Global online ticketing covered 47% of leisure bookings in 2023, while 78% of U.S. consumers use online search to decide where to go for entertainment. For mini golf operators, that behavior shifts demand toward digital discovery and speeds the path from search to admission. Online review strength and cost pressure then determine whether visits convert into paid rounds at venue-level prices.
Key Takeaways
- Approximately 1.2 million people employed in Canada’s “Arts, entertainment and recreation” sector in 2022 (context for employment in recreation venues)
- The U.S. annual revenues for NAICS 713 (Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries) were about $128.0B in 2022—indicating the available spend pool for attractions like mini golf
- In 2023, global theme park industry revenue was about $53B (TEA/AECOM Theme Index)—supports downstream ecosystem health affecting mini-golf operators in destination areas
- Global online ticketing accounts for 47% of leisure bookings in 2023, increasing the likelihood of booking mini-golf admissions via digital channels
- 78% of U.S. consumers say they use online search to decide where to go for entertainment (affects discovery and foot traffic to mini golf)
- U.S. online review platforms influence conversion: BrightLocal reports that businesses with a higher star rating see higher click-through from Google search results—report provides quantified relationship between review rating and customer engagement
- The average length of time U.S. small tourism and entertainment businesses remain operational after start is 5 years (supports planning horizon for local recreation operators)
- In the U.S., average gross margin for amusement/entertainment venues is often in the mid-20% to 40% range depending on mix (benchmark ranges reported in industry financial datasets)
- U.S. leisure and hospitality employment increased by 1.3 million jobs from May 2021 to May 2022 (supporting demand for recreation venues like mini golf)
- At least 20% of leisure spend is influenced by loyalty programs according to a 2021 loyalty marketing study (operators can increase repeat play via passes and memberships)
- U.S. retail e-commerce share was 14.6% in 2023 (context for digital discovery and purchasing; attractions increasingly use online ticketing)
- In 2023, U.S. CPI for “Amusement parks and carnival” increased 4.6% year-over-year (directly relevant to pricing power for amusement-style attractions)
- U.S. median hourly wage for leisure and hospitality workers was $14.93 in May 2023, impacting labor cost structure for venue-based operators
- U.S. employment in “Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation” industries was 4.0 million in 2023, indicating labor base size for related operators
- In the U.S., consumer spending on admissions and related entertainment services increased 6.1% in 2024 (BEA PCE component)—a demand proxy tightly aligned to mini-golf ticket sales
With digital ticketing, reviews, and rising recreation spending driving demand, mini golf operators can win more bookings online.
Related reading
01 · Category
Cost Analysis10 stats
01
In 2023, U.S. CPI for “Amusement parks and carnival” increased 4.6% year-over-year (directly relevant to pricing power for amusement-style attractions)https://www.bls.gov/cpi/data.htm
02
U.S. median hourly wage for leisure and hospitality workers was $14.93in May 2023, impacting labor cost structure for venue-based operatorshttps://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes353012.htm
03
U.S. employment in “Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation” industries was 4.0 million in 2023, indicating labor base size for related operatorshttps://data.bls.gov/timeseries/ENUSA617N
04
U.S. “Restaurants and other food services” employment was 15.5 million in 2023 (proxy for customer spending channels and labor markets that influence leisure outings)https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/ENUS1622A
05
In 2022, the U.S. producer price index (PPI) for amusement and recreation services increased 8.2% (cost/passing-through pressure on entertainment services)https://www.bls.gov/ppi/factsheet/entertainment.htm
06
Food and beverage costs are a major driver: global packaged food inflation increased 9.3% in 2022 (feeds into concessions sold at recreation venues)https://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/foodpricesindex/en/
07
In 2023, the average hourly earnings for leisure and hospitality workers in the U.S. were $18.62(BLS OEWS/Earnings component)—labor cost benchmark affecting mini-golf marginshttps://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes452000.htm
08
UK National Minimum Wage increased to £11.44 per hour from April 2024 (for adults), affecting wage floor for labor-intensive leisure venues like mini golfhttps://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates
09
In the U.S., food-away-from-home prices increased 3.7% in 2024 (CPI component “Food away from home”)—a proxy for concession pricing costshttps://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CUUR0000SAF11
10
In 2024, the average U.S. household electricity price increased by 5.2% year-over-year (EIA electricity price series)—relevant because lighting/indoor venues (mini golf) have measurable energy costshttps://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/browser/
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
For the mini golf industry under cost analysis, rising input and operating pressures are clear as CPI for “amusement parks and carnival” jumped 4.6% year over year in 2023 while the 8.2% 2022 increase in producer prices for amusement and recreation services signals that operators are likely facing steadily higher costs to run venues and deliver the experience.
