CrossFit recently sent out an email to non-ticketed attendees and credentialed individuals of the 2024 CrossFit Games, informing them about a financial grant opportunity from the State of Texas. The email stated that CrossFit is eligible for a grant based on the number of attendees who reside outside of Texas. Recipients of the email were asked to fill out a short form with their country, state/province, and city of residence by the deadline of September 2.
The form, which is hosted on Google Docs, requires participants to provide their email, first and last name, country of residence, state or province, and city. It also asks for consent to share this information with the State of Texas for the sole purpose related to the grant. The email included links to view the email and access the Google Form for submission.
The grant in question is part of the „Texas Event Trust Fund“ program, which allows organizers of large events to receive a portion of the estimated increase in tax revenue resulting from the event. In the case of the 2024 CrossFit Games, CrossFit, LLC and Visit Fort Worth entered into a Trust Fund Event Support Contract with the City of Fort Worth. The State of Texas agreed to deposit $667,009 into the Event Trust Fund, with an additional contribution from the City of Fort Worth, totaling $773,731.
To receive the grant, CrossFit and Visit Fort Worth must validate their attendance estimates by proving the actual number of attendees who are not residents of Texas. The State of Texas has already approved the source and methodology for validating these numbers. Once verified, the City of Fort Worth can disburse the funds, covering Visit Fort Worth’s expenses first, with CrossFit entitled to the remaining balance for their costs. All payments must be supported by expense documentation such as invoices.
It remains unclear how the funds will be split between Visit Fort Worth and CrossFit. Both parties are required to submit their actual data to the State of Texas within 45 days following the event to receive the grant. This process ensures transparency and accountability in the distribution of funds.
Overall, this email and grant opportunity provide insight into the financial support available for large events like the CrossFit Games. By leveraging state programs like the Texas Event Trust Fund, organizers can offset costs and enhance the overall experience for participants and attendees. It will be interesting to see how this grant impacts future events and the collaboration between CrossFit, Visit Fort Worth, and the State of Texas.
