ANAHEIM, Calif.
Visit Anaheim, the Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for Anaheim and Garden Grove, announced the formation of Sports Anaheim. The group’s mission is to strengthen and promote the destination’s sports culture by attracting diverse sporting events to Anaheim and Orange County.
Sports Anaheim says it will seek to bring in local, national and international events into the destination, and will serve as a resource for local organizations needing support in their bid to attract sports business. Spearheading Sports Anaheim under the Visit Anaheim umbrella is Roy Edmondson, VP of sports development for Visit Anaheim. Recently promoted, Edmondson joined Visit Anaheim in 2015.
“Anaheim is a sports town and it became obvious to us that inviting and hosting even more sporting events in the destination was another way to positively impact the local economy,” said Jay Burress, president & CEO, Visit Anaheim. “On average, the U.S. sports industry generates nearly $9 billion a year in revenue (nationally). Dedicating a team and Visit Anaheim’s resources is a strategic step to continue following our mission."
Sports Anaheim will form an advisory council, managed by the Visit Anaheim team, comprised of local business representatives and key regional sports leaders to help attract and host sporting events.
Anthony Brenneman has also joined Visit Anaheim’s Sports Anaheim division as sports events manager, to engage with local vendors and sporting groups, while building the division’s prominence in the destination.
Past sporting events in Anaheim include:
- NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament First and Second Round (2008).
- NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Western Regionals (1998, 2001, 2003, 2011, 2014).
- 1999 NCAA Frozen Four.
- UFC 63, UFC 59, UFC 76, UFC 121, UFC 157, UFC on FOX 1.
- 2006 World Gymnastics Championships.
- 2004 U.S. Team Trials – Gymnastics.
- 2005 World Badminton Championships.
For more information on Sports Anaheim check out: www.SportsAnaheim.org.
