Spokane Sports Commission honored with national award

The Spokane Sports Commission has received a national award for developing sports in the region.

The nonprofit organization was selected as “Sports Commission of the Year” by the National Association of Sports Commissions.

The Spokane Sports Commission was recognized for making its community a sports destination by hosting more than 58 events in 2018, including 13 national and two international events.

Those events drew 46,000 athletes, generated 59,000 hotel-room nights and resulted in an economic impact of more than $58 million, according to a news release from the NASC.

“Sports tourism is an important part of our economy and I’m proud that our board and staff are being honored for this work,” Eric Sawyer, CEO of the Spokane Sports Commission. said in a statement. “We set lofty goals and are committed to making our region a premier destination for amateur athletes.

“We do this by offering superior sports services to our clients as well as providing exceptional and unique experiences for visiting athletes.”

The award winners were announced Wednesday at the 27th annual NASC Sports Event Symposium in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The Spokane Sports Commission was founded in 1989 and is responsible for recruiting, retaining and facilitating sporting events in the region.