News Release: Portland to Host Sports ETA Symposium in 2024

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA (October 29, 2021) — During its Annual Symposium on Wednesday, Sports ETA – the only trade association for the sports events and tourism industry – announced that Portland, Oregon will serve as host for the 2024 Symposium. This annual meeting brings over 700 sports events and tourism leaders to a host community. Travel Portland and Sport Oregon will serve as co-hosts for the event.

“Sports ETA is excited to announce Portland as its 2024 Host City for its largest annual event, the Annual Symposium,” said Al Kidd, President & CEO of Sports ETA. “I know our members will enjoy visiting Portland’s world-class sports facilities and its vibrant cultural scene. We are looking forward to visiting Portland in 2024.”

Primary programming for the meeting will take place at the Oregon Convention Center, and surrounding hotels in the Lloyd District. However, several facilities and event venues will be utilized – and showcased – during the week. The Symposium regularly produces roughly 3,000 consumed hotel rooms in the host market, bringing significant economic impact in itself.

"Portland and Oregon have a unique athletic culture that will resonate with the Sports ETA delegates,” said James Jessie, Travel Portland Chief Sales Officer. “In addition to the newly-renovated Oregon Convention Center, we're thrilled for members of Sports ETA to explore the Portland region's tax-free shopping, outdoor recreation, great food, and cultural offerings."

The Sports ETA Symposium features pre-scheduled appointments between destinations and event planners, relationship-building activities, and high-caliber education sessions. The annual meeting also allows a host community to showcase itself thoroughly to event planners, with an eye on building business opportunities for the extended future.

“The economic and exponential benefit of hosting the Sports ETA Symposium is clear, and obvious,” said Jim Etzel, CEO of Sport Oregon. “Planners, partners, and industry colleagues will soon find out what we already know: that there’s no better place for sports than in Oregon.”

Portland submitted its official bid for Symposium in January 2020, and conducted an in-person site tour of Portland in March 2021 with officials from Sports ETA. In addition to the 2024 announcement, Tulsa, Oklahoma was awarded the 2025 Symposium. Dates for the 2024 Sports ETA Symposium in Portland are April 22 – 25, 2024. This will be Portland’s second time hosting the meeting, as the city hosted in 2005 as well.