KemperSports has announced a multi–year partnership with Perfect Game to bring youth baseball events to Fields at Station 63 in Mansfield, Texas.

Through a partnership between the city of Mansfield and KemperSports, Fields at Station 63 has undergone a multi-million-dollar renovation with upgraded playing fields. The park now features eight turf baseball diamonds, a renovated central plaza, improved concessions and family spaces.

The venue will re-open on September 6. Beginning in the fall, Perfect Game will host 35 weekends per year of youth baseball tournaments at the newly renovated venue.

“This isn’t just another tournament series,” said Steve Goris, senior vice president of KemperSports Venues. “We’re combining Perfect Game’s industry-leading tournament platform with KemperSports’ expertise in hospitality, facility management and event operations. Together, we’re creating an environment that delivers a best-in-class experience for players, families, and fans — from the moment they arrive at the park to the last out of the weekend.”

The partnership will combine Perfect Game’s network of players, coaches, scouts and media with KemperSports’ service, facility expertise and community engagement.

“We are excited for the future of Perfect Game in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro,” said Taylor McCollough, vice president, operations at Perfect Game. “We look forward to working with KemperSports to provide quality competition and the first-class experience that our teams expect at Perfect Game events now at Fields at Station 63.”

The 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games has proposed the relocation of diving to the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center in Pasadena and asked for approval from the Los Angeles City Council on the decision.

The venue plan for LA28 had diving being held at the 1932 Pool in the Exposition Park Zone. LA28 says the potential move would achieve up to $17.6 million in combined savings and revenue growth. Any changes to the venue proposal for LA28 must be approved by the city.

LA28 said in its proposal to the City Council that the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center offers an existing pool that meets Olympic diving standards and requires fewer improvements to host diving in 2028.

It also said in the proposal that World Aquatics told organizers that the Exposition Park outdoor pool did not meet Olympic diving standards. The pool in Exposition Park, located next to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, was constructed for the 1932 Games and hosted diving, swimming, water polo and the swim event for the modern pentathlon.

LA28 said in its proposal to City Council that the venue “would require a complete reconstruction in order to meet Olympic standards. Futhermore, this construction cannot occur simultaneously with the LA Memorial Coliseum track construction projects due to limited space within the surrounding footprint.”

“This presents a significant opportunity to deliver successful marquee events, with greater budget certainty, while also ensuring an exceptional competition venue for our diving athletes, with their safety remaining our top priority,” said Reynold Hoover, LA28 chief executive officer. “The decision to stage diving at the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center is beneficial on all fronts and we’re grateful to our host city and venue city partners for their unwavering support and collaboration as we finalize the 2028 Games plan.”

Allegiant Air and Notre Dame Global Partnerships, the official multimedia rights holder for the University of Notre Dame Athletics Department, have announced a multi–year agreement designating Allegiant “The Official Airline Partner of Notre Dame Athletics.”

The partnership launches in conjunction with the 2025 fall sports season. Allegiant serves eight routes from South Bend International Airport, including the launch of nonstop service to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, beginning this week ahead of Notre Dame football’s game at the University of Miami on August 31.

“With a shared commitment to excellence, it is a natural fit for Allegiant to align our brand with Notre Dame athletics,” said Drew Wells, Allegiant Airlines chief commercial officer. “We have been flying Notre Dame students and alumni for two decades, and we know sports have the universal power to unite people with a common goal of celebrating their favorite teams. We’re excited to expand our presence in the South Bend community and welcome the Fighting Irish on board.”

Allegiant started operations at South Bend International Airport in 2005 and this agreement will grow the airline’s presence and nonstop travel options at SBN. Sweepstakes will be specially designed to provide fans with premium game day hospitality.

The partnership will include branded social and digital content and exclusive fan engagement initiatives. Notre Dame athletics will use Allegiant’s services not only to offer fans, students and alumni travel options, but also to transport many of the university’s athletic teams in the coming years.

“We’re pleased to welcome Allegiant’s partnership and mutual commitment to investing in the South Bend community,” said Jim Fraleigh, Notre Dame deputy athletics director, corporate relations. “We look forward to connecting generations of Fighting Irish across the country with affordable, reliable travel and unforgettable game day experiences.”

The Snohomish County Sports Commission has announced the promotion of Nathan Caferro to sports events manager.

Caferro began working for the Snohomish County Sports Commission as the sports event coordinator in June 2022. In this new role, his responsibilities will include leading the event services program, assisting with annual sporting events and starting an equipment donation program.

Caferro’s efforts have helped several sporting events become award winners. His work with the 2024 USA Softball Class B Western Nationals and the Snohomish United Bigfoot Soccer Tournament both led to awards for the events, and he has worked with the Snohomish Youth Soccer Club on their youth soccer tournament for the last three years.

