Sports Events and Tourism Industry

The summer 2023 edition of the Sports ETA Playbook is out now. Take a break and check it out! Download your copy here, and don't forget to share it with a colleague. INSIDE THIS EDITION - Welcome John David - Symposium Recap -4S Summit -Unlock Your Potential: Discover Educational Opportunities with Sports ETA -Perspective Is A Funny Thing - Sports ETA Member Wins VIEW PLAYBOOK We encourage members to share information with their peers. Contact Meagan Grau to learn more about how you can contribute to a future edition of The Playbook.

We are thrilled to launch the prestigious Sports ETA Member Awards program for the second time this year, where we'll recognize our member's outstanding achievements in marketing and branding. This past spring, the Sports ETA Member Awards Committee received nearly 80 submissions for our member awards program. Wow! The judges were overwhelmed by not just the quantity of the submissions but the quality as well. The review process was detailed and often involved rigorous debate, as the difference between first place and the rest was razor-thin. What a testament to you, our membership, and the work you do to continue making a difference in our industry! In case you missed it, take a look back at the winners. As we gear up for the 4S & Rights Holder Summit this fall, we're focused on the 4 S's of sports events and tourism: strategy, service, sales, and sponsorship. For all our marketing gurus out there, you know these 4 categories are the perfect re...

We can't wait until October, and we're in the beautiful, sunny El Paso with you, our members! If you've never been to El Paso before, or maybe you have, but haven't had a chance to really explore, here are the top 5 must-see attractions. We recommend adding a day or two to your 4S Summit trip to explore and see all El Paso offers. You won't be disappointed. As the sixth largest city in Texas, El Paso is quickly becoming a southwest hotspot for travelers, families, and businesspeople. With over 255 square miles (about the area of Austin, Texas) of high desert terrain, El Paso is a standout city widely known for its unique history, delicious cuisine, lively culture, and boundless sights and wonders. No matter what your agenda holds for your next visit to the Sun City, here are five of El Paso’s most impressive attractions you won’t want to miss!  1. Scenic Drive If you’re looking for the best view of El Paso, you’ll find it wh...

Our friends at the NCAA have updated their championship site selection and bid process timeline after an internal strategic business review. Please see below: The process will be adjusted from a four-year process to a two-year process, with hosts and sites being awarded for approximately 88 of the 90 NCAA championships for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 academic years. Additionally, the opening of the bid portal and publication of bid specifications have been rescheduled for September 6, 2023. These adjustments will help further analyze future processes and allow the ability to upgrade the current bid portal for a better user experience. None of the other key dates have been adjusted. The timeline for the bid process is as follows:  August 29, 2023:  Host symposium hosted at NCAA national office September 6, 2023: Bid specifications will be published on www.ncaa.org/bids; bid portal opens. February 7, 2024:  Bid responses due. March-Sept...

Contacts: Jackie Reau, Game Day (513) 708-5822 | jreau@gamedaypr.com   New Board of Directors Named for Sports ETA Pensacola Sports’ Ray Palmer appointed Chair of the Board   CINCINNATI (July 10, 2023) – The membership of Sports ETA has elected new board leadership and board of directors who began their terms July 1st. Ray Palmer, STS, President and CEO of Pensacola Sports, has been appointed Chairman of the Board, Frank Lett, STS, Associate Executive Director/Director of Sports Marketing at Visit Kingsport, will serve as Vice Chair/Chair-Elect of the Board, and Matthew Libber, Executive Director, Maryland SoccerPLEX/TEAM Maryland, has been named Secretary of the Board. New Board Members include:   Phil Andrews, Chief Executive Officer, USA Fencing Rob Coggin, Director, League Operations, National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association Tammy Dunn, STS, Executive Director, Snohomish County Sports Jason Gewirtz, Vice President, Spo...

