DuPage CVB to Launch Sports Commission

The DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau has announced plans to launch a sports commission for DuPage County following a multiphase assessment conducted by Sports Facility Advisory and Huddle Up Group. The DuPage Sports Commission will operate within the DuPage CVB, with grant money from its 2020 budget and private sponsorships.

“The DuPage CVB continues to develop new projects that are critical to the growth and prosperity of economic development through the visitor industry, while at the same time enhancing quality of life for the nearly 1 million residents of DuPage County,” said DuPage CVB Chairman Larry Forssberg. “Investing in sports tourism is an opportunity to further build upon the already significant legacy of sports in DuPage—polo, PGA Championship, Ryder Cup, USBC Bowling, Bulls/Sox Academy and more.”

Over the past four years, the DuPage CVB booked more than 60 sporting events and tournaments that resulted in more than 60,000 visitors who generated more than 74,000 hotel room nights and an estimated $12.5 million in direct spending. Sports tourism was originally identified as a potential growth market for DuPage in the organization’s master plan for the future.

“DuPage has an impressive history with successful high-profile sports events that generate significant visitation and economic impact for communities,” said Beth Marchetti, executive director of the DuPage CVB. “We are doing this on the heels of several venue developments, which have the potential to bring Olympic-qualifying sports events to the county, and further enhance our efforts to make DuPage more competitive in this space.”

The DuPage Sports Commission is scheduled to officially launch on May 10 at Cantigny Park, and will evolve in phases.