Colorado Springs has been awarded the 2028 State Games of America by the National Congress of State Games. The event, which will be organized by the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation, will be held July 14–16, 2028, and is expected to attract more than 12,500 athletes from across the country.

The multisport festival is a chance for amateur athletes nationwide to compete in a diverse lineup of competitions, drawing more than 18,500 spectators and more than 1,000 out-of-town athletes, and resulting in an estimated $8 million economic impact to Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region.

The National Congress of State Games established the nationwide competition in 1999. Colorado Springs previously hosted the biennial competition in 2005, 2007 and 2009. The 2028 edition will mark a record fourth time hosting the event since its inception.

“Hosting the 2028 State Games of America in the same year as the LA28 Olympics is just awesome,” said Megan Leatham, president and chief executive officer of the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation. “It’s a huge year for sports in the U.S., and we’re honored to bring thousands of athletes to Colorado Springs—Olympic City USA. This is their moment to shine, and we can’t wait to host them all in our great city.”

Athletes can expect over 35 sports to be on the program, including archery, figure skating, pickleball, swimming, and track and field. The Colorado Springs Sports Corporation will oversee the full competition schedule and event logistics.

“The State Games of America is the signature event of the National Congress of State Games, which brings together athletes of all ages and abilities from across the country” said National Congress of State Games President Kevin Cummings. “With its passion for amateur sports, a wealth of quality venues, and outstanding cultural attractions to entertain participants off the field of play, Olympic City USA is well positioned to host the 2028 State Games of America and provide participants with a quality and memorable experience.”

The U.S. Air Force Academy is expected to serve as a primary venue for competition.

“We are incredibly excited that the Air Force Academy will serve as a primary competition venue for the 2028 State Games of America,” said Nathan Pine, director of athletics at the Air Force Academy. “Supporting youth and amateur sports is core to our mission, and hosting a national event of this scale aligns perfectly with our values of leadership, excellence, and community. We look forward to welcoming athletes from across the country to our campus and helping deliver an unforgettable experience.”

The 2026 State Games of America will be staged in State College, Pennsylvania. The NCSG previously announced Salt Lake City as the host in 2030.

Skip Gilbert is no stranger to the sports industry. As a former professional soccer player, the sport may well be his true love. But his previous stints included one with the USADA, the anti-doping agency, as managing director of operations, marketing and development; managing director of professional tennis operations and tournament manager for the U.S. Open in New York; CEO of USA Triathlon; a vice president for the Arena Football League; and chief marketing officer of USA Swimming. Along the way, he’s also become one of the industry’s staunchest advocates for kids being involved in sports for their own health and well-being — and being involved in as many sports as possible to avoid specialization.

Since 2020, he has been at the helm of US Youth Soccer, the largest youth sport organizations in the United States, which is focused on having a positive impact on the lives of America’s youth through the game of soccer. The group’s mission is to make soccer the preeminent youth sport in the country, and they are well on their way. Soccer participation has held steady or grown in recent years and the big events headed to the United States, including of course the FIFA World Cup in 2026, may only serve as a catalyst for continued growth, or at the least an aspirational event that could well fuel future growth in the sport.

In this discussion, we sit down with Gilbert to discuss the state of youth soccer, the opportunities and challenges ahead for the sport, the rise of the professional leagues for both men and women, and the importance of diversity when it comes to kids getting active in sports.
Among the topics in this episode:

• Skip Gilbert’s background in soccer (3:32)
• How the stature of the sport has grown in the United States (4:58)
• Background on US Youth Soccer and who it serves (6:02)
• The state of youth soccer participation (7:26)
• Why kids may divert from soccer and play other sports (8:52)
• The accessibility of soccer as a starting point for kids (9:55)
• Background on US Youth Soccer’s events portfolio (10:55)
• New events that the organization wants to launch (12:07)
• What US Youth Soccer looks for in a host location (14:32)
• US Youth Soccer’s relationship with US Soccer and professional leagues (16:38)
• The growth of Major League Soccer over the years (18:14)
• The growth of women’s soccer and the NWSL (19:45)
• The importance of major events like the World Cup being held in the United States (20:55)
• Why kids should be active in more than one sport (22:44)

This episode is sponsored by:

In 2019, the Sports Events and Tourism Association, or Sports ETA, embarked on an ambitious State of the Industry report to attempt to put a value on the economic impact derived from sports events and sports-related travel. The timing was fortuitous as it set a baseline for future studies just before the pandemic. In 2022, a second report analyzed the pace of recovery from that pandemic, looking at data from 2020 and 2021. But the latest report arguably paints the fullest picture yet not just at how the industry has recovered, but how it continues to thrive.

