Faces of Sports Tourism: Chloe Dybdahl

Highlighting the best and brightest of the sports tourism industry

The Faces of Sports Tourism series showcases the best and brightest of the industry, establishing a closer connection between sports event planners and the destinations that host their tournaments. With us for this edition is Chloe Dybdahl, senior vice president at Jetr Global Sports + Entertainment, who works with clients across major American sports to help facilitate easier travel and faster visa approvals, as well as ensuring that international athletes can get where they need to be around the world for sporting events and leagues.

Chloe’s background

I was raised in New Orleans, LA and Allentown, PA where I developed a life-long love of lacrosse. Following Mount Holyoke College and Tulane Law School, I spent 16 years with the Department of State and was lucky enough to work on every continent except Antarctica. I now call Denver home with my husband and twin daughters. They are only three, but already skiing and cheering for University of Michigan football.

How did you get into your current role as Senior Vice President?

I met the founder and CEO of Jetr Global Sports + Entertainment, Travis Murphy, while I was counsel to the Department of State where I was responsible for ensuring consular officers overseas were issuing and refusing visas properly. Travis was previously at the NBA and during that time we worked together over several years, addressing a variety of immigration issues for the league.

I was so thrilled when Travis started Jetr Global and was incredibly excited when he offered me the opportunity to work with him to provide the legal services and expertise to complement the sports diplomacy and global mobility work that Jetr provides across the U.S. and around the world.

What would you consider your favorite part about your job?

The people! I am so lucky to work with a wonderful team at Jetr Global. The leagues, teams, players and communities we support are amazing partners. We all want to ensure that sporting events in the U.S. are a success. In sports, there is no greater feeling than when the team gets a win, both on and off the field. Oh, and attending a lot more sporting events.

How have you helped the sports tourism industry grow or recover?

At Jetr Global, we recognize the power of sports to build bridges and bring people together and that immigration is fundamental to the international expansion of sports. Therefore, our role is to ensure that the travel necessary for the success of major global sporting events is seamless. Sports tourism cannot grow and thrive unless the people who want to participate can do so. For example: Australia’s National Rugby League’s (NRL) five-year deal with Allegiant Stadium, Ultimate Fighting Championship and other U.S. partners will generate hundreds of millions of dollars for Las Vegas and the larger U.S. economy. However, that economic opportunity, exchange of cultures and building of bridges only happens if the players, coaches, broadcasters and support staff are able to travel to the U.S. in a timely fashion.

After successfully working with the NRL to ensure all their players and coaches could make the trip, it was amazing to be in the stadium, to hear the cheering fans and to know that we helped make that happen. We anticipate similar issues in 2026, though on a much larger scale, when the U.S., together with Canada and Mexico, hosts the FIFA World Cup. There is a huge amount of work to do over two years for an event of that magnitude to be successful in such a challenging immigration environment.

Chloe Dybdahl with the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy — Cloe Dybdahl (center) with Jetr Global colleagues next to the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to follow your career path?

I like this quote from NHL legend Wayne Gretzky, who also played lacrosse: “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.” Never be afraid to approach or message someone. Most people won’t respond, but someone eventually will and then doors will open.