with Gary Cimaglia, Vice President of Sport at Special Olympics North America
CINCINNATI, Ohio (July 1, 2026) — The Sports Events & Tourism Association (Sports ETA), the trade association for the sports events tourism industry, today announced its new Board of Directors leadership team and newly elected directors who will help guide the association's strategic direction and continued growth.
The new leadership team was officially installed during Sports ETA's annual business meeting and will serve a one-year term.
Executive Committee
Board Chair: Clay Partain, STS, Chief Sports Officer, Sports Salt Lake
Vice Chair & Chair-Elect: Melissa Thompson, Vice President of Bids & External Affairs, Indiana Sports Corp
Secretary/Treasurer: Ryan Strickland, STS, Chief Operating Officer, Play Treasure Coast Sports
Immediate Past Chair: Matthew Libber, STS, Executive Director, Maryland SoccerPlex
"Sports ETA continues to benefit from exceptional volunteer leadership from professionals who are shaping the future of sports e...
The sports events and tourism industry continues to evolve—and Sports ETA is leading the way.
In this episode of SEEN, we sit down with Sports ETA's new Chairman of the Board to discuss the future of the association, the opportunities ahead for the industry, and the initiatives shaping what's next.
with Cassie Poss, Director of Business Development at Fort Worth Sports Commission.
Every year, sports tourism professionals are asked to answer some version of the same question:
"What's the value of what we do?"
Whether you're presenting to elected officials, advocating for facility investments, recruiting events, or building your annual strategic plan, data has become one of the most important tools in a destination's toolbox.
That's where Sports ETA's 2026 State of the Industry Report comes in.
Thanks to the support of Northstar Meetings Group, Sports ETA is able to provide one of the industry's most comprehensive research resources. The report offers a detailed look at the sports tourism economy, including participation trends, economic impact data, destination benchmarks, and insights from destinations, rights holders, venues, and industry partners across the country. While the headlines are impressive, the real value isn't simply reading the report—it's putting the information to work.
Here are six ...
with John D'Orsay, CEO at EventConnect.
Visit Baton Rouge: Big Plays, Bigger Hospitality
Baton Rouge is a city built for competition. Home to championship-winning programs at Louisiana State University and Southern University, the city’s sports culture runs deep and shapes every event it hosts.
With facilities suited for everything from baseball and soccer to waterskiing and golf, Baton Rouge elevates the sports experience at every level. Beyond the venues, teams and families are welcomed by world-class hospitality, bold Louisiana flavors, and memorable experiences that make every visit as rewarding as the competition itself.
Louisiana’s Lively Destination for Sports Experiences
Baton Rouge, Louisiana’s vibrant capital city, is a dynamic destination layered in rich history and cultural diversity. Known for its French and Spanish influence, the city offers a unique blend of architecture, cuisine, and traditions. Visitors can indulge in exceptional culinary experiences rooted in Southern and Cajun...
with Bart Lowen, VP of Development at Price Brothers.
with Shelbey Morris, Senior Manager of Sales and Partnerships at North Little Rock Tourism.
COLUMBUS, OHIO (June 3, 2026) -- Sports ETA hosted its 2026 Chief Executive Summit here from June 1-3, bringing together chief executive officers, presidents, and senior leaders from sports commissions, sports tourism organizations, and rights holders from across North America for two days of strategic discussions focused on leadership, industry growth, and the future of sports events and tourism.
The annual Chief Executive Summit serves as Sports ETA’s premier gathering for executive-level leaders to exchange ideas, discuss emerging challenges and opportunities, and collaborate on solutions that strengthen destinations and the sports events and tourism industry.
Throughout the summit, attendees participated in executive roundtable discussions, leadership sessions and peer-to-peer conversations focused on organizational growth, destination alignment, economic impact, workforce development, industry innovation and the evolving role of sports events and tourism in communities...