The headline numbers from the report, which was sponsored by the Northstar Meetings Group, are that sports-related travel had a $52.2 billion direct economic impact in 2023. More than 200 million travelers were reported, generating more than 73 million room nights. But perhaps most impressive of all, some 63 percent of destinations surveyed said that sports are their largest generator of room nights. Think about that statistic for a moment and you can start to grasp the true power and potential of this market.

John David took over as Sports ETA’s president and CEO last year after decades as an event organizer and executive himself at USA BMX. So his perspective, and his support of continuing this vital research, are the perfect match to wade into the details of the full report. And Greg Pepitone from Tourism Economics, as the lead researcher in the project, also brings his perspective on where sports fit into the mix since his organization is one of the leading data providers for the overall travel industry. In this discussion, we talk with John and Greg about the not only the headline numbers in the report, but deeper insights that were analyzed about how event organizers make their decisions on locations, what kinds of services travelers are spending their money on, which areas of the country are sourcing the most events and much, much more.

Among the topics in this episode:

• Context on past State of the Industry reports (5:08)
• What types of sports the current survey covers (6:43)
• The direct and indirect economic impact of sports-related travel (8:05)
• The strength of the sports-related travel market post-pandemic (10:22)
• Context on the number of travelers and hotel room nights (12:34)
• Looking beyond room nights to show the power of the industry (14:22)
• Why event organizer and venue data was included in the study  (17:30)
• The key factor for why event organizers choose a destination or venue (19:18)
• Do researchers get surprised by the data? (21:35)
• Findings from the venues that were surveyed (22:52)
• The Top 10 states attracting sports events (25:47)
• The big stat: 63 percent of destinations report sports as their largest room night generator (30:40)
• The story told by the percentage of cities where sports are the key sector (33:13)
• How to use the report to advocate for sports-related travel (34:24)
• How to gain access to the full report (36:42)

This episode is sponsored by:

Main Attraction Recreational Sports has reached another milestone in the company’s growth, signing a multi-event streaming agreement that will see multiple tournaments broadcast on ESPN3.

MARS’ Turf Wars kickball events on July 6 at the Liberty Sports Park in Prince George’s County, Maryland, as well as its two-day event August 3-4 in Charlotte, will be on the streaming service.

“It expands our reach,” said MARS Co-Founder Arion Herbert. “The increased visibility is going to be huge for us because as we’re really looking to enhance and grow the game. … We’re going to be streaming on the network for four hours each day. And that gives us an opportunity to invite more players and more teams and provide an opportunity to showcase more players. It shows the true depiction of what the Turf Wars experience looks like, which can now really help us evolve and enhance the game even more when you talk about how attractive it may look to a potential sponsor.

“The game of adult kickball has been around long before I got here. It’s a game that all of us could remember playing as kids and for the game to have the opportunity to be showcased nationally, it’s just mind-blowing to me.”

Herbert and his wife, Erica, co-founded MARS in 2016 after moving to Charlotte. It has other events it organizes in the Charlotte market, although MARS is best known for its work in the kickball community. Herbert also is the executive committee chair of Compete Sports Diversity.

“When you talk about our commitment to diversity and inclusion, now these multi-cultural events really get a chance to embody that and showcase it,” Herbert said. “I love the idea that now we’re getting the opportunity to feature these events in our true setting, because it’s an accurate depiction of what we have to offer.”

The ESPN streaming agreement also is a personal highlight for the Herbert family as a minority-owned business that can inspire youths.

“We’ve nurtured this product, we create this brand and in a short time, we’re able to push the brand forward to national exposure, it means a lot,” Herbert said. “I can always use an example to show my sons — you may think it’s impossible, but it really is possible if you put your mind to it and you really are committed, dedicated and passionate about it.

“I think about how I’ve poured everything into this business. Opportunities and moments like this are reassuring, they validate the hard work and how if you plant those seeds and you harvest, your fruit shall grow. So personally, for me, it’s gratifying, it’s fulfilling and it means everything to know that we’re heading in the right direction.”

Cal Ripken Jr. was the keynote speaker for the inaugural Amateur Sports Leadership Summit in Louisville, Kentucky, from October 23-25 as leaders from throughout the industry spent two days discussing issues that involve hosts, suppliers and event organizers.

The ASLS featured a wide range of speakers and presenters, including leaders in the sports and hospitality industries, CVB/sports commissions and technology experts.

