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 priorit...
Jun 13
17 min
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 Li...
Jun 6
13 min
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...
May 30
14 min
In this episode, we’re joined by Greg Pepitone, Associate Director at Tourism Economics, to unpack the findings from the groundbreaking 2026 State of the Industry Report presented by Northstar Meetings Group. For the first time ever, the report combines participatory and spectator sports tourism into one comprehensive analysis, revealing the full scale and impact of the industry — a $274.5 billion economic engine supporting communities, destinations, venues, events, and businesses across the...
May 23
10 min
What does it take to bring the magic of an NCAA Championship to your city? In this episode, we sit down with Anthony Holman, Vice President of Championships and Alliances at the NCAA, to discuss the incredible economic and community impact of hosting collegiate sporting events. Coming off a wildly successful Spring Championship season, Anthony shares his insights on the shifting landscape of college athletics and why hosting an NCAA event is a uniquely low-risk, high-reward opportunity for d...
May 16
13 min
In this episode, we sit down with the 2026 Sports ETA Woman of the Year, Rachel Rogers. As the Vice President of Sports Sales & Engagement for Cobb Travel & Tourism and the Cobb Sports Alliance, Rachel has become a powerhouse in the sports tourism industry. We dive into her incredible career journey—from her early days with the Rome Braves and her pivotal role in transitioning Shorter University to NCAA Division II, to her current leadership in making Cobb County a premier national s...
May 9
16 min
When we talk about host city readiness, we often focus on hotels, venues, and transit. But in 2026, there is a new "must-have" for every RFP: a comprehensive child safeguarding strategy. In this episode, we sit down with Katie Hanna, Head of North America with the Centre for Sport & Human Rights, and Danielle Goldberg, Managing Director, Community Alliance for Child Rights at UNICEF USA following their standout session at the 2026 Symposium. They break down the "Safe by Design...
May 2
19 min
Live from Las Vegas, this is Symposium Sessions, featuring exclusive interviews and educational highlights from the 2026 Sports ETA Symposium. Join us as we dive into the latest trends in sports events and tourism with the industry’s top leaders and innovators. In this week's episode, we pull back the curtain on the world of international sports politics. While many consultancies focus on the logistics of an event, JTA specializes in the intricate "International Relations" that happen behind ...
Apr 25
9 min
In this episode, we sit down with Latasha Causey, President of Phoenix Raceway and the first African American woman to hold that title in NASCAR history. Ahead of her keynote address at the 2026 Women’s Summit, Latasha pulls back the curtain on what it takes to lead a high-stakes sports venue and the intersection of operations, community, and culture. We discuss her transition from corporate leadership at Bell Bank and USAA to the fast-paced world of motorsports, her experience hosting major...
Apr 18
17 min
When the final ball rolled at the 2025 USBC Open Championships, Baton Rouge didn't just celebrate a tournament; they celebrated a $125 million economic victory. But how does a destination turn a 150-day marathon event into a repeatable blueprint for success? In this episode, Kathrine sits down with Triston Monte, Sports Development Manager at Visit Baton Rouge, to go behind the scenes of one of 2025’s biggest sports tourism wins. We discuss the logistical "magic" of the Raising Cane's ...
Apr 11
13 min
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