Award Winners

Each year, Sports ETA honors organizations and individuals in the sports events and tourism industry to celebrate their accomplishments and achievements. Award activities, events, marketing campaigns, web strategies, etc. must have occurred between January 1 and December 31, 2019.

An independent judging panel made up of leaders in the sports events and tourism industry reviews each award submission based on a point system determined by the Sports ETA awards committee. Each of our 2019-2020 winners rose to the top of the list, and we couldn’t be more proud of the work that was done in the continuing effort to better the sports events and tourism industry!

Sports Commission of the Year • Greater Cleveland Sports Commission – Population over 500,000 • Columbus, GA Sports Council – Population under 500,000

Sports Tourism Organization of the Year • Visit Baton Rouge – Population over 500,000 • Visit Knoxville Sports Commission – Population under 500,000

Event Marketing Campaign of the Year • Fort Worth Sports Commission - Population over 500,000 • Rockford Area CVB - Population under 500,000

Destination Branding & Marketing Campaign of the Year • Experience Florida’s Sports Coast - Population over 500,000 • Spokane Sports - Population under 500,000

Locally Created Event of the Year • Palm Beach County Sports Commission - Population over 500,000 • Rockford Area CVB - Population under 500,000

Game Changer Award • Patti Smith, Harris County - Houston Sports Authority

Superior Service/Industry Partner of the Year • Dale Neuburger, Burson Cohn & Wolfe Sports Practice - North America Over the next several pages, you’ll meet our 2019-2020 winners and get a glimpse into why they were chosen. Be sure to click the video links to watch Sports ETA president and CEO, Al Kidd, interview each of our winners and get a more in depth look into their award submission!

Check out this video interview with Al Kidd, Sports ETA President & CEO, and David Gilbert, President and CEO, Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. Greater Cleveland Sports Commission was honored with the Sports ETA’s 2019 “Sports Commission of the Year, Population over 500,000” Award.

This award is given to a Destination member who has had the most exceptional impact on their local community through sports events and visitor spending during the 2019 calendar year. This organization should also show a commitment to Sports ETA and its mission.

In 2019, Greater Cleveland Sports Commission boasted the most successful year in its 20-year history by hosting 13 national and international competitive events, being awarded with 10 additional events, and a year-long fundraising campaign which generated $14.5 million to help with community obligations related to MLB, NFL, NBA and NCAA events.

“It’s great affirmation. We all work really hard for our community. We certainly don’t do it for the affirmation, but when it comes, it is really meaningful,” said David Gilbert, President and CEO of Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. “I appreciate it very much, especially because it comes from our peers. Knowing that this award comes from Sports ETA is very meaningful.”

Columbus, Georgia Sports Council was honored with the Sports ETA’s 2019 “Sports Commission of the Year, Population under 500,000” Award.

This award is given to a Destination member who has had the most exceptional impact on their local community through sports events and visitor spending during the 2019 calendar year. This organization should also show a commitment to Sports ETA and its mission.

Led by only three staff members and supported by a team of community partners and loyal volunteers, the Sports Council events in 2019 generated an estimated $16,062,880 in economic impact for Columbus, Georgia, engaging 45,975 participants and 171,648 spectators.

“We are absolutely honored to be recognized as the Sports Commission of the Year. This is a dream come true,” said Merri Sherman, Executive Director at Columbus, Georgia Sports Council. “We worked really hard in 2018-2019. We completed extensive renovations to our softball complex and hosted the U.S. Softball International Cup as well as many other events that we’re so proud to bring to our community. We love servicing our community.”

Check out this video interview with Al Kidd, Sports ETA President & CEO, and Merri Sherman, Executive Director, and David Boyd, Event Manager, Columbus, GA Sports Council.

Visit Baton Rouge was honored with the Sports ETA’s 2019 “Sport Tourism Organization of the Year, Population over 500,000” Award.

This award is given to a Destination member who has had the most exceptional impact on their local community through sports events and visitor spending in the 2019 calendar year. This organization should also show a commitment to Sports ETA and its mission.

Visit Baton Rouge fits that description, return multiple times,” said Zach media even social media influencers

hosting a total of 48 sporting events in 2019 including 33 regional, 10 events generated more than $26 million in economic impact to the Baton Rouge region. “We work with our local host organizations to bring events to the city. Oftentimes, when an event comes here once, they want to Ebarb, National Sports and Convention Sales Manager with Visit Baton Rouge. “Our team here at Visit Baton Rouge was on board to assist in various ways, everything from setting up hotel room blocks to establishing websites with event and visitor information to assisting with local

national and five international. Those to get the word out locally.”

