Chris Grosse Joins Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau

Chris Grosse has been hired as the the new director of sales/chief marketing officer at the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau.

For the past three years, Grosse had been the senior associate athletic director for external strategy at the University of Connecticut, his alma mater.

Grosse will be tasked with generating sports events and “elevating the Connecticut brand and our venues within the sports marketplace,” said Robert Murdock, president of the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau (also known as CTMEETINGS). “Chris will be responsible for sports event lead generation and for  I look forward to him bringing expertise and enthusiasm as he moves into sports destination sales – an essential part of our sales operations.”

As UConn’s Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Strategy, Grosse oversaw its marketing and fan engagement, creative content, strategic communications and video services departments. Before that he was the Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing and Fan Experience at Penn State University, where he oversaw the day-to-day marketing operations for the athletics department. He has also had stints in the athletic departments at PGeorgetown University, the United States Naval Academy, New Mexico State University and Florida State University. He graduated from UConn in 2005 and earned his masters in sport administration from Florida State in 2008.

“I’m incredibly excited for this opportunity to bring my experience and expertise together with new strategies and creative ideas to help elevate Connecticut as a premier destination for sports,” said Grosse. “I’m passionate about this state and all it has to offer, and I look forward to working with our partners and communities across Connecticut to bring greater attention to the state, attract new opportunities, and showcase what makes Connecticut such a special place.”

In fiscal year 2026, CTMEETINGS genearted more than $75 million in revenue for the state and generated more than $4.8 million in Connecticut taxes, according to the Destinations International economic calculator.