Team Ohio Sports Summit

The 2025 Team Ohio Sports Summit is an inaugural event bringing together sports tourism stakeholders in Ohio, including destination marketing organizations, facility operators, event rights holders, parks and recreation departments, and community partners. The summit aims to foster positive networking, share best practices, and provide educational opportunities to advance sports tourism in the state of Ohio.

All scheduled events will take place at the AC Hotel (7505 Gibson St, Liberty Township, OH 45069) unless otherwise noted.

Schedule:

Monday August 4^th

• 3:00pm – 6:00pm — Check-In
  • Attendees will check-in on the second floor.
• 6:00pm – 8:00pm — Opening Reception Sponsored by Travel Butler County
  • The opening reception will take place on the lawn in front of the AC Hotel and will include a live band, activities, and time for networking.

Tuesday, August 5^th

• 7:15am – 8am — Team Ohio Annual General Meeting
  • Team Ohio Sports voting members only. Review proposed slate for board structure, bylaws, and 2026 Team Ohio Sports Summit host destination.
• 8:00am — Check-In
  • Attendees will check-in on the second floor of the AC Hotel
• 8:30am – 8:45am — Welcome and Team Ohio Sports Update
  • Opening remarks to welcome attendees, provide a Team Ohio Sports update, and outline the day’s agenda.
  • Speakers:
    • Tracy Kocher, President/CEO, Travel Butler County
    • Ben Huffman, Executive Director, Cincinnati Sports Commission
    • Matt Prewitt, Director of Sports, Travel Butler County
• 8:45am – 9am — State of the Industry & Ohio Data
  • An overview highlighting key data from Sports ETA and where Ohio falls
  • Speaker:
    • Jackie Reau, CEO, Game Day Communications
• 9:00am – 10:00am — Panel Discussion 1: Event Rights Holders: Strategies for Winning Host Cities and Maximizing Impact
  • This panel brings together three sports event rights holders to share their perspectives on selecting host cities, building partnerships with local stakeholders, and maximizing economic and community impact. The session explores what makes a destination stand out, how to align events with community goals, and strategies for creating memorable experiences that drive repeat visitation and revenue. The format will be a 45 minute discussion followed by a 15 minute Q&A.
  • Panelists:
    • Jackie Reau, CEO, Game Day Communications (Moderator)
    • Taylor McCollough, Vice President of Operations, Perfect Game
    • Justin Travis, Director of Business Development, USA BMX
    • Bill Glaze, Chief Technical Officer, Ohio Soccer Associatio
• 10:00am – 10:30am — Networking Break sponsored by Liberty Center
  • Opportunity to network and process insights from the morning sessions over refreshments
• 10:30am – 11:00am — Solo Presentation 1: Fields of Dreams: Developing Sports Facilities to Attract Events
  • This presentation covers how strategic facility development attracts sports events. Topics include funding strategies for small/mid-sized markets, multi-use facility design, and lessons from venues that transformed into sports tourism hubs. The format will be a 25 minute discussion followed by a 5 minute Q&A.
  • Speaker:
    • William Knox, President/CEO, Sports Legacy Group
• 11:00am – 12:00pm — Panel Discussion 2: Scoring Big with Non-Traditional Sports: Leveraging Unique Venues for Economic Impact
  • This panel explores the rise of non-traditional sports (e.g., pickleball, esports, ultimate) in sports tourism, focusing on using recreational or publicly owned venues like parks and community centers to drive economic revenue. Panelists will share strategies for facility adaptation, event hosting, and marketing to diverse audiences. The format will be a 45 minute discussion followed by a 15 minute Q&A.
  • Panelists:
    • Jackie Reau, CEO, Game Day Communications (Moderator)
    • Mitch Dunn, Co-Founder, The Pickle Lodge
    • Katie Briggs, President, LANFest
    • Liz Anderson, Director of Operations, Cincinnati Ultimat
• 12:00pm – 1:00pm — Lunch Break
  • Lunch will be served at the AC Hotel
• 1:00pm – 1:30pm — Solo Presentation 2: Marketing Ohio as a Wellness and Sports Destination
  • This presentation explores how to market Ohio as a destination for wellness focused sports events (e.g. fun runs, fitness festivals). The speaker will discuss how tio leverage the $9 trillion wellness industry to drive partnerships with health brands, engage regional governments and employers, and leverage a region’s outdoor assets to attract diverse audiences. The format will be a 25 minute discussion followed by a 5 minute Q&A.
  • Speaker:
    • Steve Gable Carr, Founder, WISe Wellness Guild, Co-Founder, WellNXT
• 1:30pm – 2:15pm — Keynote Address – The Power of Play: Building Inclusive Sports Communities
  • Tyler Bradshaw shares the story of The Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields, a model for inclusive sports infrastructure. This keynote highlights how accessible sports facilities foster community transformation, joy, and economic benefits, inspiring attendees to prioritize inclusivity in sport tourism. The format will be a 35 minute discussion followed by a 10 minute Q&A.
  • Speaker:
    • Tyler Bradshaw, Executive Director, The Nuxhall Foundation
• 2:15pm – 2:30pm — Closing Remarks
  • Recap of key takeaways, introduction of evening activities at the Lindner Family Tennis Center and a call to action for continued collaboration in Ohio’s sport tourism industry.
• 3:15pm — Bus leaves for Lindner Family Tennis Center
  • Bus will arrive at 3:00pm for a 3:15pm departure
• 3:45pm – 6:30pm — Western Southern Matches – Lindner Family Tennis Center Sponsored by Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau
  • Warren County hosts evening at the Lindner Family Tennis Center to attend matches in a suite for the West Southern Open. Drinks and Hors d’oeuvres will be served before taking a tour of the facility and locker rooms.
• 6:30pm – Bus departs for AC Hotel
  • Bus will arrive at 6:00pm for a 6:30pm departure.

We look forward to seeing you there as we work together to advance sports tourism in Ohio!

Register Here