Delaware had high tourism success in 2023.

Delaware sees record-breaking tourism numbers in 2023

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government

People are coming to the First State in record numbers. Delaware set a new tourism milestone in 2023, with a record-breaking 29.3 million visitors flocking to the state, marking a 2.4% increase from the previous year. The visitors came for a variety of reasons, from day trips and overnight stays to business and leisure travel, according to reports from Rockport …

darley -- john bell house

“Travels with Darley: Revolutionary Road Trips” Delaware episode to air

Staff WriterCulture, Business, Headlines

WILMINGTON — Delaware’s Revolutionary War history will be showcased Feb. 1 as “Travels with Darley: Delaware Revolutionary Road Trip” will air at 10 a.m. on Philadelphia WHYY. Darley Newman, six-time Emmy Award-nominated host and executive producer of Travels with Darley, worked alongside the Delaware Tourism Office and Greater Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau to create this episode. Newman is taking viewers …

Factory Sports, pictured above, is one of five locations in Delaware to be awarded money in the second round of the Sports Tourism Fund grants.

5 sports complexes share $10M in second round of Sports Tourism Fund grants

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Sports

Five sports facilities in the First State will share $10 million to make upgrades as part of the second round of grant allocations made by the newly formed Delaware Sports Tourism Capital Investment Fund. After considering 17 applications requesting a combined $47,138,560, here’s who the Delaware Tourism Office is dishing the money out to: Kirkwood Sports Complex – $4 million: …

Kirkwood Sports Complex, pictured above, is one of 17 organizations who submitted applications in this second round of allocations for Delaware's sports tourism fund.

17 sports facilities battle for a small share of $47.1M in state tourism funding

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government

Seventeen organizations throughout the First State are asking for a combined $47,138,560 for construction, upgrades, and additions to their sports complexes to generate more income and attract more athletes and patrons.  The requests range from as little as $319,680 from the Sandhill Fields in Georgetown to as much as $10 million from Dover’s First State Aquatic Center.  It’s sure to …

The next round of allocations for the state's sports tourism investment fund will likely be by the end of 2024. (Photo of Abessinio Stadium from Salesianum School website.)

Sports Tourism Fund to explore 18 applicants, $47.3 million in facility requests

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Sports

Eighteen sports facilities in the First State have submitted applications totaling $47.3 million in requests for upgrades as part of the second round of allocations of the Delaware Sports Tourism Capital Investment Fund. The applicants include University of Delaware (Rullo Stadium), Abessinio Stadium, Dover Motor Speedway, Dave Marshall/Tennis & Pickleball, and Hudson Fields. The fund was created in 2023 as …

A grant fund created in 2023 allows the state to financially award organizations to attract more sports tourism. (Photo from Indoor Track Delaware)

State moves to bolster sports tourism with $11.3 million in grants

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Sports

An indoor track, a Frederica sports site, a pickleball complex and a tournament site have been  awarded $11.3 million from a state fund devoted to boosting sports tourism. Established last year, the Sports Tourism Capital Investment Fund’s allocations are announced by the Delaware Tourism Office, providing grants in support of sports facilities like arenas, courts, fields, aquatics facilities, track and …