Sports Tournament Grant Reimbursement Program

The Sports Tournament Grant Reimbursement Program is a Visit Loudoun and Loudoun County Restricted Transient Occupancy Tax funding opportunity supporting sports tournament activity in Loudoun County. The program was established as part of the Tourism Destination Strategy adopted by the Loudoun Board of Supervisors in March 2006. Its purpose is to help support bids on sports tournaments, including human and animal events, that are expected to generate strong visitor spending and room-night activity in Loudoun. The program is designed for parks and recreation departments and sports organizations capable of promoting and holding sports tournaments. Eligible tournaments must directly affect Loudoun tourism and travel by attracting out-of-area or out-of-state competitors and/or spectators. Out-of-area is defined as 90 miles outside Loudoun County borders. Higher priority is given to events held during need periods, including weekends, January through March, and July through August. A total of up to $100,000 is available for allocation for events starting after July 1, 2026. Eligible expenses include bid fees, venue rental fees, registration fees, shipping and travel expenses, accommodations and transportation related to tradeshow attendance, and other necessary recruitment tools. Events must take place and funds must be expended within 18 months of the award notification letter unless other arrangements are approved. Events requiring hotels to pay a fee to the applicant or organizer for unused comp rooms are ineligible. Applicants or their contracted third-party housing service must provide a $2 per room night rebate to Visit Loudoun. After the event, room pickup must be confirmed by the housing service and/or Visit Loudoun, and rebate payment is due to Visit Loudoun within 60 days of room pickup confirmation. Applicants must use a tracking mechanism to measure overnight visitor results and must submit a post-event report listing hotels used and the number of room nights used during the event. Applications and supporting materials are due by 4 pm on Friday, May 22, 2026, by email to Torye Hurst, Visit Loudoun Director of Sales, Sports and Services, at Hurst@VisitLoudoun.org. Applicants are responsible for confirming receipt. Complete applications are reviewed by a volunteer committee, which makes recommendations to the Visit Loudoun Board of Directors. The Board is scheduled to vote on recommendations at its June 24, 2026 meeting, and award notification letters will then be sent to applicants. The application requires a cover page with event, request, room-night, organization, contact, prior funding, lodging, and budget information. Narrative questions request a tournament description, tournament dates and planning schedule, competitor details, spectator estimates, out-of-market team or competitor estimates, tracking methods, an itemized use of grant funds, lodging availability steps, and additional prior-event information for applicants that previously received Loudoun County TOT or public funds. Applicants may also need to attach their most recent audit report and current-year financial report if available.

Prioritize events that generate out-of-area and out-of-state competitors or spectators, especially during weekends, January-March, and July-August. Confirm lodging availability before applying, use a measurable room-night tracking method, submit a complete application by email by 4 pm on May 22, 2026, and confirm receipt because incomplete applications are returned and not considered.