Sports Virginia is a statewide collaboration of professionals from local convention and visitor bureaus, sports commissions, parks and recreation offices and facilities. Our main goal is to bring more sports competitions and events to Virginia to increase visitor expenditures, tax revenues and employment statewide.
VTC markets the state of Virginia as a premiere destination to sports event rights holders through national and professional sports membership organizations and conventions, as posted on our Marketing Calendar. Attendance at these conventions offers the opportunity to meet one on one through prescheduled appointments with sports event rights holders
Virginia Sports Tourism Grant Program
- The Virginia Sports Tourism Grant Program is administered by the Virginia Tourism Corporation. The purpose of the program is to provide funding to bring competitively bid high-quality youth, amateur, collegiate and select other sporting events, which will bring a positive economic impact to the Commonwealth.
- Who is eligible: Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs/CVBs or Chamber of Commerce), Nonprofit sports support organization – 501 (c), Sports Venues – i.e. convention center, event venue, sports venue, hotel with sports venue, City, Town or County local government agency or department – i.e. parks & recreation department, as well as Sports Commissions and Sports Authorities
- Opens: January 4, 2027 Closes: February 16, 2027
- Event window: June 16, 2027 – February 16, 2030
- Award Tiers: Grant size recommendations are based on metrics such as total attendance, overnight attendance, and hotel room nights
- Cash Match: There is a 1:1 cash match requirement
- How: Online application portal
- For information and questions, please email vstgp@virginia.org
Trade show partnerships and lead reports
Lead reports from the following trade shows/conferences are available by request.
Sports ETA Symposium
April 20-23, 2026
CONNECT Sports Marketplace
August 25-27, 2025
TEAMS Conference
October 13-16, 2025
Sports Express
January 12-16, 2026
Contact Danish Saadat for lead reports and if you would like to partner at upcoming trade shows, client events, or participate in Sports Virginia partner discussion meetings.
VTC belongs to the following sports organizations:
- ACES (Association of Chief Executives for Sport)
- Sports ETA (formerly NASC)
- VRSP (Virginia Recreation and Park Society)
SportsVirginia.org
VTC works with Virginia travel partners to update the Sports website with the most recent venue, destination and event information. The SportsVirginia.org website is a great statewide tool which increases Virginia’s exposure in the sports market to sports events rights holders that represent tournaments and events. One feature of the site is a list of major sports venues that are searchable by the type of sports the venue can accommodate thus helping the rights holder compare venue options.
Promote your Sports Venues
Let us help you promote your sports venues. We need you to add your sports venue listings and/or help spread the word with your local partners such as colleges, sports commissions and parks and recreation departments to add listings for your region.
Make your venue visible to these buyers by adding a listing to the website. We are looking for venues that organizations can use to host tournaments and competitions. We are NOT looking for sports venues for individual sports enthusiasts such as fishing charters or resort recreation centers. These venues can be listed under the “Get Outside” tab of the www.Virginia.org website.
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