In browsing photos for use with an article in this issue, I came across a series of shots taken at a boxing match. One athlete was getting pounded mercilessly by his opponent but each shot showed him fighting his way upright and charging back toward the center of the ring. It was an action that in every way, mirrors our experiences. In the last 12 months, we have been dealt an unprecedented, and certainly unexpected, number of blows. We’ve seen a hurricane that devastated one coast, a bombing that shocked us all, tornadoes, fires, shootings and so much more. But in each case, the community that had been hit, and the country as a whole, kept staggering to its feet, battered but ready to fight back. Sports events are a way we express our strength and our solidarity. Our industry regains its feet and keeps fighting. It’s how we can all win in the face of adversity.
The Southeastern United States has long been a refuge for “snowbird” travelers seeking warmer weather in the winter. But athletes competing in sports events will find the region to be much more than a haven from cold temperatures more....