Messenger file photo: The Iowa Central men's cross country team celebrates its national title at Kennedy Park in 2021. Lakeside Golf Course will again host the NJCAA Championships this fall.

Visit Fort Dodge has again been recognized as a Regional Sports Authority District by the Iowa Tourism Office, marking the fourth consecutive year the community has earned this honor.

A $75,000 grant to support amateur sporting events accompanied the distinction.

This year’s grant will assist 27 sporting events in Fort Dodge, ranging from mountain bike races, cross-country championships and half marathons to rodeos, dance, basketball, volleyball, softball, wrestling and baseball. These events are expected to draw more than 95,000 attendees to the region and generate $1.2 million in hotel revenue alone, further boosting the local economy.

“Sports tourism has become a true economic driver for Fort Dodge,” says Kerrie Kuiper, Director of Visit Fort Dodge. “The RSAD designation is not only a recognition of our facilities, but also of the significant work by local organizations and volunteers who bring these events to life.”

Recent investments in sports infrastructure have positioned Fort Dodge as an emerging sporting events host city. Highlights for fiscal year 2026 include the NJCAA Cross Country and Half Marathon Championships hosted by Iowa Central Community College, two new youth softball tournaments and one new baseball tournament at Rogers Sports Complex, and a surge of activity at the new Pavilion at Corridor Plaza, which will host three basketball tournaments and 12 expanded volleyball and basketball tournaments.

While facilities set the stage, Kuiper emphasizes that it is the people who make this impact possible.

“We can invest in venues, but without the dedication of our local organizations and volunteers to recruit, plan, and execute events, this growth would not happen. They are truly our greatest asset in sports tourism.”

The RSAD program supports the promotion of non-professional sporting events to grow tourism across Iowa. Each grant requires a 50% cash match.

To qualify, applicants must be an Iowa Convention & Visitors Bureau. The RSAD is handled by a seven-member board, including at least three City Council members.

Fort Dodge’s FY 2026 RSAD Board includes Council Members Lydia Schuur, David Flattery and Quennel McCaleb, along with Kuiper (Visit Fort Dodge), Guy Horn (Iowa Central Community College Athletic Director), David Fierke (Fort Dodge City Manager), and Hannah Angstrom (Fort Dodge Recreation Services Assistant Director).

In fiscal year 2025, Fort Dodge received a $70,000 RSAD grant, which supported 13 events that attracted more than 64,000 visitors and generated over $600,000 in hotel revenue (including a local cash match of $352,152 provided by the participating events). Fort Dodge was one of 10 designated RSAD communities in Iowa for fiscal year 2025 joining Ames, Cedar Rapids, the Cedar Valley, Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, the Quad Cities, and Sioux City.