Category: Feature Story

Feature Story — SportsTravel — News, Insight and Analysis for the Sports-Event Industry

World Series Rays Dodgers Baseball
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to Tampa Bay Rays' Joey Wendle during the second inning in Game 1 of the 2020 World Series in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

One Year Later: How COVID has Changed Sports Forever

Remember what it like to go to a sold-out game? Waiting in line with others for seemingly forever before getting your ticket scanned, walking into the concourse and trying to avoid bumping into other people while finding a hot dog and soda, then going to your seats to check out the early scene. Maybe you […]

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Hard Rock Stadium Cubano Sausage
Cubano sausage at Hard Rock Stadium. Photo: Courtesy of Hard Rock Stadium

Centerplate CEO: What to Expect from Stadium Concessions

The College Football Playoff National Championship may have looked the same on the field as any other recent year: Alabama won, again — its sixth title under Coach Nick Saban since 2009. But for the 14,926 fans who attended the January 11 game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, the experience was anything but normal. […]

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USA Volleyball

Poised for Pandemic, SloCoach Makes Move in United States

On the surface, it would appear that SloCoach would be one of those companies that must have formed as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. An online coaching tool where athletes can upload videos of themselves practicing their sports—with professional or Olympic-level athletes or coaches returning a video critique—seems to be tailor-made for the new […]

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A conscious effort by city leaders in Indianapolis to create a concentration of sports venues and hotels in downtown has paid off with large events over the years. (Photo: Visit Indy)

How Indianapolis Landed the NCAA Basketball Tournament

The NCAA started calling in the fall. In an effort to cut down on team travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, would Indianapolis — which was set to host the 2021 Final Four — be interested or willing to host the entire Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament? The answer, of course, was yes. But the delay […]

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The 2019 CEO Fighting Game Championships at Ocean Center in Daytona Beach attracted competitors from 30 countries.

New Research Shows Esports Fans
Want to Travel Post-COVID

The number of esports fans has skyrocketed during the coronavirus pandemic and those fans will be more willing than the general public to travel to live events and competitions when they return, according to new research presented at the EsportsTravel Virtual Summit held December 2–3 at Esports Stadium Arlington in Arlington, Texas. In a session […]

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Lucas Oil Stadium
Lucas Oil Stadium will host the 2021 NCAA Final Four. But the city of Indianapolis is negotiation to host the entire tournament. (Photo: Visit Indy)

Cities Adjust as NCAA Calls
For Bubble-Like Basketball Tournament

The news that the NCAA will attempt to host its Division I Men’s Basketball Championship in one city was a tough blow for the 13 destinations that were looking to host opening and regional rounds. But as top collegiate officials continue their negotiations with Indianapolis to potentially host all rounds in a “controlled” bubble-like environment, […]

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Blue Jays Phillies Baseball
Many sports were forced to have cardboard fans in 2020. What will 2021 bring? (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

The 2021 Outlook for the Sports-Event Industry

The year 2020 will go down as a moment where the sports-event industry was forced to pivot. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was felt by all stakeholders, whether they are destinations, event organizers, hotels or any number of suppliers. While there has been evidence that the industry has begun its recovery, there are still […]

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Fusion Arena Bowl

The Evolution of Esports Venues

When Esports Stadium Arlington opened in 2018 in Texas, it marked the dawn of a new era for esports and live events. The first esports-specific venue at a municipally owned building—a renovation of the city’s convention center—it marked a landmark in the evolution of esports and the facilities that could support live esports events. Before […]

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