The Palm Beach County Sports Commission partnered with Okeeheelee BMX and Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation to host the USA BMX Sunshine State Nationals. The USA BMX Sunshine State Nationals, one of the United States’ largest and most distinguished BMX events, took place at Okeeheelee Park from January 14-16, 2022. Palm Beach County, which has been a leading destination in Florida for sports tourism during January, was home to thousands of BMX-related visitors from 30 states and 12 different countries, due to the USA BMX Sunshine State Nationals.
The USA BMX Sunshine State Nationals belongs to the USA BMX National Championship Series, which consists of 30 races that span across the United States and Canada. These three-day events attract competitors from North, Central, and South America, the Caribbean, and Europe with participants ranging in age from five years to 65. The USA BMX Sunshine State Nationals featured male and female riders competing in amateur and professional divisions.
The USA BMX Sunshine State Nationals brought over 1,500 riders, per event day, to Okeeheelee Park. The influx of visitors created a surge of overnight accommodations and visitor spending for Palm Beach County’s hospitality industry. Nearly 3,000 hotel room nights were created and more than $2.2 million in direct economic impact was generated.
The Palm Beach County Sports Commission hosted the USA BMX Sunshine State Nationals at Okeeheelee Park for the second time in the past six (6) years. Okeeheelee Park is home to the number one ranked BMX racetrack in Florida and is rated as one of the top three tracks in the United States. All ages and riding abilities are welcome to visit Okeeheelee BMX and participate in one of America’s most exciting sports.
“The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is privileged to partner with Okeeheelee BMX and Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation to host the USA BMX Sunshine State Nationals,” said George Linley, Executive Director of the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. “Thousands of riders and spectators traveled from across the United States and the globe, creating a surge of business for Palm Beach County’s hospitality industry. The USA BMX Sunshine State Nationals joins a dynamic list of events that will bring an explosion of sports tourism to Palm Beach County during January.”
At 1,700 acres, Okeeheelee Park is one of Palm Beach County’s greatest landmarks, which is recognized as the 2021 “Large Market Venue of the Year” by the Florida Sports Foundation (the official sports promotion and development organization for the State of Florida). In addition to its BMX track, Okeeheelee Park includes eight tennis courts, six pickleball courts, and one grass volleyball court. Five lighted baseball fields and four lighted softball fields touch all the bases, while four lighted multipurpose fields are ideal for soccer, rugby, lacrosse, football, and more. The park not only contains a 27-hole public championship golf course; it is also one of the few venues in the region with an 18-hole course for disc golf. Five expansive water-skiing lakes allow for professional water-skiing competition. Shark Wake Park 561, which is one of the nation’s premier cable wakeboarding venues, is also found within Okeeheelee Park.
