Beyond the Boots: The High-Stakes Strategy of Fort Worth Sports

Beyond the Boots: The High-Stakes Strategy of Fort Worth Sports

Editor's Note: This episode was recorded live at the 2026 Sports ETA Symposium in April. As a result, some discussions reference upcoming events and opportunities that have since taken place. The West is Wide Open—and It's Winning. Fort Worth may be known for its iconic Western heritage, but beneath the cowboy culture is one of the most dynamic sports destinations in the country. In this episode, Fort Worth Sports Commission Director of Business Development Cassie Poss shares how a culture of collaboration, community investment, and what she calls "radical partnership" has helped position Fort Worth as a host for some of the world's most prestigious sporting events. From NCAA Championships and the MLB Draft to the FEI World Cup, Fort Worth has built a diverse event portfolio that continues to elevate its profile on the national and international stage. Cassie discusses the destination's approach to attracting events, supporting rights holders, and leveraging the strength of the Dallas-Fort Worth region to create winning experiences for athletes, fans, and organizers alike. Whether you're navigating the NCAA bid process, pursuing new event opportunities, or looking to strengthen partnerships in your own destination, this conversation offers valuable insights into how Fort Worth continues to raise the bar in sports tourism.

From Data to Decisions: How Active Insight is Changing Sports Tourism

Editor's Note: This episode was recorded live at the 2026 Sports ETA Symposium in April. As a result, some discussions reference upcoming events and opportunities that have since taken place. Sports tourism leaders are constantly being asked to make faster, smarter, and more strategic decisions — but what happens when you finally have the data to back them up? In this episode, Sports ETA President & CEO John David sits down with John D’Orsay, CEO at EventConnect, to discuss Active Insight, powered by EventConnect — the newest data intelligence platform built specifically for the sports events & tourism industry. Together, they explore: 1. What Active Insight actually is. 2. How destinations and rights holders can use the platform. 3. The value of real traveler and booking data. 4. How members can uncover trends, answer questions, and make stronger decisions. Whether you’re focused on bidding, event strategy, advocacy, hotel demand, or understanding participant behavior, this episode will help you understand how Active Insight can become a powerful tool for your organization. Learn more about Active Insight: https://research.sportseta.org/active-insight/ [https://research.sportseta.org/active-insight/]

Designing the Destination: Architecture, Economics, and the Vision Behind Bluhawk with Bart Lowen

Editor's Note: This episode was recorded live at the 2026 Sports ETA Symposium in April. As a result, some discussions reference upcoming events and opportunities that have since taken place. In this episode, we sit down with Bart Lowen, Price Brothers' VP of Development,  to explore the massive shift in sports tourism: the rise of the mixed-use district.  Using projects like Bluhawk and the North River District as blueprints, Bart explains why communities are no longer just building stadiums—they’re building entire ecosystems of hotels, retail, and entertainment.  We discuss the economic impact of "walkable" sports environments, why event organizers are now prioritizing these lifestyle hubs, and what destination leaders need to know before breaking ground on the next generation of sports-anchored developments.

The Comeback Playbook: From Natural Disaster to Sports Destination

Editor's Note: This episode was recorded live at the 2026 Sports ETA Symposium in April. As a result, some discussions reference upcoming events and opportunities that have since taken place. What happens when a natural disaster threatens to wipe your destination off the map? You don’t just rebuild—you reinvent. In this episode, we sit down with the powerhouse team from North Little Rock Tourism to unpack one of the most inspiring comeback stories in the sports tourism industry.  After a devastating natural disaster shifted their entire landscape, the NLR team didn't just aim for "normal"—they aimed for "better." Join host Kathrine and special guest Shelbey Morris, North Little Rock Tourism's Senior Manager of Sales and Partnerships, as they walk us through the journey from survival mode to a competitive masterclass in resilience.  We dive deep into how they used a sports feasibility study to silence the noise and sharpen their strategy, the "unlikely allies" that fueled their recovery, and the massive revitalization of the community’s crown jewel: Burns Park.

From Confidence to Community: A WISE Arizona Roundtable

Editor's Note: This episode was recorded live at the 2026 Sports ETA Symposium in April. As a result, some discussions reference upcoming events and opportunities that have since taken place. Following their impactful panel at the recent Women’s Summit, we are going behind the scenes with three powerhouse leaders from WISE Arizona.  In this episode, Yolanda Mendez, MBA, SPHR, is the Vice President of Human Resources at Desert Services, and Past President and Founding Member of WISE Arizona, Maria Mwangi, CEO of Warehouse215, and President of WISE Arizona, and Gina Phelps Thoebes, PhD, ACC, Vice President, Organizational Performance for the Arizona Cardinals Football Club, and on the Board of Directors for WISE Arizona sit down to expand on the journey from building personal confidence to fostering a thriving professional community.  We dive into the importance of advocacy in sports, the power of mentorship, and how leading with a spirit of "giving back" is transforming the landscape for women in the industry.