Big impact.
Built on real events.
A growing event portfolio. A consistent economic model. Documented media reporting.
$263 million in estimated annual impact.
ASEC estimates the annual economic impact associated with the events it operates, founds, recruits, and supports at $263 million. ASEC considers this a conservative management estimate, informed by event activity, participants, spectators, and hotel demand across the portfolio.
The Rounds Consulting Group model is being applied across ASEC event years to create a continually updated picture of that impact. The full portfolio model for 2026 and 2027 is in progress. The $263 million remains ASEC’s annual estimate while that broader modeling is completed.
Two flagship events. $111.4 million in modeled output.
The April 2026 Rounds Consulting Group study estimates $70.1 million for Section 7 and $41.3 million for the Lori Piestewa Games. Together, these annual event profiles represent $111.4 million in economic output, 1,249 modeled jobs, $42.3 million in labor income, and $7.2 million in state and local taxes.
Those events are part of a wider ASEC portfolio that also includes pickleball, recruited championships, community events, and awards. ASEC’s addition of the Arizona Basketball Coaches Association expands its coaching programs and opportunities for future activity.
| Event | Output | Modeled jobs | Labor income | State and local taxes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section 7 full platform | $70.1M | 786 | $26.6M | $4.0M |
| Lori Piestewa Native Games | $41.3M | 463 | $15.7M | $3.2M |
| Combined modeled profiles | $111.4M | 1,249 | $42.3M | $7.2M |
A consistent way to measure
The Rounds Consulting Group model evaluates direct spending and the indirect and induced economic activity that follows it. Participants, spectators, visitor stays, and local event activity inform the model. Results identify the event and reporting period they describe.
ASEC is applying this framework to its 2026 and 2027 event portfolio, including its growing pickleball and ABCA programs, and will update the published estimates as the work is completed.
Mountain West Baseball Championship: the completed event study
Rounds Consulting Group’s August 8, 2025 study of the championship at Sloan Park in Mesa estimates 1,783 visiting participants and attendees and 2,624 hotel room nights. These are modeled visitor and lodging inputs, not a count of all gate admissions. The report identifies six participating teams.
Table 1 estimates $1,032,200 in direct economic output and $1,020,500 in indirect and induced output, totaling $2,052,700. It also estimates 23 annual employment equivalents, $779,200 in labor income, and $195,700 in state and local tax revenues. The total tax amounts shown in Tables 1 and 2 are $71,200 for Arizona, $29,500 for Maricopa County, and $95,000 for Mesa. Figures are in 2025 dollars; income and taxes are not added to the output total.
Table 3 identifies 960 team room nights, 164 umpire staff room nights, and 1,500 attendee travel party room nights. Participant and attendee counts total 283 and 1,500 respectively. The analysis uses ASEC lodging estimates, Arizona Office of Tourism travel party data, and RCG’s economic modeling framework.
West Coast Conference: a preliminary comparison
At ASEC’s direction, the Mountain West result is used as an approximately $2.1 million planning comparison for the 2026 West Coast Conference Baseball Championship. This assumes a comparable spending footprint and is not a completed Rounds study of WCC. Event specific visitor, lodging, and spending inputs will determine the updated estimate.
Athletes Unlimited and Arizona Tip Off
ASEC reports two years of recruited hosting for both Athletes Unlimited Volleyball and Arizona Tip Off. For Athletes Unlimited, a 52 night stay in 75 rooms equals 3,900 room nights per edition for staff and athletes alone. Two editions at the same occupancy equal 7,800 room nights. This figure describes hotel activity, not a new dollar value.
One portfolio, without duplicate counting
Individual event studies and comparison benchmarks illustrate the portfolio; they are not added on top of the $263 million annual estimate. Section 7’s model includes its boys, girls, and qualifier events. Its initial girls sponsorship and ABCA relationship do not create a second count of Section 7 output. Native Legends carries forward the Piestewa Games legacy. Separate new events and programs will be measured for their additional activity.
Labor income, taxes, scholarships, and media performance are distinct measures. The statewide youth sports industry estimate and the Arizona Bowl’s cumulative visitor impact are shown separately from ASEC’s annual portfolio estimate.
The Trends article in context
The $40 million Section 7 figure in Nikki’s Trends article was the verified number available to ASEC when the article was prepared. The later April 2026 Rounds Consulting Group analysis estimated $70.1 million for the full platform. The original article is preserved, with a publication context note explaining the subsequent analysis.
Media reporting powered by Meltwater
ASEC uses Meltwater to monitor media coverage and document impressions across its events and brands. ASEC confirms that its published media figures are verified against its reporting and that the supporting documentation is retained. Metrics are reported with the same definitions and time periods as their underlying reports; media performance is reported separately from economic output.
Sources
- ASEC management: conservative $263 million annual portfolio estimate, event history, ABCA expansion, media verification process, and the 2026 and 2027 modeling program.
- Rounds Consulting Group, Economic Impact of Youth and Amateur Sports in Arizona, April 2026, pages 5 through 7 and methodology appendix.
- Rounds Consulting Group, ASEC Economic Impact Model Overview, March 2026.
- Rounds Consulting Group, 2025 Mountain West Championship Economic Impact, August 8, 2025, pages 2 through 6, Tables 1 through 3. The WCC planning comparison uses this event as its reference.
- ASEC Section 7 attendance and EventConnect hotel reporting, summarized September 21, 2026.
- ASEC supplied hosting figures: two years of Athletes Unlimited, with 75 rooms nightly for a 52 day stay; two years of Arizona Tip Off.
- West Coast Conference 2026 Scottsdale championship announcement ↗.
- Arizona Bowl founding history and cumulative community impact ↗.
- Meltwater media monitoring ↗.
Economic amounts are estimates, identified by source and period. The full 2026 and 2027 portfolio model is in progress. Confidential source documents and the proprietary model are not distributed on this website.