“Nathan’s leadership and commitment to providing excellent event services has helped us to expand our work with the local sports organizations and build better partnerships within the communities,” said Tammy Dunn, Snohomish County Sports Commission executive director. “Hosting the Seattle Handball Cup for the first time in March 2025 is one example of Nathan’s ability to elevate sporting events Snohomish County hosts.”

A new global research study commissioned by IBM shows that fans are changing the way they consume sports, turning to new, more dynamic experiences, including the use of AI, personalization and real-time features.

The survey queried more than 20,000 global sports fans across 12 countries, asking them about their habits in consuming sports of all kinds. The results showed that those fans increasingly view technology — particularly AI — as a positive force and that they are using it more often. Total AI usage among fans has grown since 2024 across nearly all markets, with 85% of respondents noting that they saw value in integrating the emerging technology into their sports experience. In addition, 63 percent expressed some level of trust in AI-generated sports content, noting that real-time game/match updates (35%) and personalized content (30%) were their top priorities for AI-enhanced engagement.

The survey also asked fans how often they attend in-person events, with 73% around the world saying that they attend at least one event per year.

When it comes to the digital experience of consuming sports, over half (51%) of the fans surveyed turn to video highlights, with 37% enjoying post-event recaps and 32 percent staying connected to their sport by consuming player interviews. Dedicated mobile sports apps are also important to sports fans: Nearly 75% use them to stay updated.

Social media also remains the leading platform for accessing additional content, with influencers play a prominent role: 59% of fans surveyed engage with influencers for analysis and predictions.

Habits May Shift Again

The survey also shows that fans’ consumption of sports is not only changing now, but will likely continue to change in the future. Only 27% of surveyed fans expect those habits to stay the same over the next two years, with 80% saying technology – specifically AI— will have the greatest influence on how they follow sports by 2027.

More than half (56%) of surveyed fans want AI-powered insights and commentary for past, current and future sporting events. And advances in tech may open up new avenues for future fans in countries where they don’t speak the language. One-third of responders said real-time translation technology will have the most significant impact on their international sports experience in the next 2-3 years — particularly in markets where English is not the dominant language.

“The sports media landscape is more complex than ever, and fans are comfortable consuming digital content around the clock,” said Kameryn Stanhouse, IBM’s vice president, sports and entertainment partnerships. “With fans signaling their readiness to embrace AI, we will continue working with our tournament, league and media partners to meet fans where they are, whether they’re watching the action in person or enhancing their second-screen experience.”
To access the full report, click here.

Three years out from hosting its first Paralympic Games, LA28 celebrated the milestone with the debut of two new custom emblems to further generate excitement for the 2028 Paralympic Summer Games.

The “Relentless Reinvention” emblem features a pixelated kaleidoscope representing athletes’ ability to evolve and change constantly.

The “Innovation Moonshot” emblem represents progress and possibility — trying as many keys as possible until one unlocks full potential and maximum creativity.

“With just three years to go, LA28 remains steadfast in our commitment to deliver an unforgettable Paralympic Games in Los Angeles for the very first time in history,” said Reynold Hoover, LA28 chief executive officer. “The LA28 Paralympic Games will be an incredible opportunity to reshape the conversation around individuals with disabilities within the sports world and beyond and has the capacity to serve as a catalyst for progress, inclusivity and global recognition of the world’s third largest sporting event.”

The newly debuted custom emblems marking three years out from the 2028 Paralympic Games are featured on LA28.org, as well as the 50–plus unique emblems representing a collection of voices reflecting the host city’s culture, creativity, inclusiveness and self-expression.

“In just three years, Los Angeles will make history as we host the city’s first ever Paralympic Games,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “It’s so important for our young Angelenos — especially those with disabilities — to see these elite athletes as they show the world what can be accomplished with equal opportunity and self–determination.”

Leading up to the 2028 Paralympic Games, LA28 has surpassed planning milestones including becoming the first organizing committee to propose and add a new Paralympic sport, Para climbing, which will make its debut in 2028.

LA28 also unveiled the nearly completed Paralympic venue plan earlier this year which has been designed for the needs of athletes and the respective sport’s field of play requirements.

For the first time in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, LA28 will implement naming rights at competition venues for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games in Los Angeles.

Comcast Squash Center at Universal Studios and Honda Center have been announced as the first branded venues for the LA28 Games.

