Category: Sports Planning Guide Features

Ju’Riese Colon had a successful 20-year career guiding mission-critical youth organizations before taking the leadership role at SafeSport in the summer of 2019. Her experience has served her well as SafeSport rapidly expands its role in preventing abuse in athletics across the U.S.

With its brand transition firmly in place, Sports ETA’s Al Kidd looks to grow the organization’s impact in the sports tourism industry by building upon NASC’s legacy with a 21st century mindset.

Filling a void in the sports tourism market place has been a hallmark of Lou Mengsol’s career. Recognizing the need for a relationship-oriented annual conference that brought together CVB’s, sports commissions, industry suppliers and rights holders in an intimate, one-on-one atmosphere, Mengsol launched the United States Sports Congress over a decade ago.

It is that time of year to chime in on the top trends we are seeing out in the sports tourism trenches. The arms race in our industry is at an all-time high and the competition has never been greater. From larger markets battling to host high-profile mega events to the smaller markets investing significantly in tourism-driving facilities, there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight.

Like the athletes and the rules that govern the games, the world of sport is in a constant state of evolution. Presently, the impenetrable arm of technology has integrated itself into sport at every level, to the degree where the balance of the games is now impacted in some cases.