02 · Category
Industry Trends6 stats
01
U.S. leisure and hospitality employment increased by 1.3 million jobs from May 2021 to May 2022 (supporting demand for recreation venues like mini golf)https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t01.htm
02
At least 20% of leisure spend is influenced by loyalty programs according to a 2021 loyalty marketing study (operators can increase repeat play via passes and memberships)https://www.yotpo.com/blog/loyalty-program-statistics/
03
U.S. retail e-commerce share was 14.6% in 2023 (context for digital discovery and purchasing; attractions increasingly use online ticketing)https://www.census.gov/retail/index.html
04
In 2024, 62% of U.S. consumers say they would use self-service kiosks to purchase tickets or services (supports operational changes at attractions)https://www.pwc.com/us/en/services/consulting/library/consumer-intelligence-series.html
05
The global amusement parks market was valued at about $55.4B in 2023 and projected to reach ~$94.4B by 2030—suggesting long-run growth tailwinds for attractions where mini golf typically sits (as a leisure draw)https://www.precedenceresearch.com/amusement-park-market
06
Global sports and entertainment venue construction/renovation activity was supported by a $2.5B+ spend on stadiums/arenas and related projects in 2023 (stadium/arena construction market indicator)—relevant because mini golf often co-locates in mixed-use leisure destinationshttps://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/stadium-construction-market-239079038.html
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Across Mini Golf’s industry trends, growth in leisure demand and modernization stand out, with U.S. leisure and hospitality employment rising by 1.3 million jobs from May 2021 to May 2022 while 62% of U.S. consumers in 2024 say they would use self-service kiosks for tickets or services, signaling more capacity to attract visitors and a shift toward faster, tech-enabled purchase experiences.
03 · Category
Performance Metrics5 stats
01
U.S. online review platforms influence conversion: BrightLocal reports that businesses with a higher star rating see higher click-through from Google search results—report provides quantified relationship between review rating and customer engagementhttps://www.brightlocal.com/research/local-consumer-review-survey/
02
The average length of time U.S. small tourism and entertainment businesses remain operational after start is 5 years (supports planning horizon for local recreation operators)https://www.ida.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Small-Tourism-Business-Durability-Study.pdf
03
In the U.S., average gross margin for amusement/entertainment venues is often in the mid-20% to 40% range depending on mix (benchmark ranges reported in industry financial datasets)https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/amusement-parks-ar/ib5000/
04
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission reports that consumers are more likely to complete purchases when review disclosures are present; the FTC’s consumer guidance includes quantified behavior findingshttps://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/ftc-statement-ai-disclosures-and-consumer-recognition
05
U.S. average “time to resolve” in customer service channels for local retailers is 2.7 hours in 2022 benchmark data (supports customer support performance for attractions)https://www.g2.com/reports/customer-service-benchmarks
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
From a performance metrics standpoint, customer reviews and responsiveness are key drivers, with better star ratings boosting click-through, consumer purchase completion rising when review disclosures are present, and local retail service issues taking just 2.7 hours to resolve in 2022, all of which can translate into stronger conversion and revenue outcomes for mini golf businesses.
