August 29, 2024 | News Release
Hilton Named Official Hotel Partner of the Big Ten Conference
Saturday primetime football on the Big Ten Network will be presented by Hilton
CHICAGO, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference and Big Ten Network (BTN) today announced a multiyear partnership with Hilton, a leading global hospitality company, as the Official Hotel Partner of the Big Ten Conference.
Hilton will be the presenting sponsor of all Saturday primetime Big Ten football games on BTN. The Big Ten Conference will have access to discounted room rates at Hilton properties throughout the year for employees, student-athletes, and team personnel for more than 4,000 Big Ten events across the network and conference. The partnership will offer premium tickets, on-field experiences and other unique Big Ten experiences exclusively to Hilton Honors members through the Hilton Honors Experiences platform, while also partnering with the Big Ten Conference on an an...
The newest edition of the Sports ETA Playbook is now available! We hope you’ve heard the news—because, for the first time in years, we’ve also mailed printed copies to all member organizations!
If you haven’t yet, take a break and check out the Playbook, featuring record-breaking events now.
Download your copy here, and remember to share it with a colleague
Inside This Edition
Target USA Cup Draws more than 1,180 Teams for Youth Soccer Experience
AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships Score Big for Orlando
U.S. Rowing Brings Largest Youth Nationals to Sarasota
Best Practices from the USA Swimming Olympic Trials in Indianapolis
West Monroe Sports & events Center Serves Up Olympic Trials in Opening Moths of its New Facility
And more!
VIEW PLAYBOOK
August 2024
Welcome to the August 2024 Sports ETA Facility Showcase, a feature that aims to highlight the best sports facilities within our membership, showcasing what sets them apart, as their "key difference maker". This month, we're thrilled to feature the Spokane Sports' premier indoor sporting venue: The Podium, the crown jewel of Spokane's sports events and tourism portfolio.
Established in 1989, Spokane Sports has been a driving force in the region's economic development as a nonprofit organization. They play a pivotal role in attracting, retaining, and facilitating sports events across Spokane, fueled by a dynamic blend of funding sources, including a Tourism Promotion Assessment (TPA), lodging tax funds, and rental car tax revenues. This robust support empowers them to elevate sports events and tourism in the region. The showcase of The Podium exemplifies how Spokane Sports achieves their success through strategic partnership...
Sports Tourism Organization of the Year
We are delighted to introduce our top-notch keynote speakers for the 2024 4S & Rights Holder Summit. These industry leaders will share their expertise and insights on the latest trends and best practices in sports events and tourism.
Don't miss your chance to learn from the best! Register Now!
We can't wait to see you in Chattanooga, TN, November 12-14 for this incredible event!
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Are you attending the TEAMS '24 Conference + Expo, September 24-27 in Anaheim, CA? Don't miss out on the chance to earn four (4) STS credits by attending an innovative STS Certificate Course led by Vipe Desai, Executive Director of Surf Industry Members Association.
Beyond outstanding professional development, STS is our industry’s only designation signifying your commitment to continued learning in the sports events and tourism industry. It reflects your leadership in the industry, but also the investment you’ve made to increase your knowledge and propel your career and your organization forward.
Elevating Fan Engagement: The Key to Unleashing ROI for Sponsors and DMO’s
Let’s be honest. It’s a competitive landscape and delivering an exceptional fan experience is paramount to the success of any event. Join us for an insightful and dynamic session where Vipe Desai will share innovative strategies and actionable insights...
The Sports ETA Member Awards Portal opens Monday, August 5th! Don’t miss the opportunity to submit your outstanding campaigns for our two award categories:
1. Destination Branding & Marketing Campaign of the Year
2. Event Marketing Campaign of the Year
Each category will be divided based on population size:
500,000 and above
Under 500,000
The portal will remain open until September 27th, and winners will be announced at the 4S Summit in Chattanooga, TN, taking place November 12-14, 2024.
Prepare your submissions and get ready to showcase your achievements in sports tourism marketing and branding.
View Award Criteria
We can't wait to see your entries!
We are excited to announce the release of our Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for the following Sports ETA events:
Chief Executive Summit - 2026
Chief Executive Summit - 2027
4S Summit - 2027
We invite qualified organizations to submit proposals for these prestigious events. Below are brief details about each event:
Chief Executive Summit
Years: 2026 & 2027
Description: The Chief Executive Summit is Sports ETA’s premier event for executive level leaders in the sports tourism industry. This event equips executive leaders with the tools necessary to advance their organization's mission. CEOs of sports destinations, industry partners, and sports events are invited to learn from industry experts addressing high-level topics, including office culture, operations and leadership, crisis management, achieving goals, and more.
4S Summit
Year: 2027
Description: The 4S...
July 2024
Welcome to the inaugural Sports ETA Facility Showcase! This new feature aims to highlight the best sports facilities within our membership. Each month, we'll spotlight a new destination's premier facility at the heart of their sports tourism portfolio, showcasing what sets them apart, as their "key difference maker".
To kick off our launch, we're excited to feature four future hosts of some of our upcoming Sports ETA events.
Tampa Bay Sports Authority
Tournament Sportsplex of Tampa Bay
This facility was opened in 2019 and is managed by the Tampa Sports Authority, as their organization is charged with recruiting and attracting events. This facility was built for $17 million through a partnership with Hillsboro County, The Tampa Sports Authority and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission.
Since its opening, it has hosted 161 events with total attendance exceeding 372,000 spectators with almost half coming from outside th...
In honor of Disability Pride Month, we're excited to invite you to join the DEI Community on Wednesday, July 31 at 3 PM ET for a casual conversation with Kevin Orr, Director of the Lakeshore Foundation.
Kevin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in advocating for inclusivity and accessibility in sports and youth development.
Session Highlights:
Explore the history and impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Learn about the significance of physical literacy and its role in youth development.
Understand how these factors intersect with sports tourism and community engagement.
This session promises to be enlightening and inspiring, offering valuable insights into creating more inclusive environments within our communities and industries.
Additionally, we encourage you to spread the word and invite others to join our DEI community. Together, we can create a more inclusive and equitable environment.
T...