Contacts: Jackie Reau, Game Day (513) 708-5822 | jreau@gamedaypr.com Tulsa Sports Commission honored as Sports Commission of the Year by Sports ETA KANSAS CITY, MO (May 10, 2023) – Tulsa Sports Commission was honored by Sports ETA as the Sports Commission of the Year, population over 500,000 category. Tulsa Sports Commission was one of 10 awardees honored today among the 600 Sports ETA member organizations. The award was accepted by Joel Koester from the Tulsa Sports Commission, at the annual Sports ETA Symposium held this week in Kansas City, Missouri. The selection committee commented on the nomination: “In its last fiscal year, the Tulsa Sports Commission secured more than 180,000 room nights, for an overall economic impact of $218 million, hosted the 2022 PGA Championship, Ironman Tulsa, events for USA Volleyball and Wrestling, and celebrated the opening of the new USA BMX headquarters and racing venue.” “Our team at the Tulsa Sports Commis...

Contact: Jackie Reau, Game Day (513) 708-5822 | jreau@gamedaypr.com   KANSAS CITY, MO (May 10, 2023) -- More than 20 sports events and tourism professionals were honored today at the Sports ETA Symposium for the completion of their Sports Tourism Strategist (STS) certification program, which is the leading-edge education institute for the sports events and tourism industry offering topical content, in-depth, and industry-leading certification programs. “Sports ETA congratulates these individuals who are actively advancing their knowledge and skills about the sports events and tourism industry with the Sports Tourism Strategist designation,” said Al Kidd, President & CEO of Sports ETA. The 2023 Sports Tourism Strategist Graduates are: Dana Baldwin, STS, Louisville Tourism Evan Bauerle, STS, Sports Salt Lake Brandon Black, STS, Go Gaston Patrick Coit, STS, Meet Boston Lynnette Davis, STS, Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors...

Contacts: Jackie Reau, Game Day (513) 708-5822 | jreau@gamedaypr.com KANSAS CITY, MO (March 9, 2023) – Four leaders in the sports and events tourism industry were enshrined into the Sports ETA Hall of Fame today at the organization’s annual Symposium. The new Hall of Fame members are: Susan Blackwood, former Executive Director of the San Antonio Sports Foundation, Rick Hatcher, President & CEO of Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism, Suzann Stewart, founder of the Tulsa Sports Commission, and Steve Ducoff, former President of Association of Chief Executives of Sport (ACES). The Sports ETA Hall of Fame is a lifetime achievement award recognizing long-standing and significant accomplishments in, and major contributions to, the industry trade association, Sports ETA, and the overall sports tourism industry. The Sports ETA Hall of Fame was launched in 2017, and there have been four induction classes with 14 honorees. “Sports ETA is honored to welcome four ne...

The spring 2023 edition of the Sports ETA Playbook is out now. Take a break and check it out! Download your copy here, and don't forget to share it with a colleague. Inside This Edition - Thank you, Al Kidd, for helping us THINK BIG! - Northstar and Playeasy Announce Partnership -NEW Salary, Compensation & Benefits Report -Learn the Art of Negotiating -Kansas City, Here We Come...   We encourage members to share information with their peers. Contact Meagan Grau to learn more about how you can contribute to a future edition of The Playbook.

Contacts: Jackie Reau, Game Day (513) 708-5822 | jreau@gamedaypr.com CINCINNATI (May 2, 2023, 9 a.m. ET) – John David, the Chief Strategy Officer of USA BMX, the World’s Largest Sanctioning Body for the Olympic sport of bicycle motocross racing (BMX), has been named the new President and CEO of Sports ETA, the only trade association for the sports events and tourism industry, replacing Al Kidd, who will retire on June 30. Over the past 20 years with USA BMX, John has produced two Olympic Trials, co-coordinated the unification of the sport in the USA, and spearheaded the campaign for the creation of the new USA BMX headquarters, arena, museum, and Hall of Fame in Tulsa, OK. He also serves on the City of Chandler Parks and Recreation Board and is a UCI International Commissaire. In 2021, the Sports Events and Tourism Association named David as the Rights Holder of the Year. “I am deeply honored to accept the position of President and CEO and join the exce...