Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission Wins Major Event Award

The 2024 USA National Karate Championship & US Jr. Team Trials held at the Cajundome in Lafayette, Louisiana was a landmark event that drew top athletes, coaches, and fans from all over the United States to compete at the highest level. This championship marked the 30th Anniversary of USA Karate. Not only did the event serve as a pivotal event for national karate athletes, including the trials for the U.S. Junior Karate Team, but also highlighted Lafayette’s ability to host world-class sports events, bringing significant national attention to the area, and creating substantial economic impact to the region.

Key Highlights:

Unprecedented National Reach and Media Coverage:

Media coverage of the 2024 Championship event was kicked off with a joint press conference including Michael Cain, CEO of USA Karate, Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, and LCVC President & CEO Ben Berthelot announcing Lafayette as the host city. The announcement generated significant national media coverage, with outlet Yahoo! Sports picking up the story reaching 24.1 million people, and local KLFY-TV news outlet reaching 317,000 local viewers, highlighting Lafayette and elevating the event’s profile across the country. This media exposure showcased the athletes’ skill and passion and attracted attention to Lafayette as a vibrant sports destination. Lafayette Travel continued to promote the event across our social channels (X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube) with a combined reach of 21k+.

Record-Breaking Economic Impact:

The event achieved remarkable economic success with $3,641,841.05 in direct business sales and $5,817,905.44 in total business sales. The impact was felt throughout Lafayette Parish, as the event attracted 3,367 overnight attendees and 2,000-day visitors, generating significant demand for local hotels and tourism services. More than 1,300 athletes traveled from 37 states across the country, including California, Texas, and New York, and as far away as Alaska and Hawaii (see supplemental material, heatmap).