CrossFit Games attendees received an email this afternoon regarding a financial grant opportunity from the State of Texas. The grant is based on the number of attendees who reside outside of Texas. Recipients of the email are required to fill out a short form by Tuesday, September 2, providing their country, state/province, and city of residence.
The form, accessible via Google Docs, requests basic information such as email, first and last name, country of residence, state or province, and city. Participants are also asked to consent to CrossFit sharing this information with the State of Texas solely for the purpose of the grant.
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 have entered into a Trust Fund Event Support Contract with the City of Fort Worth. The State of Texas has agreed to deposit $667,009 into the Event Trust Fund, with an additional contribution from the City of Fort Worth, totaling $773,731.
To access the grant funds, CrossFit and Visit Fort Worth must validate their attendance estimates by proving the actual number of attendees and the estimated number of non-Texas residents in attendance. 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 to cover their costs. All payments must be supported by expense documentation.
It remains unclear how the funds will be divided 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 access the grant funds.
Overall, this email presents a unique opportunity for CrossFit Games attendees to contribute to the event’s financial support and potentially benefit from the State of Texas grant. By providing accurate information and consenting to share their data, participants can help secure funding for future events and support the growth of the CrossFit community.