Check out this video interview with Al Kidd, Sports ETA President & CEO, and Zach Ebarb, National Sports and Convention Sales Manager, Visit Baton Rouge.

Visit Knoxville Sports Commission was honored with the Sports ETA’s 2019 “Sport Tourism Organization of the Year, Population under 500,000” Award.

This award is given to a Destination member who has had the most exceptional impact on their local community through sports events and visitor spending in the 2019 calendar year. This organization should also show a commitment to Sports ETA and its mission.

Visit Knoxville Sports Commission was founded in 2016. In three short years, the organization has grown tremendously. In 2019, events the sports commission hosted generated more than $83.8 million dollars, including the 2019 Sports ETA Symposium.

“When we started the sports commission in 2016, we pointed to 2019 as being our year. That was the year we felt we would have everything going in the right direction. So for us to be able to get this award for the work we did that year is huge,” said Chad Culver, Senior Director of Visit Knoxville Sports Commission. “We had some of the biggest events for a lot of large groups. It was a very solid year for us.”

Check out this video interview with Al Kidd, Sports ETA President & CEO, and Chad Culver, Senior Director, and Parker Medley, Director of Sports Sales, Visit Knoxville Sports Commission.

MEMBER AWARDS Game Changer Award

Patti Smith, Vice President of Communications at Harris County - Houston Sports Authority was honored with the Sports ETA’s 2019 “Game Changer” Award.

The Game Changer Award recognizes the invaluable contributions made by a staff member of a Sports ETA member organization who is vital to the success of their organization’s efforts in the sports events and tourism industry. These individuals distinguish themselves every day and deserve an honor for exceptional contributions to their organization as well as our entire profession.

In 2018, Patti Smith did something that had never been done: She brought together Hall of Famers Earl Campbell, Nolan Ryan and Hakeem Olajuwon into the same room. The three were honored at the first-ever Houston Sports Awards. Since then, Smith has helped make the awards banquet a must-attend event, among many other major accomplishments.

“It’s an honor for me, but it’s also an award for our entire team. We have such a great staff, such a great team,” Smith said. “Everybody not only works together to help each other, but to make these events great for Houston.”

“One of our cultural statements at the Sports Authority is to try to emulate pioneers and great innovators. We work hard for it every single day in every element of the work that we

do,” said Janis Burke, CEO of Harris County - Houston Sports Authority and Board President of Sports ETA. “Through sporting events and through what we do, we are able to link that to our community. One of the great things about this is Patti has taken that element of connecting to our community and not just put on a great Sports Awards, but she’s started the Brothers in Arms scholarship program. She took the event and went way further with it.”

Check out this video interview with Al Kidd, Sports ETA President & CEO, and Patti Smith, Vice President of Communications, Harris County - Houston Sports Authority.

Dale Neuburger of Burson Cohn & Wolfe Sports Practice - North America was honored with the Sports ETA’s 2019 “Superior Service” Award.

This award is given to a Industry Partner member organization whose business model demonstrates exemplary support of the sports events and tourism industry and has Cohn & Wolfe Sports Practice (North

made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the profession through innovative ideas, admirable customer service, and/or new technology during the 2019 calendar year.

Burson Cohn & Wolfe Sports Practice assists cities that seek to attract major events to provide optimal community benefit as well as providing strategic advice and support for good governance within sport-related organizations. BCW Sports prioritizes services to the sports tourism industry, including assisting Sports ETA in its transition to a new brand and expanded footprint.

“It’s been a pleasure working with Sports ETA,” said Dale Nueburger, Director at Burson Cohn & Wolfe Check out this video

Sports Practice (North America). “What’s been really rewarding is to be able to see small CVBs and large sports commissions have equally been able to benefit from the services and programs of Sports ETA. We continue to participate in those programs to listen to the heartbeat of “It has been such a fantastic opportunity to work with Dale over the last nine years,” said Michelle Perry, Senior Consultant at Burson America). “I don’t think there is anyone better in the business. His breath of work over his many, many years has really been transformative for the industry.”

the industry.” interview with Al Kidd, Sports ETA President & CEO, Dale Nueburger, Director, and Michelle Perry, Senior Consultant, Burson Cohn & Wolfe Sports Practice (North America).

