Category: Feature Story

Feature Story — SportsTravel — News, Insight and Analysis for the Sports-Event Industry

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The Greater Grand Junction Sports Commission hosts events across the city. Photograph: Greater Grand Junction Sports Commission
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Grand Experiment

CVBs and sports commissions often get the stiff-arm from local universities when it comes to using campus venues for sports events. By contrast, the Greater Grand Junction Sports Commission in Colorado has been received with open arms by Colorado Mesa University. In fact, the university had a major hand in establishing the sports commission in […]

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Real Madrid Chelsea Soccer
The University of Michigan has hosted some of the largest soccer matches in history at its football stadium. Photograph: Tony Ding/AP Images
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Town and Gown Relations

In 2014, Manchester United defeated Real Madrid 3-1 at Michigan Stadium before 109,316 fans. It was the largest crowd in U.S. soccer history. Two years later, Real Madrid returned to the fabled Big House in Ann Arbor for another International Champions Cup match, this time defeating Chelsea 3-2 before 105,826. It was the second-largest soccer […]

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NCAA Football: CFP National Championship Game-Alabama vs Georgia
Confetti falls as Alabama wins in overtime against Georgia in the 2018 CFP national championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Photo by Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

Spreading the Wealth

If the Pac-12 Conference is looking for a good year to make a statement in the College Football Playoff, this is it. The 2019 championship game will be played January 7 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, in the heart of Pac-12 country, giving the conference an opportunity to change its luck on home […]

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Don Welsh, the president and CEO of Destinations International
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Forging Ahead

When Don Welsh took over as president and CEO in 2016 of what became Destinations International, there was plenty on his plate. Two years later, with a new name for the organization and a new commitment to its members, the former leader of the convention bureaus in Chicago, Indianapolis and Seattle is continuing to forge […]

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KindraFry
Kindra Fry became president and CEO of Experience Bryan College Station in 2017.
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She Shoots, She Scores

Growing up in Mississippi with a mom who played basketball and a dad who was a diver—and as a big fan of Mississippi State football and basketball—Kindra Fry was a sports nut who told everyone that she would one day play football for the Dallas Cowboys. That plan didn’t work out, but Fry has nonetheless […]

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Yankton, South Dakota—population 15,000—has made a name on the international sports scene by hosting several World Archery events. Photo courtesy of World Archery
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Global Scene

Every two years, the parade of nations at the Olympic Games provides a strong testament to the power of sports to bring countries together—even those that don’t get along politically. Destinations across the United States are proving the same point on a smaller scale by welcoming international competitors and spectators. Not only do these events […]

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NBA: All Star Game-Team Lebron at Team Stephen
The 2018 NBA All-Star Game generated an estimated $116 million in impact. Photo courtesy of Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports

Marquee Events Make Their Mark

Playing host to marquee professional sports events can bring in marquee numbers in terms of economic impact. That appears to be the case for Los Angeles, which estimated $116 million in increased economic activity from hosting the 2018 NBA All-Star Game in February, according to a report compiled by Micronomics. The number included $90 million […]

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NCAA Football: Peach Bowl-Auburn vs Central Florida
The 2018 Peach Bowl with Central Florida and Auburn generated an estimated impact of $49 million. Photo courtesy of Brett Davis/USA Today Sports

Bowl Games Drive Results

Playing host to signature sports events can be lucrative for cities both in the short and long terms. Consider the case of Atlanta and its relationship with the Peach Bowl, a staple of the college football postseason each year. Last season marked the 50th anniversary of the bowl game, which was staged on New Year’s […]

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Two club soccer events generated $12.2 million for Westfield, Indiana. Photo courtesy of U.S. Club Soccer

Soccer Events Kick In Benefits

In Indiana, there is no doubt that youth sports is big business. Westfield, Indiana, played host to two U.S. Club Soccer national championships in 2017, generating an estimated $12.2 million in direct economic impact to the city of 37,000 in suburban Indianapolis. Through 12 days in July, the town welcomed the NPL Finals, with teams […]

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