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...
COLUMBUS, OH (June 2, 2026) -- Sports ETA, the leading trade association for the sports events and tourism industry, today announced that Greg Fante, President and CEO of the Louisville Sports Commission, has been named Executive of the Year. The honor was presented during the Sports ETA CE Summit today in Columbus.
While Fante was unable to attend the Summit in person, Sports ETA surprised him with the award during a special virtual presentation held in advance and shared with attendees during the general session lunch.
The Executive of the Year award recognizes an outstanding sports tourism executive who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, industry impact, and long-term contributions to their organization and community.
Since assuming the role of President and CEO in 2023, Fante has built on nearly two decades of leadership within the Louisville Sports Commission, helping position Louisville as a premier destination for national and international sporting events. Under ...
CINCINNATI (May 14, 2026) — Sports ETA, the leading authority for the sports events & tourism industry, announced the launch of Active Insight, powered by EventConnect, a next-generation, AI-driven data intelligence platform designed to transform how industry stakeholders access, interpret, and apply event and travel data.
Developed in strategic partnership with EventConnect, Active Insight represents the evolution of The Pulse, a data platform first introduced in 2020. The enhanced solution leverages an expanded dataset of more than five million verified traveler records, combined with advanced analytics and emerging large language model (LLM) capabilities, to deliver deeper, more actionable intelligence for destinations, rights holders, and tournament organizers.
Purpose-built for the sports events ecosystem, Active Insight provides real-time visibility into event performance metrics, hotel demand patterns, booking behaviors, travel trends, pricing dynamics,...
Sports ETA and Special Olympics Announce Strategic Partnership to Expand Inclusive Sports Tourism
LAS VEGAS (May 4, 2026) – Sports ETA, the trade association for the sports events and tourism industry, and Special Olympics, Inc. today announced a new multi-year strategic partnership designed to expand opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities through the power of sports tourism.
The collaboration brings together Sports ETA’s national network of more than 850 member organizations with Special Olympics, the world’s largest sports organization for individuals with intellectual disabilities, serving millions of athletes globally.
Through this partnership, Sports ETA will provide Special Olympics with research, education, and connections to destinations and event hosts across the country. The agreement also includes expanded media visibility, storytelling opportunities, and integration into key industry platforms such as the Sports ETA Sy...
More Than 1,200 Industry Leaders Gather as $274.5B Sports Tourism Economy Takes Center Stage
LAS VEGAS (April 24, 2026) – The Sports Events & Tourism Association (Sports ETA), the trade association for the sports events and tourism industry, hosted its 2026 Symposium April a20–23 at Caesars Forum, bringing together more than 1,200 industry leaders for the premier gathering of the sports tourism sector. The event featured dozens of continuing education sessions and high-impact networking opportunities.
“We are grateful to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and Caesars Entertainment for hosting and delivering a world-class experience that matched the energy and ambition of this industry,” said John David, President & CEO of Sports ETA. “This year’s Symposium signals a defining moment for the sports events and tourism industry. With stronger data, greater collaboration, and increased global interest, our industry is better pos...
Media Resources
The full 2026 State of the Industry Report and Executive Summary are available at https://bit.ly/SportsETASOTI26.
The full report is complimentary to Sports ETA members and available to media upon request. For interviews or additional information, please contact Jackie Reau.
Contact: Jackie Reau, Game Day
(513) 708-5822 | jreau@gamedaypr.com
Sports ETA Unveils 2026 State of the Industry Report, Defining a $274.5 Billion Sports Tourism Economy
Top States and National Impact Highlighted as Industry Enters Global Growth Era
LAS VEGAS (April 22, 2026) – Sports ETA, the trade association for the sports events and tourism industry, today released its 2026 State of the Industry Report, marking a defining moment for the sector with the first-ever unified analysis of both participatory and spectator sports tourism.
The report reveals that sports tourism has evolved into a $274.5 billion total economic impact industry, generating $111.2 billion...
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...
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 ...
Your voice matters—and your data helps move our industry forward.
If you’ve completed the Sports ETA State of the Industry Survey, download this graphic and share it on your social channels to show your support for the future of sports tourism. Be sure to tag Sports ETA and use #SportsETASOTI and #YourInsightsMatter so we can amplify your leadership.
Haven’t taken the survey yet? There’s still time. Complete the survey before March 2, then post this graphic to let the industry know you helped shape the future of sports tourism.
Together, we tell the story.
Welcome to the November 2025 edition of the Sports ETA Facility Showcase! This month, we are changing things up to focus on one key area of the facilities we have showcased in the past, Design and Experience. Keep reading to the end for the “Key Difference Maker” as this insight can add perspective to your own facility.
What Does Design and Experience Add to a Facility?
The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is a key non-profit promoting community strength through parks and recreation. While 20th-century Parks and Recreation departments mainly managed local sports facilities, the late 1980s and 1990s saw a shift toward partnerships for competition-grade facilities to drive economic development. Currently, modern Parks and Recreation departments are investing in multi-use, hybrid athletic complexes that incorporate tourism, moving beyond traditional offerings. ...