With declining participation and revenue’s on the decline, the Badger State Games are closing down after 25 years.
The nonprofit Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation started the games in 1985. But participation of roughly 20,000 people in the beginning, dwindled to roughly 5,000 in the 2011 versions of the winter and summer games. WSDC also lost nearly $50,000 in the fiscal year ending July 31, 2010, the second year in which expenses exceeded revenues.
WSDC interim president and CEO Dan Doyle said decisions on the future mission of the corporation would be decided in the coming months. Doyle says it is possible the Games could be revived in a different format sometime in the future. “Both the Wausau and Fox Cities communities, which are the recent host venues for the Games, are receptive to continuing a portion of the Winter and Summer Games, respectively.