FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 9, 2024

Visit Phoenix | City of Phoenix
Contact: Chris Miller, cmiller@visitphoenix.com 

Phoenix Unveils New Industry-Leading Sports & Events Commission 

As Phoenix continues to be a premier destination for sports and events, the city is proud to announce the formation of the Phoenix Sports & Events Commission. This initiative, anchored by Visit Phoenix and the City of Phoenix, marks a new era for the Sonoran Desert, promising to bring social and economic enrichment to our community.

The Phoenix Sports & Events Commission aims to celebrate the city’s unique culture, communities, and spirit. The new commission will work with a wide range of community organizations and stakeholders to extend its reach to youth, amateur and collegiate tournaments in addition to arts, culture and music events. This broad-spectrum approach ensures that every facet of our city’s vitality is showcased and celebrated.

Operating as a division of Visit Phoenix, the commission is set to recruit an Executive Director and appoint an Advisory Board. This leadership team will be crucial in forging partnerships with event owners and producers, identifying opportunities for impactful social contributions, and ensuring a seamless collaboration between city resources and the local business community.

In 2022, at the direction of Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world and is part of Bloomberg Philanthropies, began conducting extensive pro-bono research to identify opportunities and strategies to expand and diversify Phoenix’s portfolio of events. As a result of their research and subsequent evaluation, on June 26, 2024, the Phoenix City Council unanimously approved the formation of the industry-leading Phoenix Sports & Events Commission.  “Phoenix is the largest city in the country without an events-focused commission,” said Mayor Kate Gallego. “While we are no stranger to hosting world-class events, the commission will proactively attract a diverse roster of new sports, arts, and cultural events that will deliver meaningful economic and social outcomes to our residents and businesses. I appreciate the research and evaluation conducted by Bloomberg Associates and am excited to see their recommendation come to fruition.”

“Phoenix has established itself as a premier destination for hosting events and the new Sports & Events Commission will build upon that position by pursuing new business opportunities that showcase our impressive package of convention facilities, athletic fields, hotels, and performing arts venues. We look forward to working alongside Visit Phoenix and the Commission to expand on all things music, arts and culture, along with youth, amateur and collegiate events in Phoenix that support our tourism industry” said Deputy City Manager John Chan.    

With more than 750,000 jobs supported by sports-related travel and 63% of markets reporting sports as the leading generator of hotel room nights, the commission's work will be instrumental in creating new job opportunities and supporting local businesses. Moreover, by focusing on meaningful social impact and arts and culture events spanning Phoenix, the commission will ensure that the benefits of hosting major events are felt across all communities, fostering a sense of unity and shared prosperity.

“For decades, Phoenix has stood as the beacon of sports and culture, drawing enthusiasts from all corners of the globe. With the establishment of the new Sports & Events Commission, we’re set to amplify our city's allure, solidifying Phoenix's reputation as the unrivaled destination for all things sports and events. This commission will build on our rich history of hosting world-class events, transforming Phoenix into a one-of-one hub where the intersection of sports and culture is front and center”, said Ron Price, President and CEO of Visit Phoenix.

The Phoenix Sports & Events Commission is more than an organizational body; it’s a catalyst for transformation. It’s about leveraging the power of events and sports to highlight and celebrate our city’s status as a one-of-one destination. It’s about ensuring that the economic and social outcomes of these events are distributed equitably, making Phoenix not just a better place to visit, but a better place to live. Together, we will show the world why Phoenix is not just a destination, but a beacon of innovation, community, and endless possibility.

About Visit Phoenix   

Visit Phoenix is a non-profit organization that promotes the Greater Phoenix community to a global audience of travelers and books conventions into the Phoenix Convention Center and area hotels and resorts. Visit Phoenix cultivates and maintains relationships with convention and meeting planners, journalists and influencers, travel agents and tour operators. We produce marketing and brand campaigns promoting leisure travel and meetings, coordinate site visits, conduct media tours and maintain the official tourism website for Greater Phoenix. In partnership with our nearly 900 member businesses, Visit Phoenix brings business to Greater Phoenix that would not otherwise come—from leisure visitors to group meetings to popular sports events. Through this, Greater Phoenix can compete in today’s globalized, networked world for its share of the world’s consumers, businesses, investment, capital, respect, and attention.  

About the City of Phoenix  
As the fifth largest city in the country and the capital of Arizona, Phoenix is a vibrant community, home to 1.7 million residents. Phoenix has led the nation in new population growth over the decade. Ranked in the top 10 for the best city to start a business, companies thrive in Phoenix because of its friendly business environment. Within the 517 square miles of the city, renowned mountain trails, and three of the largest city parks in the country, Phoenix is not only a great place to live, it also attracts visitors worldwide. For more information, visit phoenix.gov or follow us on social media.
 

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Media Contact:
Chris Miller
cmiller@visitphoenix.com