“It was exciting to be a part of the inaugural TTS Amateur Sports Leadership Summit in Louisville,” said John Newby, executive vice president of Varsity Spirit. “It was great to connect with other leaders in the youth sports space and share best practices, new ideas and collaborate on future opportunities. The speakers were great and the opportunity to spend some time with Cal Ripken, Jr was a highlight.”

The event was created by Team Travel Source and also included panel discussions and interactive sessions focused on leadership development, athlete safety and industry trends. Dates and a location for next year’s event are to be announced at a later date.

“We are thrilled to see the enthusiastic response to this year’s ASLS,” said Ainsley Harris, vice president of customer success and retention of Team Travel Source. “Our goal is to bring together industry leaders for a productive and informative day, and we believe that this year’s summit was a tremendous success.”

The World Horseshoe Pitching Championships will be held in Tri-Cities, Washington, in both 2024 and 2027, the National Horseshoe Pitching Association announced.

The World Championships will take place at the Three Rivers Campus from July 29 to August 10, 2024, and again in 2027. The Toyota Center & Arena will serve as the primary venue for the event, offering 44,000 square feet of playable floor space to host the championship.

“Horseshoe pitchers are some of the most friendly people you will ever meet and we are excited to be selected to host the sport’s most celebrated event in the Tri-Cities,” said Kevin Lewis, president and chief executive officer for Visit Tri-Cities. “The two-week event will showcase the best pitchers in the world and we look forward to welcoming them here.”

The announcement was made during the 2023 tournament in Lansing, Michigan, where Lewis and Natalie Clifton, sports sales manager for Visit Tri-Cities, finalized the agreement with NHPA officials. Each event will bring an estimated $1 million in economic impact to the area as 1,000 participants come to the Tri-Cities to compete for the world title.

“The team at Visit Tri-Cities has been a pleasure to work with and we are thrilled to bring our World Tournament to the Northwest,” said NHPA President Gary Roberts. “Along with some great competition, NHPA pitchers will enjoy the beauty, history and recreation opportunities in and around the Tri-Cities.”

The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and NCAA Office of Inclusion have announced the activation of three adaptive sport initiatives within the collegiate landscape to be implemented across the Women’s Final Four, Drake Relays and ITA Fall National Championships.

The USOPC/NCAA Para-College Inclusion Project launched in 2022 to engage schools with adaptive sports while increasing Paralympic sport understanding, awareness and connection across the collegiate landscape. The work has been advanced by athletes and sport leaders representing the USOPC Collegiate Advisory Council, USOPC Paralympic Advisory Council and various NCAA committees.

“The USOPC and NCAA Para-College Inclusion Project is monumental because it marks the first time the two organizations have partnered at this level to celebrate and highlight adaptive sports and the amazing experiences of college athletes with disabilities,” said Felicia Martin, NCAA senior vice president for inclusion education and community engagement. “The NCAA shares student-athlete stories through its many platforms and championships. We look forward to highlighting the wheelchair basketball exhibitions at this year’s Women’s Final Four fan events and the Division II and III women’s basketball championships in Dallas.”

The project consists of wheelchair basketball inclusion, Paralympic track and field pathway development, wheelchair tennis integration and Paralympic sport awareness.

The USOPC, NCAA and National Wheelchair Basketball Association will partner to create a significant operation during the 2023 NCAA Division II and III Women’s Basketball Championships on April 1 in Dallas. The event will include the inaugural celebration of the College All-Star Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team, which will be featured during halftime of the Division II and Division III NCAA Women’s Basketball Championships.

The inaugural men’s and women’s Para-college wheelchair national champions will be crowned at the Drake Relays. Held April 26–29 in Des Moines, Iowa, the 100-meter races will occur during the 2023 Drake Relays where winners will be awarded with the inaugural Para-College Wheelchair National Champion trophy.

For the first time, the U.S. Tennis Association’s National Collegiate Wheelchair Championships will have a presence at the NCAA Division I Championships in Orlando this May. In addition, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association will look to add a wheelchair event within the 2023 ITA National Fall Championships.

