There’s tourism, and then there’s sports tourism. And the city of North Myrtle Beach has bet big on the latter with the construction of the North Myrtle Beach Park and Sports Complex.
“It’s a big part of our industry now,” said North Myrtle Beach Mayor Marilyn Hatley.
The estimated economic impact of the sports complex in 2023 was $27.4 million.
Families making trips to compete in sports tournaments at the complex will stay in local hotels, dine at restaurants and shop at stores, greatly benefiting the city as a whole, city leaders say.
“They’re not just here for the beach, they’re here for sports tournaments,” interim city manager Ryan Fabbri said. “All those families that come here from North Carolina, West Virginia, wherever they are, to bring their families and kids to these sports events. They’re staying in hotels, they’re buying dinner at night.”
In the 2025 fiscal year, North Myrtle Beach spent $36 million for a 90 acre expansion, and in the proposed 2026 budget, $6.5 million more is proposed to fund the in-progress expansion.
The city is proposing a $221.3 million budget with no property tax increase which council and city leaders discussed at its annual budget retreat in Pinopolis this month.
To pay for the sports complex expansion, North Myrtle Beach will transfer $4.7 million from local hospitality fees and $3 million from the general fund. The city took out $27 million in debt in the 2025 fiscal year and is planning on paying $3.6 million toward that debt over the next five fiscal years. In 2026, $1.1 million will go toward interest on that loan and $2.5 million will go toward principal.
The city is also paying for new construction equipment for the park expansion, budgeting $870,300 for heavy equipment. The financial benefit of the sports complex is more than visitors dining at restaurants and spending money at local businesses. According to the proposed budget, the city expects to bring in $925,500 from concessions and other park activities, and $822,000 from the Christmas lights show.
Source: https://www.myhorrynews.com/news/pickleball-courts-sports-complex-expansion-to-cost-north-myrtle-beach-17-7m-in-2026/article_548ec9bb-95bb-456a-abf7-71d6a01195dd.html