Zaragoza has long defended its position as a logistics, cultural, and conference city. However, in recent times, a new engine of economic attraction has emerged: sports. Major national and international competitions, large popular events, and a growing number of visiting athletes have placed the Aragonese capital on the map of sports tourism, an increasingly relevant sector for urban economies.
Every weekend of the year, a significant sports event takes place in Zaragoza, asserts the city’s Sports Councilor, Félix Brocate, for whom the sports scene is becoming increasingly visible. From regional championships to national competitions or international events, the city maintains virtually continuous activity that attracts participants, families, technical teams, and fans.
The scale of this phenomenon is reflected in municipal data. Zaragoza hosted a total of 24 major sports events in 2024, integrated within an intense congress and fair activity that generated a global economic impact of €84.6 million. By 2025, the figure rose to €94 million, confirming a trend of sustained growth.
Félix Brocate, Sports Councilor: Every weekend, a sports event takes place in the city capable of attracting visitors, generating overnight stays, and boosting the local economy.
La Vuelta: More than just a cycling race
One of the best examples of the economic potential of sports is the Vuelta a España. Zaragoza revived this event after a fifteen-year absence, a wait that highlights the strategic importance of hosting a stage in one of the major international tours.
According to Brocate, the Vuelta guarantees the presence of between 2,500 and 2,800 people directly linked to the competition: cyclists, teams, organizers, media, sponsors, Traffic Civil Guard, and technical staff.
We are not just talking about spectators. Thousands of people sleep, eat, and dine in the city for at least one night, and sometimes for two or three days, notes the councilor.
In addition, there is a promotional value that is difficult to measure economically but undoubtedly provides returns in terms of publicity and tourism positioning. The international broadcast projects the image of Zaragoza in over 160 countries, turning the city into a global showcase for several hours.
The Zaragoza Marathon and the rise of runner tourism
The running phenomenon is another significant driver of Zaragoza’s sports tourism. The Zaragoza Marathon has established itself as one of the most attractive events on the national calendar and has seen notable growth in recent years.
The most significant data point is that the number of participants from outside Aragón has doubled in just two or three editions, according to municipal data. For Brocate, this growth demonstrates that Zaragoza is now part of the reference circuit for major Spanish marathons. The city offers several appreciated advantages for runners: a flat and fast course, a route through the historic center, and an iconic finish at the Plaza del Pilar. This is complemented by participant care and increasingly professional organization.
The Zaragoza Marathon has doubled the number of runners from outside Aragón in recent years and establishes itself among the most attractive races in the country.
The 2025 edition set records with over 1,800 marathon runners and an additional 6,000 participants in the 10-kilometer race. Furthermore, nearly half of the runners came from outside the province and about 10% were international. Hotel occupancy exceeded 85% during that weekend.
The economic impact associated with these types of events goes far beyond registration fees. Runners often travel accompanied by family or friends, generating spending in lodging, dining, transportation, and local commerce. According to the councilor, sports thus become a gateway to urban tourism.
A city attracting competitions from across Europe
Although major events often attract media attention, the strength of the Zaragoza model lies in its continuity. Every weekend, athletes from different parts of Spain arrive in the city to participate in championships, tournaments, and official events.
Brocate cites the historic swimming trophy organized by Stadium Casablanca, capable of attracting clubs from Asturias seeking to achieve qualifying times for national championships. He also mentions futsal, basketball, and volleyball competitions that mobilize complete teams and numerous accompanying individuals.
In this context, the growth of certain disciplines is particularly significant. Volleyball, for example, has tripled the number of licenses in recent years, reflecting an increasing diversification of sports practice in the city, as noted by the Sports Councilor.
A recent milestone was the hosting of the European Artistic Skating Groups Show Championship in May 2025. The competition brought together over 1,300 athletes from eight countries and generated an economic impact exceeding €2 million for the city.
This is joined by top-level international events such as the Women’s Euroleague Final Six in basketball, which, by being hosted in Zaragoza for several consecutive editions, reinforces the city’s position as a venue for major competitions.
Zaragoza: A sports tourism destination
The Zaragoza City Council is currently developing a specific study on the economic impact generated by sports tourism in the city. Although definitive figures do not yet exist, the municipal government has no doubts about its relevance. The perception is that sports have become a primary economic driver.
The Zaragoza City Council is working on a study of sports tourism to measure the economic impact of an activity that already moves millions of euros and reinforces the Zaragoza brand.
There are people who come to Zaragoza to engage in sports and take the opportunity to tour the city. And they do not come alone. They come with family, with friends, engage in tourism, dine in restaurants, and utilize city services. This reality repeats itself in marathons, national championships, or promotion phases and multiplies the economic effect of each event.
The benefits extend to numerous sectors. The hospitality industry increases its occupancy, restaurants boost their activity, and local commerce receives a constant flow of visitors who take the opportunity to explore Zaragoza. The city’s Tourism Councilor, Sara Fernández, has emphasized multiple times that Zaragoza’s strategic location, infrastructure, hotel capacity, and culinary offerings make it a particularly attractive venue for sports event organizers.
The experience of other sectors linked to event tourism highlights this potential. Zaragoza concluded 2025 with 449 congresses and conventions generating over €94 million in direct and indirect economic impact. The logic of sports tourism functions similarly: visitors who stay overnight, dine in restaurants, shop, and discover the city while participating in or accompanying competitors.
