is achieved.

Program inquiries, applications, and compliance documentation must be submitted electronically through the Pennsylvania DCED’s online application portal. Organizations must be registered with the Commonwealth’s Vendor Registration System before a grant agreement can be issued. Additional details, including vendor registration and direct deposit setup, are available on the DCED website. Questions regarding applications can be directed to the DCED Customer Service Center at (800) 379-7448.