The REPORTER
The City of Westfield announced on Thursday the newly created Westfield Sports Commission. Its mission is to work alongside city officials and community sports organizations to lead the continued development of Westfield’s status as a leader in the sports tourism industry.
In making the announcement, Mayor Andy Cook said, “The new sports commission is a natural progression of Westfield’s leadership in the sports tourism industry built around Grand Park and the Grand Park Events Center. 3.5 million people visited the campus in 2022. The newly-formed commission further enriches our residents’ quality of life while driving economic development through sports.”
The Westfield Sports Commission will operate independently of the city to promote Westfield as a destination for sports tourism and serve as the organizing body developing the business of sports. According to William Knox, the CEO of Legacy Sports Group and a non-voting Board member of the Sports Commission, “This organization will go beyond just promoting Grand Park and other sports facilities in Westfield but will also interface with the business community to develop relationships and sports related business opportunities for the Westfield community.”
The Sports Commission will be the fiduciary for state grants for Westfield organizations seeking to secure dollars through the state bid fund. It will work to develop further the Grand Park Research and Development Hub for the city. Additional strategies will be produced as the Commission explores expanded opportunities.
Board members of the Westfield Sports Commission include the following individuals:
- Joseph Loftus, Partner, Barnes and Thornburg LLP
- Patrick Tamm, President, Tamm Capital Group
- Christine Hill, AVP, Global Customer Experience Strategy, Eli Lilly and Company
- Matt Deck, Chief Operating Officer, Tradewinds Logistics
- LeAnne Zentz, Associate Broker, Berkshire Hathaway
Non-voting board members include the following:
- William Knox, President, Legacy Sports Group
- Karen Radcliff, Director, Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer, Hamilton County Sports Authority
The Westfield Sports Commission, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3), will continue working with Team Indiana, the Hamilton County Sports Authority, and similar organizations to secure grant funding from the state and will also work with the Westfield business community to develop events and membership programs to fund the organization.