The US Sports Congress will celebrate a major milestone this December as sports tourism professionals from across the country gather in Punta Gorda, Florida, for the organization’s 20th anniversary event, taking place December 6–9 at Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor.
Two Decades in the Making
Over the past two decades, the US Sports Congress has carved out a distinct place within the sports events industry by bringing together destinations, rights holders, venues, governing bodies and industry suppliers in an environment focused on relationship-building, education and the business of sports tourism. As the industry continues to evolve, organizers say this year’s event will reflect the increasingly sophisticated role sports events play in economic development, destination marketing and data-driven decision-making.
What’s New in 2026
Hosted at the Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor, Curio Collection by Hilton, the 2026 edition of the Congress will feature expanded educational programming, new technology and facility-focused content tracks and a deeper emphasis on how destinations and event organizers are leveraging data and infrastructure to compete in today’s sports marketplace.
“We’re very excited about returning to the Sunseeker Resort for our 20th anniversary and have a number of new things planned,” said Lou Mengsol. “Among them are new Facility and Technology tracks. These are drawing a lot of interest. We’ll be exploring how data is acquired, analyzed and used not only from the destination perspective but also for Rights Holders.”
Mengsol said the expanded programming is designed to appeal to every segment of the sports events ecosystem.
“On the facility side, we’ll be looking at hard-hat tours and exploring development and redevelopment of facilities,” he said. “The bottom line is that no matter whether you’re in tourism, a Rights Holder, a park district or an elected official, all facets of the sports events industry will be represented leading to some very insightful conversations.”
That broad industry representation has long been one of the defining characteristics of the US Sports Congress. Unlike larger trade shows that can sometimes feel transactional, the Congress has traditionally emphasized accessibility and collaboration between attendees. The conference routinely attracts senior-level executives from sports commissions, convention and visitor bureaus, national governing bodies and tournament operators.
Why Punta Gorda, Again
The return to Punta Gorda also carries special significance for organizers.
“Returning to Punta Gorda and the Sunseeker Resort weren’t always in the plans,” Mengsol said. “But when the opportunity presented itself coupled along with our 20th Anniversary it was too tempting to pass by.”
According to Mengsol, attendees who visited previously will notice a number of enhancements at the property following the arrival of the Hilton Curio brand.
“Sunseeker has changed over the last 18 months with the arrival of the Hilton Curio brand,” he said. “While past attendees might recognize a number of things there are plenty of changes. For example, there is some new meeting space poolside we’ll be using and there have been several changes to the culinary offerings onsite. A number of other things will be familiar such as the Aileron Golf Club which will host our Tuesday golf outing.”
A Showcase Opportunity for the Host Destination
For the host destination, the Congress provides a high-profile opportunity to showcase Punta Gorda and Charlotte Harbor directly to influential sports tourism decision-makers.
“After attending the U.S. Sports Congress for many years, it is a true honor to now serve as the host destination, first in 2024 and again in 2026,” said Sean Walter. “We are excited to welcome more than 200 high-level decision-makers and governing bodies to experience our community firsthand, including Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor and our outstanding portfolio of sports venues.”
Walter noted that the conference creates an immersive environment where attendees can experience both the destination and its sports infrastructure while networking with peers and industry leaders.
“This conference presents a unique opportunity to showcase the exceptional assets our destination offers to event rights holders, organizations, and their athletes and families,” Walter said. “Throughout the week, attendees will be fully immersed in the destination while connecting and engaging with an influential network of industry professionals.”
New Tech Track
One of the most anticipated additions to this year’s Congress is the new technology track being developed with EventConnect, reflecting how rapidly technology is reshaping the sports events landscape.
“We’re building a technology track around the advancements that are playing a more pivotal role in how events are designed, managed and reported,” said John D’Orsay, CEO of EventConnect. “The rights holders are starting to better understand the tech, so we want to present all of the technology that exists and explain: when you put an event in your area, here’s what you need to do and here’s why you need to do it.”
The technology sessions are expected to explore subjects such as player data streaming, event operations platforms, economic impact calculators and the growing role analytics play in tournament hosting and destination evaluation.
D’Orsay believes the industry’s growing focus on measurable outcomes represents an important evolution for sports tourism.
“We’re focusing heavily on data because sports tourism has always been viewed as the soft side, youth teams coming in and playing games,” he said. “But this is economic development, and we need to put hard numbers behind it. You need technology to do that. You can’t stand out there with a clipboard and count license plates.”
He added that the Congress will also address broader industry conversations that are beginning to influence sports tourism and event ownership models.
“There’s so much happening right now around player data streaming, economic impact calculators and even private equity entering the space,” D’Orsey said. “We’re trying to build a well-rounded conversation around why everybody’s using this technology and how it’s shaping the future of sports events.”
Looking Ahead
As sports tourism continues to become more competitive nationwide, conferences like the US Sports Congress are increasingly serving as forums where destinations and event organizers can exchange ideas, evaluate emerging trends and build the partnerships necessary to grow events in an evolving marketplace.
For Punta Gorda, the event offers a national stage to reinforce its position as a growing player in the sports tourism sector. For attendees, it offers four days of networking, education and industry insight during a milestone year for one of the sector’s longstanding gatherings.
And for the US Sports Congress itself, the 20th anniversary represents both a celebration of its history and a reflection of where the sports events industry is headed next, toward a future increasingly driven by technology, facilities, analytics and strategic collaboration.