Among the topics discussed in this episode:

The biggest takeaway of 2022

Matt: The college sports landscape blowing up with realignment and NIL (4:55)

Justin: The volume and caliber of major events headed to the United States (6:49)

Jason: The return of sports-related travel after the depths of the pandemic (8:27)

Stories that resonated with us this year

Matt: 2026 World Cup host city selection; the 50th anniversary of Title IX (9:47)

Justin: Gulf Shores/Orange Beach, Alabama, and Oklahoma City stepping in to host international events moved from Russia (12:15)

Jason: USA BMX relocating and unveiling their headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma (14:05)

Stories that flew under the radar in 2022

Matt: The fast recovery of the youth sports market to pre-pandemic levels (15:50)

Justin: The preparation for Formula 1 racing in Las Vegas (17:25)

Jason: The growth of women’s sports and the investment in soccer being made in Kansas City (19:02)

The biggest international sports news of 2022

Matt: The ban of Russian athletes in international competition (20:43)

Justin: The disruption in professional golf caused by LIV Golf (22:58)

Jason: The number of international event organizers wanting to bring events to the United States (24:33)

Our favorite events to cover in person in 2022

Matt: The Women’s Final Four in Minneapolis and the NCAA Beach Volleyball Championships in Gulf Shores/Orange Beach, Alabama (26:14)

Justin: Major League Baseball All-Star Week in Los Angeles (28:44)

Jason: The State Games of America and the Dew Tour in Ames and Des Moines, Iowa (30:04)

A major storyline we’re on the watch for in 2023

Matt: How climate change and event sustainability will impact sports events at all levels (32:02)

Justin: How we will watch live sports, including the future of the NFL Sunday Ticket package (34:07)

Jason: The growth of in-person esports events and esports-specific venues (35:48)

A big or bold prediction for 2023

Matt: Predictions on college football realignment (37:27)

Justin: Which team will win the NBA Championship (39:00)

Jason: The University of Colorado under Coach Deion Sanders (39:39)
 

This episode is brought to you by:

Chungcheong, South Korea, was awarded the 2027 FISU World University Games by the organization’s executive committee over the weekend by a 14-7 vote over the Triad Region of North Carolina.

“FISU offers its sincere congratulations to Chungcheong. Korea has a proud tradition of university sport and will, I am sure, be an ideal place for the world’s best university athletes to come together in peaceful celebration in the summer of 2027,” said FISU Acting President Leonz Eder. “Chungcheong 2027 has the potential to be a very special FISU World University Games, making a lasting contribution to university sport.”

North Carolina’s final presentation was made by Bid Committee Chairman and Chief Executive Hill Carrow, North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and United States International University Sports Federation President Dan Guerrero.

“While FISU could only name one host for the 2027 FISU World University Games today, FISU is deeply grateful to both candidates for their commitment to international university sport,” said Eder. “While Chungcheong is today’s choice for 2027, we would be delighted to have North Carolina as a host for the FISU World University Games in the future at the first available opportunity.”

The 2027 FISU World University Games will have 18 sports held across 31 venues. All but one of the venues either currently exist, are already planned or will be temporary. It is set to mark the third time South Korea will hold the summer event after staging of the 2003 and 2015 editions in Daegu and Gwangju respectively.

“All of us who have worked so hard to make our candidacy successful are beyond delighted,” said Yoon-suk Kim, secretary general of the Chungcheong 2027 Bid Committee. “This opportunity means so much to Korean university sport and to Chungcheong. This will be the first major event to be hosted in our megacity and we are certain we will deliver an excellent FISU World University Games.”

The FISU World University Games were first held in 1959 in Torino. Lake Placid, New York, will host the 2023 Winter World University Games before the summer edition goes to Chengdu, China. Hosts in 2025 are Torino, Italy in the winter and the Rhine-Ruhr region of Germany in the summer.

Longtime AAU volunteer and national officer J.B. Mirza was elected as the 49th president of the Amateur Athletic Union during the 128th AAU National Convention in Orlando, Florida.

Mirza has dedicated more than five decades of service at the local, national, and international levels to the AAU. Mirza got his start in karate in 1972 as an athlete, competing in the Central AAU Association (now District).

“It is my sincerest wish to continue to contribute and serve this organization that I have belonged to the majority of my life,” said Mirza.”I am appreciative to have worked in service to the AAU with the previous officer group. There is no past AAU officer, volunteer or member. We will always be part of the current AAU family.”

In 1987, Mirza was recognized for his many efforts on behalf of the AAU Karate program, winning election as AAU Karate National Chair, a position he has held since. Elected as AAU National Treasurer in 2014 and 2018 respectively, Mirza served with the previous AAU national officer group and has been a member of the AAU Board of Directors since 1994.

“My dedication to the AAU is only eclipsed by my advocacy for instilling a sense of responsibility and best practices [for the AAU]”, said Mirza.”Sports and the AAU are indispensable, reaffirming our communal and social values.”

Joining Mirza in the newly elected AAU national officer group is Robert Stone, a longtime athlete, coach and volunteer in taekwando, as first vice president; Charles Oliver, AAU track and field national chair, as second vice president; James Parker, the former AAU director of sports, as secretary; and AAU Board Member and Finance Chair Sean Kilmartin.