West Michigan Sports Commission

WMSC President Mike Guswiler spoke last week to members of the WMPRSA - West Michigan Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America on the panel, "PR and Sports - A Winning Combination" about the power and impact of sports tourism in West Michigan. Mike shared the stage with Randy Cleves and Alex Eisen with the Grand Rapids Griffins and Grand Rapids Rise, Brittney DeLand with the Grand Rapids Gold, and Jim Jarecki with the West Michigan Whitecaps. Thanks for the opportunity to share why sports tourism matters to West Michigan's economy! #WMPRSA #PRSA #sportstourism #experienceGR

?? Join Us at The Women's Sports & Health Expo! ?? We’re thrilled to invite you to be part of the Women's Sports & Health Expo, happening at DeVos Place on February 22, 2025! Our mission is simple but powerful: to celebrate, educate, and inspire women and girls in sports and wellness. With your sponsorship, you’ll make a meaningful impact on our Expo and our community. ? November Sponsorship Special ? For this month only, sign up for our Gold, Silver, or Bronze sponsorship packages, and 25% of every sponsorship dollar will go directly to Victory Lap, the West Michigan Sports Commission's Community Fund! Together, we can promote wellness, empowerment, and support youth sports programs across West Michigan. A big thank you to Katy Tigchelaar and her team's support of this event! Check out the details in the attached flyer, visit our website, or contact Amy Muller to get started! Learn more about Victory Lap and the great work they do for our community, and let’s team up to create a healthier, more active community! ?? ?? Women's Sports & Health Expo: https://www.wshexpo.com/ ?? Victory Lap: https://lnkd.in/gk_kH6kb

?? The Beer City Open, hosted by the Grand Rapids Pickleball Club, was recognized by Sports Destination Management as a Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism. The event resulted in $2.4 million in economic impact and had 1,000 participants (up from 400 participants in 2018). In 2024, Major League Pickleball hosted its Mid-Season Championship during the Beer City Open. https://lnkd.in/gT_84HPf

We appreciate Crain's Grand Rapids Business' recognition of WMSC President Mike Guswiler as one of the 200 Most Influential Leaders in West Michigan for 2024! He has worked tirelessly for the past 30 years in hospitality and tourism with private and nonprofit organizations, including the West Michigan Sports Commission since its inception, driving economic impact through tourism. Congratulations to Mike and all of the other 200 Influential Leaders! #Crains200mostinfluentialleaders #Crains200 #crainsgrbusiness #experiencegrandrapids

In case you missed the news, community leaders recently broke ground on the Meijer Sports Complex expansion project - with construction starting this month! Thanks to many generous donors, the campaign has now reached $13 million – just $500K shy of the project total. Recent donations include: ??$3 million one-time community enhancement grant from the State of Michigan thanks to State Senator Mark Huizenga ??$1.5 million from Alro Steel ??$750,000 secured by Congresswoman Hillary Scholten through FY 2024 Community Project Funding Requests ??Other anonymous donations Thanks to all who participated in this exciting news! There's still time to get involved in the Winning Streak Campaign - learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gNdvrcGY

We're looking for one full-time person and three interns to join our team! Administrative Assistant (full-time position) Events Internship Hockey Manager Internship (Meijer State Games of Michigan) Marketing Internship Those interested can learn more and apply by visiting https://lnkd.in/eNie7PjC

With green venues, a walkable downtown, and efficient public transportation, Grand Rapids is leaning into what it means to be an eco-friendly destination. ?? ?? As a founding member of the Grand Rapids 2030 District, the city collaborates with over 70 businesses, nonprofits, and government entities to reach its goal of significantly reducing its carbon footprint by 2030. Additionally, it is one of just 11 U.S. cities striving for zero net carbon buildings by 2050 through the Zero Cities Project. Click the link below to discover how Grand Rapids is committed to being a sustainable meeting destination. ???? https://lnkd.in/g7CMyj-t #ExperienceGR #GrandRapidsMI #Sustainability

When it comes to booking a venue for a sporting event, FLEXIBILITY is the key to success. Read WMSC President Mike Guswiler's article in the September/October issue of Sports Destination Management about considerations to make before and after selecting a facility to ensure a win-win partnership. https://lnkd.in/ezq_KXvy #SportsDestinationManagement #SDM #sportstourism #experiencegrandrapids #experiencegr

As the Paralympic Games enters its second week of competition, we celebrate that the largest national adaptive sports event comes to Grand Rapids next year - The Hartford Nationals by Move United. And 9-year-old athlete Charlotte Lindsey from Otsego is already getting ready! Thanks to Remi Monaghan and FOX 17 : WXMI TV for telling her inspiring story and sharing this exciting news for West Michigan! https://lnkd.in/gCmisaT7 #ParalympicGames #Paralympics #thehartfordnationals #otsegomichigan #MoveUnited

As the Paralympic Games get underway tomorrow, we are excited to host The Hartford Nationals by Move United in 2025 and 2026 - the largest and longest-running national sport championship event for athletes with a physical disability, visual impairment or intellectual disability. The 2025 event scheduled for July 11-17 will bring more than 400 youth and adults with a physical disability competing in at least seven sports, along with over 150 coaches from 34 states and the District of Columbia. Thanks to Rapid Growth Media for the excellent feature. https://lnkd.in/gKtnDbQk #thehartfordnationals #MoveUnited #Paralympics #paralympicgames