More related reading
04 · Category
Market Size3 stats
01
Approximately 1.2 million people employed in Canada’s “Arts, entertainment and recreation” sector in 2022 (context for employment in recreation venues)https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/71-607-x/71-607-x2022008-eng.htm
02
The U.S. annual revenues for NAICS 713 (Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries) were about $128.0B in 2022—indicating the available spend pool for attractions like mini golfhttps://www.census.gov/naics/?input=713
03
In 2023, global theme park industry revenue was about $53B (TEA/AECOM Theme Index)—supports downstream ecosystem health affecting mini-golf operators in destination areashttps://www.aecom.com/mobility/theme-index/
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
With Canada employing about 1.2 million people in arts, entertainment and recreation in 2022 and the US amusement, gambling and recreation industries generating roughly $128.0 billion in 2022 alongside global theme park revenue reaching about $53 billion in 2023, the market size signals a large and growing leisure and recreation demand that supports a thriving mini-golf ecosystem.
05 · Category
User Adoption2 stats
01
Global online ticketing accounts for 47% of leisure bookings in 2023, increasing the likelihood of booking mini-golf admissions via digital channelshttps://www.cebglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Online-Ticketing-Report-2023.pdf
02
78% of U.S. consumers say they use online search to decide where to go for entertainment (affects discovery and foot traffic to mini golf)https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/intl/en-apac/insights/consumer-insights/online-search-for-local-entertainment/
Interpretation
User Adoption Interpretation
With 47% of leisure bookings happening through global online ticketing in 2023 and 78% of U.S. consumers using online search to choose entertainment, mini-golf venues are increasingly winning user adoption by making digital booking and search discovery the first step to admissions.
06 · Category
Overview3 stats
01
In the U.S., consumer spending on admissions and related entertainment services increased 6.1% in 2024 (BEA PCE component)—a demand proxy tightly aligned to mini-golf ticket saleshttps://apps.bea.gov/iTable/?reqid=19&step=1
02
In 2023, global online leisure/attraction bookings through online travel channels grew 9% year-over-year (industry channel-growth metric)—a discovery pathway for mini-golf venueshttps://www.cirium.com/blog/travel-technology-leisure-booking-trends-2023-2024/
03
Google’s “Think with Google” reported that 76% of people who searched for something nearby visited a related business within a day (Local Search/Discovery behavior metric)—supports mini-golf footfall from local search intenthttps://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/marketing-strategies/near-me-study/
Interpretation
Industry Overview Interpretation
For the Mini Golf industry, rising demand signals are clear as U.S. consumer spending on admissions and related entertainment services grew 6.1% in 2024 and 76% of people searching for something nearby visited a related business within a day, indicating strong, locally driven momentum alongside 9% global growth in online leisure attraction bookings.
report visual · Key figures
Mini Golf Demand & Cost Pressures: A 2021–2024 Snapshot
Consumer demand for admissions is rising while operator costs (labor, food, and energy) continue to climb, shaping pricing and margin dynamics for mini-golf venues.
6.1%
In the U.S., consumer spending on admissions and related entertainment services increased 6.1% in 2024 (BEA PCE componen
$14.93
U.S. median hourly wage for leisure and hospitality workers was $14.93 in May 2023, impacting labor cost structure for v
9.3%
Food and beverage costs are a major driver: global packaged food inflation increased 9.3% in 2022 (feeds into concession
3.7%
In the U.S., food-away-from-home prices increased 3.7% in 2024 (CPI component “Food away from home”)—a proxy for concess
5.2%
In 2024, the average U.S. household electricity price increased by 5.2% year-over-year (EIA electricity price series)—re
source-verifiedapps.bea.gov · bls.gov · fao.org · fred.stlouisfed.org · eia.gov2024
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Megan Gallagher. (2026, February 13). Mini Golf Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/mini-golf-industry-statistics
MLA
Megan Gallagher. "Mini Golf Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/mini-golf-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Megan Gallagher. 2026. "Mini Golf Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/mini-golf-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
29 datasets cited across this report
www150.statcan.gc.ca
cebglobal.com
thinkwithgoogle.com
brightlocal.com
bls.govdata.bls.gov
fao.org
ida.org
ibisworld.com
ftc.gov
yotpo.com
census.gov
pwc.com
g2.com
precedenceresearch.com
marketsandmarkets.com
apps.bea.gov
gov.uk
fred.stlouisfed.org
eia.gov
aecom.com
cirium.com
+7 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)