with Latasha Causey, President of Phoenix Raceway
with Triston Monte, Sports Development Manager at Visit Baton Rouge.
with Emily Jaenson, 2026 Women's Summit keynote speaker and best-selling author.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA (April 3, 2026) -- The 2026 Sports ETA Women’s Summit was hosted here during the NCAA Women’s Final Four tournament. Hosted by Experience Scottsdale, the annual Women’s Summit invited female sports events and tourism leaders representing CVBs, sports commissions, rights holders, and industry partners from April 1-3 to share trends and learn best practices on various topics including business and event management. This year’s event was attended by nearly 150 women making it the largest in the event’s history.
Attendees enjoyed the NCAA Women’s Final Four fan fest and tickets to the 2026 NCAA Women’s Final Four featuring University of Texas, University of South Carolina, UCLA and UConn.
“Our Women’s Summit is where our female members gather to discuss important trends and topics with the NCAA Women’s Final Four as a backdrop to meet and network with national thought leaders,” said John David...
SCOTTSDALE, AZ (April 2, 2026) -- Sports Events & Tourism Association (Sports ETA), the trade association for the sports events and tourism industry, today announced that Rachel Rogers, Vice President of Sports Sales & Engagement for Cobb Travel & Tourism and the Cobb Sports Alliance, has been named the 2026 Sports ETA Woman of the Year. Rogers was honored today during the Sports ETA Women’s Summit, held in conjunction with the NCAA Women's Final Four.
The Sports ETA Woman of the Year Award recognizes a female leader who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and measurable impact in advancing the sports events and tourism industry.
In her role, Rogers leads strategic initiatives for sports event recruitment, marketing, and partnership development, while overseeing the Cobb Sports Alliance. Since joining Cobb Travel & Tourism in 2013, she has played a central role in driving visitation and economic impact through sports, elevating the desti...
with Melissa Wideman, a logistics expert specializing in major sporting and political events.
with Sports ETA's very own Raelyn Dessart, Associate Director of Membership & Engagement - Destinations & Industry Partners, and Jordan Dillon, Associate Director of Membership & Engagement - Rights Holders.
When Winter Storm Fern forced the cancellation of the original January dates for the 2026 Chief Executive Summit, the decision was clear — and incredibly difficult. With a Level 3 Snow Emergency in place and travel prohibited, safety had to come first.
But what happened next speaks volumes about this community.
The response from Sports ETA members was immediate and overwhelming: Reschedule it.
We heard you.
Thanks to the strength of this community — and the extraordinary partnership of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission and the Hilton Columbus Downtown — we are excited to announce that the 2026 Chief Executive Summit has been rescheduled for June 1–3, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio.
A Summit Worth Coming Back For
This year’s Chief Executive Summit was on track to be our largest yet, with record registration and an energy that reflected the momentum of our industry.
That momentum hasn’t gone anywhere.
The rescheduled Summit will...
For our March 2026 edition of the Sports ETA Facility Showcase, we are traveling to the Pacific Northwest. The Snohomish County Sports Commission (SCSC) has been making an impact for the pacific northwest since 2005. Located just north of Seattle, WA, it is the third most populated county in the state.
One of the key sport facilities for SCSC, is the Meadowdale Playfields in Lynnwood, WA. The SCSC overall organizational motto is “Dedication. It’s how we do things.” This one phrase is felt in sports hosted and those that experience the Meadowdale Playfield. Make sure to keep reading to the end for the “Key Difference Maker” section.
#PlayPNWSports
The SCSC is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the economy, community image, and quali...
CINCINNATI (March 17, 2026) – Three leaders in the sports events and tourism industry will be enshrined into the Sports ETA Hall of Fame, powered by Albuquerque Sports Commission, at the organization’s annual Symposium in April. The new Hall of Fame members announced today are:
Tara Green, Principal, Public Realm Strategies, OJB
Ray Palmer, President and CEO, Pensacola Sports
Tammy Dunn, Executive Director, Snohomish County Sports Commission
Induction into the Sports ETA Hall of Fame represents one of the highest honors in the sports events and tourism industry, recognizing individuals whose careers have helped shape and advance the field.
The three honorees will be formally inducted during the Sports ETA Symposium in Las Vegas, on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, as part of the association’s annual celebration of leadership in sports tourism. The Sports ETA Hall of Fame, sponsored by Albuquerque Sports Commission, recognizes individuals ...