“From the moment we submitted our bid, LA28 committed to reimagining what’s possible for the Games,” said Casey Wasserman, LA28 chairperson and president. “Today’s historic announcement delivers on that promise, creating the first-ever venue naming rights program in Olympic and Paralympic history while advancing LA28’s mission of a fully privately funded and no-new-build Games. These groundbreaking partnerships with Comcast and Honda, along with additional partners to come, will not only generate critical revenue for LA28 but will introduce a new commercial model to benefit the entire Movement. We’re grateful to the IOC for making this transformation possible.”

Today’s announcement unlocks an additional revenue stream for LA28 and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Properties, the commercial joint venture between LA28 and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Under the new pilot program, qualifying LA28 partners will have the opportunity to keep existing venue naming rights during Games time, as well as secure additional marketing assets to bolster their activation efforts.

Additionally, the opportunity for naming rights of up to 19 temporary venues will become available to worldwide Olympic & Paralympic Games partners and LA28 partners. Outside of naming rights partners, standard clean venue Games policies will still apply.

Comcast Squash Center at Universal Studios will host squash’s Olympic Games debut at Courthouse Square — one of Hollywood’s most recognizable working studio lots. Peacock Theater will host boxing and weightlifting during the Olympic Games and goalball during the Paralympic Games.

“The Olympic Games Paris 2024 reminded us that the power of sport can inspire the world. We’re honored to work with LA28 to help bring the most spectacular summer Olympic and Paralympic Games to the U.S. for the first time in more than 30 years,” said Jennifer Khoury, chief communications officer, Comcast Corporation.

As the first-ever arena to retain its name during the Olympic Games, Honda Center in Anaheim will host the competition and fan experience for Olympic volleyball.

“As a founding partner of LA28, Honda is immensely proud that a world-class sports and entertainment venue like Honda Center will step onto the international stage to power Olympic dreams at the highest level,” said Ed Beadle, vice president of digital services and marketing, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

The Sports Events & Tourism Association has promoted two longtime team members whose leadership has helped drive the association’s growth over the past two years.

Michelle Wessels has been named senior director of membership and engagement, and Meagan Grau has been named senior director of marketing and communications.

Through their efforts, Sports ETA has seen over 20 percent growth in membership, a 10 percent boost in retention, double-digit increases in attendance across all events, and a twofold rise in social media followers and engagement.

“These promotions recognize not only Michelle and Meagan’s exceptional contributions but also their ability to elevate the entire organization,” said John David, Sports ETA president and CEO. “Their dedication, creativity and strategic vision have helped propel Sports ETA into the fastest-growing era in our history. We’re not just growing in numbers, we’re growing in influence, value and impact for our members, thanks to their leadership.”

Wessels has led the charge in strengthening member relationships, enhancing engagement strategies, and delivering member experiences. Grau has overseen Sports ETA’s communications and marketing, amplifying the organization’s brand.

]]> 74714https://media.sportstravelmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/13112509/Sports-ETA-Megan-Grau-Michelle-Wessels.jpg https://www.sportstravelmagazine.com/durham-sports-commission-welcomes-two-new-member-to-board-of-directors/ Fri, 08 Aug 2025 16:23:11 +0000 https://www.sportstravelmagazine.com/?p=74600

The U.S. Travel Association has launched America’s Sports and Travel Mega Event Coalition (ASTMEC), a national alliance of sports, travel and business leaders dedicated to helping the United States successfully host the collection of global sporting events headed to the United States over the next decade.

ASTMEC is expected to work in close partnership with the Trump administration to ensure that necessary policies, infrastructure and security systems are in place to support those events, which include the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games.

The move comes as the White House has shown increased interest playing a key role in those sports events while also enacting policies that could potentially hinder international fan travel to events. Among those is a $250 “visa integrity fee” that international visitors will soon have to pay to enter the United States. Host cities have also been monitoring the latest issues around fan travel as they plan to host visitors from around the world.

“The Trump administration’s launch of the White House Task Force on the 2028 Summer Olympics lays critical groundwork for a historic decade of global sports,” said Geoff Freeman, president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Travel Association. “This is another opportunity for the U.S. to demonstrate its leadership on the world stage. Hosting these events will bring global attention and millions of visitors to our cities—but momentum isn’t enough. Success demands strategy, unity and investment. We urge the White House Task Force to press Congress to scrap the misguided $250 junk fee that will deter legitimate visitors. ASTMEC is ready to partner with federal and local leaders to deliver a secure, seamless experience and a legacy that lasts.”

U.S. Travel estimates that an estimated 30 million international visitors will be coming for major sporting events. In addition to the World Cup and Olympic and Paralympic Games, the United States will host the 2029 World University Games, the 2031 Men’s Rugby World Cup, the 2033 Women’s Rugby World Cup and the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The U.S. is also the only bidder for the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup.