Visit Fort Wayne is deepening its investment in sports tourism with the establishment of the Allen County Sports Commission, led by Visit Fort Wayne’s Senior Sports Development Manager Jazmín Zavala.
Visit Fort Wayne news release:
Visit Fort Wayne launches Allen County Sports Commission
Fort Wayne, Indiana (May 7, 2026) – In the third year of the 10‑Year Tourism Master Plan, Visit Fort Wayne is deepening its investment in sports tourism with the establishment of the Allen County Sports Commission, led by Visit Fort Wayne’s Senior Sports Development Manager Jazmín Zavala.
Announced today at Visit Fort Wayne’s annual Power of Tourism and Hospitality Awards Luncheon, the Allen County Sports Commission will formalize and elevate Visit Fort Wayne’s existing destination sports initiatives. Visit Fort Wayne will continue to lead county‑wide destination sales and marketing, uniting sports venues, rights holders, and event organizers to strengthen the overall tournament and event experience.
A central component of this effort is the creation of a Commission composed of business and community leaders who are passionate about sports and committed to its growth. These members will serve as innovators and advisors to Visit Fort Wayne with the focus on growing sports investment in the community.
“Sports tourism is no longer a niche industry. It is a powerful economic engine drawing event planners, athletes, and families from across the country. By embracing a shared strategy and committing to investment through the Allen County Sports Commission, we aim to capture this momentum and create a unified effort,” explains Jill Boggs, Visit Fort Wayne President and CEO.
Visit Fort Wayne’s 10-year Tourism Master Plan called for a community‑wide needs assessment in regards to sports — asking whether a sports entity was needed and where it should live. Visit Fort Wayne worked with Gamechangers Consulting and local sports stakeholders to assess the need for a more cohesive strategy and collaboration, and recommended that the entity be housed at Visit Fort Wayne as the community’s destination sports experts.
As the Commission formalizes and strategic initiatives take shape, additional information will be available at AllenCountySportsCommission.com
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