Visit Garland says NXL paintball tournament brought roughly $1M economic impact, organizers want 2026 return

Dana (Visit Garland) reported to the Garland City Council that the NXL paintball tournament held at Audubon Park produced an estimated economic impact just over $1 million and that the organizer would like to return in September 2026.

Dana, Visit Garland’s events lead, described a multi-day operation that drew roughly 1,600 registered participants, approximately 2,000–3,000 spectators and an estimated 1,512 hotel room nights in Garland. “We booked 1,512 sleeping rooms and it gave us an estimated economic impact just over a million dollars,” the presenter said, noting a high percentage of out-of-state and international players.

Staff described operational changes from 2024 to 2025 aimed at improving traffic and neighborhood impacts, including paid use of the DART Dodger (south DART) parking area with nonstop shuttles to the site, on-site staff presence throughout the event to keep the footprint clean, and coordination with sanitation and parks operations to protect turf and grounds. Garland Police Department handled on-site medical incidents, including heat-exhaustion treatments and one hospital transport on the final day.

Council members and staff discussed ways to capture more economic benefit in future events — for example, by helping the organizer secure additional food vendors and by adding local restaurant listings to the event app. Staff said they would coordinate food-truck permits and provide Visit Garland promotional material for the organizer’s app in future years to increase local spending.

Provenance: Visit Garland presentation and council Q&A occurred during verbal briefings; the organizer has requested a 2026 return.