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Ryan Mack / Visit Salt Lake / Chief Communications & Experience Officer / 801-859-3587

Jenna Bree / Visit Salt Lake / Communications Manager / 203-692-5141 

Industry Leaders Gather for Conversations Shaping Salt Lake's Future as a Premier Sports Destination 

Sports Salt Lake’s Sports Tourism Symposium will feature discussions on women's sports, professional soccer, destination development and the road to the 2034 Winter Games. 

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (DATE, 2026) — Sports Salt Lake, powered by Visit Salt Lake, will host the 5th annual Sports Tourism Symposium on June 17 at America First Field, bringing together sports industry leaders, venue operators, city officials and community partners for a day focused on the future of sports tourism in Salt Lake. 

The annual symposium will feature keynote conversations, panel discussions, networking opportunities and a FIFA watch party for the England vs. Croatia match. This year’s program highlights the continued growth of sports tourism in Utah and the role major sporting events play in driving economic impact, community development and international visibility.  

"Sports tourism is a team effort, and this symposium is one of the few opportunities each year for the industry to come together in one room," said Clay Partain, Chief Sports Officer for Sports Salt Lake. "The conversations that happen here lead to new partnerships, new opportunities and new ideas that help us strengthen Salt Lake's position as a premier sports destination." 

The symposium’s panel-driven format will include discussions on destination development, professional sports growth, women’s sports and preparations for the 2034 Winter Games. Sessions include: 

  • Creating a Gold-Standard Sports Destination — And How Sandy is Raising the Bar 

  • The Evolution of RSL and Future of Utah Soccer 

  • Why Salt Lake is Becoming a Destination for Women’s Sports 

  • The Road to the 2034 Winter Games  

Featured panelists include Amanda Covington, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer for Larry H. Miller Company; Sandy City Mayor Monica Zoltanski; John Kimball, President of Business Operations for Utah Soccer; and Nick Rimando, U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame member and Real Salt Lake legend.  

The event is designed to foster collaboration between tourism professionals, sports organizations, venue operators and community leaders while showcasing Salt Lake’s growing reputation as a premier sports destination. Sports Salt Lake was recently named Sports ETA’s 2026 Sports Tourism Organization of the Year, recognizing the organization’s leadership in driving economic impact and attracting high-profile events to the region.  

"Sports tourism is a powerful contributor to Salt Lake County's $6.1 billion visitor economy,” said Kaitlin Eskelson, President and CEO of Visit Salt Lake. “The events our Sports Salt Lake team attracts fills hotel rooms, drives business to locally owned restaurants and shops, and reaches every corner of our county. We are proud to lead that work and excited about what this growing industry means for the future of our destination." 

Sponsors for the symposium include Playeasy, EventConnect, Victus Advisors, Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, Hilton Salt Lake City Center, University of Utah Health, Upstage Companies, Sandy City, Temple Square and the Salt Lake Temple Celebration and America First Field. These organizations continue to support the advancement of sports tourism and industry collaboration in Salt Lake.  

Registration begins at 9 a.m., with programming starting at 10 a.m. The symposium concludes with a networking FIFA watch party at 2:30 p.m.  

For more information and tickets, visit the Sports Tourism Symposium page.

Visit Salt Lake (VSL) is the private, nonprofit Destination Sales & Experience Organization (DSXO) dedicated to recruiting, retaining, and activating conventions, meetings, sporting events and leisure travel that fuels the region’s visitor economy. In partnership with Salt Lake County, hoteliers, members and public-sector stakeholders, VSL helps generate $6.15 billion in annual visitor spending, $575 million in direct tax revenue and $1,700 in household tax savings while supporting more than 56,000 jobs. By championing Salt Lake's authentic urban-meets-mountain identity, VSL creates transformative experiences that benefit the community and visitors alike. For more information, visit www.VisitSaltLake.com.
Sports Salt Lake is a division of Visit Salt Lake, a private, non-profit corporation responsible for the promotion of Salt Lake as a convention, sports, and travel destination. Sports Salt Lake’s mission is to improve the area economy by attracting and providing support to sports and athletic events to Salt Lake County. Salt Lake is a unique fusion of metropolitan city and quaint mountain town; the towering Wasatch Mountains that embrace Salt Lake offer a dramatic backdrop to the vibrancy and activities of downtown. For more information on all that Salt Lake has to offer, go to www.VisitSaltLake.com.