Hamilton County saw three international sporting events come to the area this year, bringing visitors from all over the globe. Golf and a new fitness competition have been in the headlines this year, and marquee swimming is coming next. High-profile sports events continue to add value to Hamilton County, whether you’re a visitor, resident or business here.
World Cup Comes to Carmel - for Swimming
While the 2026 FIFA World Cup is coming to North America next summer, Carmel will be hosting one of its own this fall. The World Aquatics World Cup is coming to Carmel High School's new natatorium October 10-12 for a competition that will bring the world’s best swimmers to Hamilton County.
“I grew up training at Carmel Swim Club, so seeing some of the world’s best swimmers compete in this Carmel High School pool is really exciting,” said two-time 2024 Paris Olympic Games medalist Alex Shackell in a World Aquatics announcement. “I know the local swimming community will bring tremendous energy, and I can’t wait to see everyone experience what makes this place so special.”
Approximately 750 swimmers will be coming to Hamilton County for the organization’s event, which is the first of three stops in the World Aquatics World Cup circuit. After Carmel, World Aquatics will go to Chicago and Toronto.
This event demonstrates immense return on Carmel’s $55M natatorium investment. The new pool facility is 91,000 square feet and renovations were completed this year.
Fitness Competition Startup Makes Westfield Home
World Fitness Project, a new international competitive fitness league, came to Grand Park May 9-11, drawing 500 athletes from 15 different countries. Staff and competitors were in Hamilton County for a week, truly making Westfield a hub for competitive fitness.
“For its first year, this event went really well,” said Gabe Amick, the senior sports development manager of Hamilton County Sports Authority. “They transformed Grand Park unbelievably. I was amazed at what the athletes were able to do.”
World Fitness Project also hosted and event in Mesa, Arizona, before holding its world championship in Denmark. The event brought state-of-the-art lights and video boards, full broadcast equipment and premium seating to Grand Park, giving the campus a new feel while catering to a global audience. VIP tickets sold out, and plans are being made to bring the event back to the county.
LIV Golf Brings International Spotlight to Westfield
Huge crowds and a national TV audience came to Chatham Hills Golf Club in Westfield this August to see LIV Golf’s first stop in Hamilton County. Over the three-day event, approximately 60,000 people passed through the area to enjoy art, music and a variety of programming in addition to LIV Golf. From an operations and hospitality standpoint, Westfield and Hamilton County stood out.
“Hamilton County and the City of Westfield have been by far the most welcoming and helpful group we’ve been around,” said Tim Flaherty of LIV Golf operations partner Par5 Golf. “The support of Hamilton County Sports Authority has been exceptional. This has been the best community we’ve worked with during our time with LIV.”
Local officials initially projected the economic impact to be an estimated $25M and the final impact numbers are currently being calculated. LIV Golf has confirmed a return to Westfield in 2026.