The U.S. Census Bureau has released new data on the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on recreation and social activities.
When indoor recreation and social activities took a hit, so did bowling centers and bars. Nationwide, bowling center revenue remained below pre-pandemic levels in 2021 while bars, lounges and nightclubs had fully recovered.
Amusement and theme park revenues plummeted more than 60%. By 2021, industry revenue was nearly 12% lower than pre-pandemic.
Meanwhile, some outdoor-based industries exceeded pre-pandemic numbers: Revenue from golf courses and country clubs was 17% higher, while mobile food services — like trucks, carts and stands — shot up 67% between 2019 and 2021.
According to the Outdoor Participation Trends Report from the Outdoor Industry Association, 164.2 million Americans participated in an outdoor activity in 2020, a 6.9% increase from 2019.
