Category: Feature Story

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

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The 2019 CEO Fighting Game Championships at Ocean Center in Daytona Beach attracted competitors from 30 countries.

New Research Shows Esports Fans
Want to Travel Post-COVID

The number of esports fans has skyrocketed during the coronavirus pandemic and those fans will be more willing than the general public to travel to live events and competitions when they return, according to new research presented at the EsportsTravel Virtual Summit held December 2–3 at Esports Stadium Arlington in Arlington, Texas. In a session […]

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Lucas Oil Stadium
Lucas Oil Stadium will host the 2021 NCAA Final Four. But the city of Indianapolis is negotiation to host the entire tournament. (Photo: Visit Indy)

Cities Adjust as NCAA Calls
For Bubble-Like Basketball Tournament

The news that the NCAA will attempt to host its Division I Men’s Basketball Championship in one city was a tough blow for the 13 destinations that were looking to host opening and regional rounds. But as top collegiate officials continue their negotiations with Indianapolis to potentially host all rounds in a “controlled” bubble-like environment, […]

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Blue Jays Phillies Baseball
Many sports were forced to have cardboard fans in 2020. What will 2021 bring? (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

The 2021 Outlook for the Sports-Event Industry

The year 2020 will go down as a moment where the sports-event industry was forced to pivot. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was felt by all stakeholders, whether they are destinations, event organizers, hotels or any number of suppliers. While there has been evidence that the industry has begun its recovery, there are still […]

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Fusion Arena Bowl

The Evolution of Esports Venues

When Esports Stadium Arlington opened in 2018 in Texas, it marked the dawn of a new era for esports and live events. The first esports-specific venue at a municipally owned building—a renovation of the city’s convention center—it marked a landmark in the evolution of esports and the facilities that could support live esports events. Before […]

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TEAMS2020

TEAMS ’20: A Virtual Sports-Industry
Conference Unlike Any Other

For the first time in its 22-year history, Northstar Meetings Group’s annual TEAMS Conference & Expo was held online. But the four-day conference, which took place October 19–22, was no ordinary virtual event. Instead, an entirely immersive experience was created to transport more than 700 attendees to Houston, where the gathering originally had been scheduled […]

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MLS Orlando3
Portland's Diego Valeri takes a corner kick during the MLS is Back Tournament at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. In the background are a series of massive blue screens that the league used for broadcasts to show virtual fan parties and sponsor logos during the tournament.

Case Study: How Major League Soccer
Has Pulled Off Its 25th Season

Major League Soccer began in 1996 with 10 teams. Now in its 25th season, the league has 26 teams as Inter Miami — with world superstar David Beckham as owner — and Nashville SC debuted as the newest expansion franchises. The league was planning a season unlike any other in 2020 to celebrate its silver anniversary, […]

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Rose Bowl Football
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

So, What Happens to College Football’s Bowl Season?

Last year’s college football season was historic — the 150th anniversary of the sport became a season-long celebration culminating with one of the modern era’s most dominant teams ever, LSU, crushing Clemson to win the College Football Playoff championship game. This year’s season will be perhaps even more historic … and not for celebratory reasons. […]

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WestHamKissimee
Youths take a shot on goal during a pregame activation at London Stadium in 2019 before a game between hosts West Ham United and Manchester City. Experience Kissimmee is the Official Destination Partner of West Ham United. (Photo by James Griffiths/West Ham United via Getty Images)

How Florida Became a Presence in the Premier League

The Premier League is the most-watched sports league in the world, broadcast to over 200 countries each season. With more than $11 billion in global media rights agreements each year, its growth the past three decades is the envy of every league or sports organization in the world. Being able to partner with a Premier […]

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