Check out this video interview with Al Kidd, Sports ETA President & CEO, Jason Sands, Director of Sports Marketing, and Cassie Poss, Sports Events Manager, Fort Worth Sports Commission. Fort Worth Sports Commission was honored with the Sports ETA’s 2019 “Event Marketing Campaign of the Year, Population over 500,000” Award.

This award is given to a Destination member with the most outstanding comprehensive marketing campaign for an event that occurred in the 2019 calendar year. This can include a variety of types of marketing: print ads, newsletters, email blasts, digital marketing (including websites, social media components, etc.), press releases, media coverage or any other promotional program.

Fort Worth Sports Commission hosted the widely successful 2019 NCAA Women’s National Collegiate Gymnastics Championships at the Fort Worth Convention Center Arena. After securing the event, the team went to work to make sure everyone in the community was aware of this event and how they could participate and support it.

“For events to be successful, we need to really engage the entire community and get them excited about these events,” said Jason Sands, Director of Sports Marketing at Fort Worth Sports Commission. “We really made an effort to do everything we could to get the community engaged from partnering with the Fort Worth School district and the majority of our local gym clubs.”

Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau was honored with two 2019 Sports ETA awards: “Event Marketing Campaign of the Year, Population under 500,000” and “Locally Created Event of the Year, Population under 500,000” awards.

The Event Marketing Campaign of the Year award is given to a Destination member with the most outstanding comprehensive marketing campaign for an event that occurred in the 2019 calendar year. This can include a variety of types of marketing: print ads, newsletters, email blasts, digital marketing, press releases, media coverage or any other promotional program. The Locally Created Event of the Year award is given to a Destination member with the most outstanding locally created event or program for the 2019 calendar year. This event can be newly created or a long-standing event, but must be created by the submitting organization to serve the local community or an organizational need.

As part of an ongoing multi-year partnership with Rockford native, NBA champion and city ambassador Fred VanVleet, RACVB created Jurassic Park RKFD + Fred Comes Home as a brand awareness event series. By all accounts, Jurassic Park RKFD + Fred Comes Home was a success.

“It’s a huge honor to be recognized by our peers at Sports ETA. It’s a great industry to be a part of,” said Nick Povalitis, Vice President of Marketing and Sports Development at Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We’re trying to be agile and creative three-part holistic community and

and these two marketing efforts and event creation efforts are different, but they embody creative and doing more with less. We’re excited and motivated to do even more.”

Check out this video interview with Al Kidd, Sports ETA President & CEO, Nick Povalitis, Vice President of Marketing and Sports Development, and Lindsay Arellano, Vice President of Sales & Service, Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Watch the live video feed of the construction & development of the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex at FLSportsCoast.com/Sports

FLSportsCoast.com

Opening Spring 2020, Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex will be an unbeatable destination for cheer, wrestling, volleyball, basketball, martial arts and other sporting events. With stateof-the-art amenities and plenty of courts to choose from, this winning sports complex will be the perfect place to tackle your next BIG tournament or team training event.

Experience Florida’s Sports Coast was honored with the Sports ETA’s 2019 “Destination Branding & Marketing Campaign of the Year, Population over 500,000” Award.

This award is given to a Destination member with the most outstanding comprehensive marketing campaign for its organization during the 2019 calendar year. This can include a variety of types of marketing: print ads, newsletters, email blasts, digital marketing, press releases, media coverage or any other promotional program. The campaign should promote the sports destination.

To update their brand and grow awareness of its destination, Pasco County chose to rebrand as Experience Florida’s Sports Coast. The new name and campaign showcases not only sport tourism activities, but consumer experiences in the area. The campaign included a new innovative website, which gives viewers a look at the state-of-the-art facilities, winning attractions and experiences that can be enjoyed in Pasco County.

“We are extremely honored and grateful to even be included in the conversation for a branding and marketing award from Sports ETA,” said Adam Thomas, Tourism Director at Experience Florida’s Sports Coast. “The Florida Sports team has been working hard on promoting the destination and really creating that brand awareness in the marketplace for our visitors.”

FLSportsCoast.com

On Florida’s Sports Coast, our beautifully manicured soccer and lacrosse fields are just the beginning. With 13 one-of-a-kind attractions, 5 unique cities and 35 beautiful parks, your athletes will discover the perfect place to train, compete and enjoy life.

