Ben Huggler Named Executive Director of Erie Sports Commission

Ben Huggler has been appointed executive director of the Erie Sports Commission by Visit Erie, the official destination marketing organization of Erie County, Pennsylvania.

Huggler has served in the role on an interim basis since May and has been the event services director since 2018. In all he has more than 15 years of experience planning and executing national events and has helped the organization host or support more than 675 events, generating an estimated $120 million in economic impact for the region.

“Ben has been a valuable part of the Erie Sports Commission for many years, and his leadership, dedication, and expertise have consistently strengthened our organization,” said Mark Jeanneret, who previously served as the executive director of the Erie Sports Commission before being named president and CEO of VisitErie. “His strategic thinking, professionalism, and passion for the industry make him the right person to lead the organization into its next chapter.”

Thanks in part to Huggler, the Erie Sports Commission went from hosting 57 events in 2018 to 86 in 2025, including the 2021 NCAA Women’s Frozen Four, the 2022 Great Race and the 2024 Major League Fishing General Tire Team Series. In 2023, Erie was named the Sports Commission of the Year by Sports ETA.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve as executive director of the Erie Sports Commission,” Huggler said. “Mark’s leadership has helped build a strong foundation for our organization and establish Erie as a premier sports tourism destination. I look forward to building on that success and continuing to grow the organization and its impact on our community.”