Sports ETA Launches Second Virtual Conference

Sports ETA will organize a second version of its SportsBIZ XChange in May, a three-day virtual event that will feature business appointments and industry networking opportunities for members of the association. The online event will be held May 18­–20, 2021.

The first version of the event was held in August 2020 in place of the association’s in-person annual symposium, which was postponed because of the pandemic. Sports ETA is still intending to hold its symposium this year in October 2021 in Birmingham, Alabama.

Virtual attendees at the SportsBIZ XChange in May will receive multiple one-on-one 15-minute appointments and networking opportunities with sports events rights holders, access to new and updated RFPs, and numerous social networking opportunities in a virtual ballroom. A virtual Locker Room will be open to all attendees to view documents (RFPs, fact sheets and videos) from each rights holder.

“During our inaugural SportsBIZ XChange held last August, we facilitated more than 5,000 virtual meetings for our participating members,” said Al Kidd, president and chief executive officer of Sports ETA. “SportsBIZ XChange II will provide our members with the opportunity to conduct business with dozens of industry decision-makers in a matter of days through innovative technology offered by our best-in-class provider CSS.”

Each day of the virtual event is expected to feature up to four hours of business appointments, industry updates and networking starting at 1 p.m. ET.

“As we begin a return to sporting events across America, it’s important for our industry to connect and begin planning for these activities in a safe and thoughtful manner,” said Mike Price, vice chairman of the Sports ETA Board of Directors. “SportsBIZ XChange II offers a virtual platform for our industry to do business to bring back the sports events and tourism industry.”

The cost per schedule is $395 per destination organization with additional schedules available for $195. Industry partner registration will be $595 per organization and includes the opportunity to participate in one-on-one appointments with access to the virtual Locker Room.