Check out this video interview with Al Kidd, Sports ETA President & CEO, Adam Thomas, Tourism Director, and Consuelo Sanchez, Sports Development & Tourism Manager, Experience Florida’s Sports Coast.

Spokane Sports was honored with the Sports ETA’s 2019 “Destination Branding & Marketing Campaign of the Year, Population under 500,000” Award.

This award is given to a Destination member who has had the most exceptional impact on their local community through sports events and visitor spending during the 2019 calendar year. This organization should also show a commitment to Sports ETA and its mission. “We wanted a brand that’s really true to our identity and our city,” said Ashley Blake, Director of Sports Development for Spokane Sports. “As an organization, we want to be known as someone who is genuine, authentic. We want to be a trusted partner. We want to be pioneers in the industry. So we took those attributes and really incorporated those into the brand. Our updated brand helps us step apart from the competition and ultimately helps us win some future events.”

Spokane Sports launched its new brand ahead of the groundbreaking of the region’s brand new $52 million dollar sports facility. The new logo for the organization gives a subtle nod to the new hydraulic-banked 200 meter indoor track. Check out this video interview with Al Kidd, Sports ETA President & CEO, and Ashley Blake, Director of Sports Development, Spokane Sports.

Check out this video interview with Al Kidd, Sports ETA President & CEO, George Linley, Executive Director, Michael Zeff, Director of Marketing & Business Development, and Khoury Smith, Sports Marketing & Development Coordinator, Palm Beach County Sports Commission. Palm Beach County Sports Commission was honored with the Sports ETA’s 2019 “Locally Created Event of the Year, Population over 500,000” Award.

This award is given to a Destination member with the most outstanding locally created event or program for the 2019 calendar year. This event can be newly created or a long-standing event, but must be created by the submitting organization to serve the local community or an organizational need.

After creating the Holiday Basketball Classic in 2015, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission exceeded their goal in 2019 by generating an economic impact of more than $747,000. The 2019 Classic featured 32 top boys and girls basketball programs from nine different states.

These awards from our national association, Sports ETA, mean more than any other type of recognition we get because this is the body that directly represents us,” said George Linley, Executive Director at Palm Beach County Sports Commission. “We are very grateful. We will use the award to help educate our local stakeholders of what we are doing and the value a sports commission brings. We also use it as a recruiting tool. We are grateful for the recognition and can’t tell you how honored we are to be fortunate enough for the recognition.”

Salt Lake offers world-class facilities, both indoor and outdoor, all under the jaw-dropping backdrop of the towering

Wasatch Mountains. Utah’s capital city welcomed the world for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and continues to host

every level of competition, from World Championships to age-group tournaments and everything in between at venues

as diverse as the area’s four distinct seasons. Salt Lake features professional

stadiums and arenas, athletic complexes for soccer and softball, ice sheets and

an equestrian center, volleyball courts and an archery center, the expansive Real

Salt Lake Training Facility and, yes, Olympic venues.

Getting Here, Being Here and Competing Here

Long known as one of the most accessible destinations to host an event, the

recent opening of Salt Lake City’s new $4 billion international airport makes it

even more so, with non-stop flights from nearly 100 U.S. cities and just 10

minutes from downtown. Once in Salt Lake, the area’s 20,000 hotel rooms,

variety of restaurants and endless list of sites and activities are perfect for all

ages, groups, budgets and interests.

As the region’s full-service sports authority, the experienced team at Visit Salt

Lake ensures each aspect of every event is handled safely, smoothly and

professionally. From developing dynamic bid packages, to partnering with local

clubs, to executing

powerful

presentations, we’ll

do what it takes to

win your business.

Once selected, we’ll

provide you with a

full range of support

services, including

housing and registration, assistance in securing event

Four Season Fun

Salt Lake’s four distinct seasons each feature temperatures to match,

making spring, summer and fall ideal for outdoor events while winter

welcomes temperatures ideally suited for indoor tournaments and

events or on-mountain races or competitions. Regardless, Salt Lake’s

dry, comfortable climate makes for ideal conditions throughout

the year.

Connect with Clay Partain today at 801-534-4923 or email him at cpartain@visitsaltlake.com and see how we can make Salt Lake the place for your sporting event.

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