OC DESTINATIONS FORM ORANGE COUNTY SPORTS COMMISSION

ANAHEIM, Calif., (11/12/19) – As announced today at the Anaheim Convention Center, six Southern California destinations will partner to form the Orange County Sports Commission. The OCSC’s mission is to pursue and attract amateur and professional sporting opportunities regionally, nationally and internationally to improve the Orange County economy. 

“We are thrilled to usher in a new era of opportunity and unity for sporting events in Anaheim and Orange County,” said Jay Burress, Visit Anaheim President and CEO. “The commission allows the OC to emerge as the premier sports destination with a number of venues for land and water sports.”

The commission’s board will consist of sports and business leaders in the area to provide a singular and united voice for the community. Burress will serve as president, while Tim Ryan, EVP, Chief Operating Officer: Anaheim Ducks and President and CEO of Anaheim Arena Management, will serve as chairman. Wendy Haase, Vice President, Destination Irvine, will serve as secretary/treasurer. 

“We are excited to collaborate with our Orange County destination partners to form the Orange County Sports Commission (OCSC), as we look forward to promoting ourselves as a premier destination for various sporting events. Health and wellness are in our DNA so it’s important for us to take part in initiatives that underscore the importance of healthy living,” said Ashley Johnson, president & CEO of Visit Laguna Beach and OCSC board member. 

“The Orange County Sports Commission is the next step in developing and producing elite sporting events and competition,” said Ryan. “The commission presents an incredible opportunity to capitalize on the number of different world-class venues in the area.”

Over the last two years, the Sports Anaheim team ushered in 143 events with an economic impact reaching over $391,010,549 and welcomed over 1,354,000 attendees to Orange County.  The commission will build upon Sports Anaheim’s success of supporting organizations to host events in the region and will position itself as the premier sports destination.  Committed to improving opportunities for the Orange County community to play sports and lead a healthy lifestyle, the OCSC will be an advocate for healthy and active living.

In partnering with these premier destinations and marquee organizations, the Orange County Sports Commission will extend its reach with venue and facility accessibility.
 
OCSC DESTINATION PARTNERS
Visit Anaheim
Travel Costa Mesa
Visit Dana Point
Visit Huntington Beach
Destination Irvine
Visit Laguna Beach
 
INITIAL OCSC COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Anaheim Ducks®
American Sports Center
Honda Center®
Knott’s Berry Farm®  

Spearheading the commission is Roy Edmondson, Executive Director, OCSC.  Recently appointed, Edmondson joined Visit Anaheim in 2015 and under his leadership, the Sports Anaheim department earned Sports Tourism Organization of the Year in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and was also awarded Sports Travel Magazine’s Best Amateur Single-Sport Event for the 2017 International Weightlifting Federation World Championships.  Additionally, Sports Anaheim earned Sports Magazine Reader’s Choice Award in the category of Top Destination in 2019.
 
“Partnering with Orange County destinations allows the commission to unite the region under one sporting entity – creating a more recognizable brand from both a national and international perspective,” said Edmondson.  “The opportunity enables us to compete against other destinations for regional, national and international championships.”
 
For more information on the Orange County Sports Commission please visit: ocsportscommission.com.