April 02, 2025 | Sports Destination Management
#252: April 02, 2025
Travel Sports

New Bill Could Allow for Participation in Both High School and Travel Sports

For decades, the line between club sports and high school sports has been a thick one, with some state associations that govern interscholastic sports barring student athletes from competing on a club or travel team during the high school season. But new legislation being introduced in Illinois could smooth the path and allow for dual participation.

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Destination Spotlight

Batter Up!

Hopkinsville, Kentucky is a prime destination for hosting sporting events of all types and sizes. From state-of-the-art facilities to vibrant local culture, the city provides everything needed to create an unforgettable sporting experience. Hopkinsville has a proven track record of hosting successful sports events of all types. Learn more here.

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Batter Up!
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Featured Destination
Welcome to Monroeville. You

Welcome to Monroeville. You're Home Here

Looking for a place for your next tournament? Monroeville has everything you need (and more). Learn all about what this area offers.

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In other news and commentary...
New Youth Soccer Age Rule: What Event Owners Should Know

As long as there have been youth sports, there have been varying opinions as to the best way to define age groups. A new rule by three major youth soccer organizations has resulted in the adoption of a seasonal year age group formation cycle for its players starting with the 2026-27 season. Here are the key facts that all event owners should know.

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New IOC President's Views Likely to Filter Down to Youth Sports Industry

Former Olympic swimmer Kirsty Coventry broke down multiple barriers when she was elected the 10th president of the IOC. At 41, she is the youngest woman and first African to hold the position. Since IOC priorities filter down to all sports at all levels, it behooves the youth and amateur sports industry to be familiar with her views and priorities.

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College Club Programs Providing New Opportunities for Events, Destinations

The news that Erie Sports Commission will host the National Club Basketball Association Championships in April came at an opportune time and proved a key point: Other colleges may be cutting sports but opportunities to play still abound. In addition to providing an economic boon for destinations, event owners can capitalize on the revenue stream.

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Sports Leagues Back New Bill Allowing Local Officials to Disable Drones

While we've seen plenty of news about unauthorized drones appearing in the skies over pro games, authorities have found they are stymied, with little ability to disable these UAVs. Now, a new bipartisan bill could give state and local law enforcement officials the authority and tools necessary to protect those events from aerial threats in real time.

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New In-Facility Technology Creating Immersive Experiences

Updating or building new athletic facilities is more than just creating a modern environment with the latest equipment; it's about creating immersive experiences. This evolution is reshaping youth sports and creating new opportunities to engage athletes, fans, students and the entire community. Scoreboard technology is leading the way in this regard.

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Live Rays, Dead Birds and Other Offbeat MLB Factoids

Want a sure sign of spring to distract you from your busted bracket? Major League Baseball has stepped up to the plate. This comes on the heels of an extremely lucrative and well attended spring training season. This year, the season actually began in mid-March with a game in Tokyo. Here is a list of 10 weird facts on the Great American pastime.

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Inside Events
Little League Baseball and Softball

Little League Baseball and Softball

Few organizations are as well known as Little League Baseball and Softball, which organizes and promotes leagues and events throughout the world. With more than two million players and a range of tournaments, championships and series, and with plenty of media coverage, Little League just continues to grow. Here is an inside look at what's ahead.

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Instagram Photo of the Week

Sea turtle nesting season officially starts on May 1 in Northeast Florida, but Volusia County already has its first leatherback eggs, setting a record on County-managed beaches | Instagram | X | Facebook | YouTube

Send us your photos! Send them directly to us or use #sportsdestinations in your posts. Select photos will be presented on sportsdestinations.com, SDM Blitz and in the latest issues of Sports Destination Management magazine. Use #sportsdestinations via X or Instagram

Instagram Photo of the Week
Read the latest issue of Sports Destination Management

March/April 2025 Cover

March/April 2025

Some of the most important words in the Special Olympics are "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt." It is the oath that Special Olympians recite at competitions and I think it embodies the best philosophy ever, not just for sports but for the business of sports. And maybe that is something we all need to strive for. Sports should unite us and let us know what we really have in common: the will to win and the willingness to learn from our losses. Let's start spring, a season of renewal, with that in mind.

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Last word...

The greatest asset, even in this country, is not oil and gas. It's integrity. Everyone is searching for it, asking, 'Who can I do business with that I can trust?'

~ The late, great George Foreman






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