This past year has been an eventful and historic one at SportsTravel as we celebrated the magazine’s 25th anniversary since its first issue. During the past year, we promoted longtime senior editor Matt Traub to the position of managing editor and hired Justin Shaw, another sports journalism veteran as our new associate editor. In this episode of the SportsTravel Podcast, Matt, Justin and Executive Editor and Publisher Jason Gewirtz take a look back at 2022 from our key takeaways about the year, to story lines that resonated with us to our favorite events we saw in person. But we also take a look ahead at what trends and story lines we’re watching in 2023 and specific predictions we have for the industry and the sports world in the months ahead. So sit back and take in this discussion from the entire SportsTravel editorial team.
Among the topics discussed in this episode:
The biggest takeaway of 2022
Matt: The college sports landscape blowing up with realignment and NIL (4:55)
Justin: The volume and caliber of major events headed to the United States (6:49)
Jason: The return of sports-related travel after the depths of the pandemic (8:27)
Stories that resonated with us this year
Matt: 2026 World Cup host city selection; the 50th anniversary of Title IX (9:47)
Justin: Gulf Shores/Orange Beach, Alabama, and Oklahoma City stepping in to host international events moved from Russia (12:15)
Jason: USA BMX relocating and unveiling their headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma (14:05)
Stories that flew under the radar in 2022
Matt: The fast recovery of the youth sports market to pre-pandemic levels (15:50)
Justin: The preparation for Formula 1 racing in Las Vegas (17:25)
Jason: The growth of women’s sports and the investment in soccer being made in Kansas City (19:02)
The biggest international sports news of 2022
Matt: The ban of Russian athletes in international competition (20:43)
Justin: The disruption in professional golf caused by LIV Golf (22:58)
Jason: The number of international event organizers wanting to bring events to the United States (24:33)
Our favorite events to cover in person in 2022
Matt: The Women’s Final Four in Minneapolis and the NCAA Beach Volleyball Championships in Gulf Shores/Orange Beach, Alabama (26:14)
Justin: Major League Baseball All-Star Week in Los Angeles (28:44)
Jason: The State Games of America and the Dew Tour in Ames and Des Moines, Iowa (30:04)
A major storyline we’re on the watch for in 2023
Matt: How climate change and event sustainability will impact sports events at all levels (32:02)
Justin: How we will watch live sports, including the future of the NFL Sunday Ticket package (34:07)
Jason: The growth of in-person esports events and esports-specific venues (35:48)
A big or bold prediction for 2023
Matt: Predictions on college football realignment (37:27)
Justin: Which team will win the NBA Championship (39:00)
Jason: The University of Colorado under Coach Deion Sanders (39:39)
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