New England Golden Gloves Boxing Event in Lowell Wins National Sports Tourism Award 

The annual New England Golden Gloves boxing championship, one of the region’s most iconic amateur sporting events, has been recognized as a 2025 Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, the leading publication for sports event planners and tournament directors in the United States.

According to an economic impact report by the Revolutionary Valley Regional Tourism Council (RTC), the 2025 tournament generated an estimated $2.4 million for the local economy, supported by 3,330 lodging room nights and substantial spending at area restaurants, shops, and attractions.

Revolutionary Valley RTC Executive Director Brian Bradbury said, “For generations, the Golden Gloves has brought athletes, families, and fans into Lowell, filling our hotels and energizing our downtown. This recognition affirms the event’s lasting and consistent impact and the strength of the partnerships that make it possible.”

The full citation from Sports Destination Management reads:

New England Golden Gloves

Revolutionary Valley RTC

Location: Lowell, Massachusetts

Total Economic Impact: $2.4 million

Total Room Nights: 3,330 

“The New England Golden Gloves, established in 1947, is dedicated to developing the character and life skills of youth through boxing while making a lasting impact on the community. Through Lowell Sun Charities, proceeds support programs that promote respect, dignity and guidance in facing today’s challenges. With mentorship and training, youth gain valuable lessons in hygiene, conflict resolution, respect, strength and discipline. All proceeds from New England Golden Gloves, now in its 78th year, benefit Lowell Sun Charities.”

The New England Golden Gloves recognition, along with dozens of other sports programs across the country, are featured in the November/December 2025 issue of Sports Destination Management.

The New England Golden Gloves produced many great boxers over over the years. Perhaps best known local heroes are “Irish” Micky Ward, a Lowell native who was Golden Gloves champion three times in the 1980s, along with his older brother and trainer, Dicklie Elklund, also a Golden Gloves champion.

Bradbury says the award highlights the exceptional cooperation between key partners — the City of Lowell, Lowell Sun Charities, Lowell Memorial Auditorium and New England Golden Gloves Executive Director Bob Russo — working alongside the Revolutionary Valley RTC to support an event that has shaped Lowell’s sports and cultural identity for nearly eight decades.

About the Revolutionary Valley Regional Tourism Council

The Revolutionary Valley Regional Tourism Council (formerly the Greater Merrimack Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau) is the official Regional Tourism Council designated by the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT). Based in Lowell, Massachusetts, the RTC promotes the region as a premier destination for leisure travelers, group tours, meetings and conventions and sporting events.

In 2025, the RTC opened the new Revolutionary Valley Visitor Center at 115 Merrimack Street in downtown Lowell — a welcoming hub for travelers and a central source for regional information, itineraries, and visitor support.