DES MOINES, Iowa (September 26, 2024) – It was announced today at the TEAMS Conference & Expo in Anaheim, CA that Des Moines will be the host of the TEAMS Conference & Expo in 2031. Presented by SportsTravel magazine, this event is the leading conference in the sports-event industry. The prestigious gathering will be held at the Iowa Events Center in downtown Des Moines and marks the first time the city has hosted the event.
TEAMS, Travel, Events and Management in Sports, is the largest gathering of CEOs, executive directors, and event managers from sports organizations, sports commissions and convention bureaus, and other hospitality industry leaders.
“This is a massive win for our community,” said Catch Des Moines President and CEO Greg Edwards. “All of the major sports event organizers and national governing bodies attend this weeklong conference. It’s our chance to show off all of the sporting venues in the metro and play host to the decision makers who will impact our community with events for years to come.”
Des Moines was considered a top destination for TEAMS thanks to its existing reputation as a top minor league sports market, coupled with its iconic sports venues and development of new state-of-the-art sports facilities. It has a strong resume of hosting marquee events like several NCAA tournaments, The Dew Tour, USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships, AAU Junior Olympic Games, and the annual PGA Champions Tour Principal Charity Classic.
“We love taking the TEAMS Conference & Expo to destinations that have not previously hosted, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring our event to Des Moines,” said Jason Gewirtz, vice president of the Sports Division of Northstar Meetings Group, which organizes the event. “As I’ve seen first-hand in recent years, Des Moines is a vibrant and welcoming destination with world-class sports venues that will impress our attendees from across the sports-event industry. Des Moines has a ton to offer sports event organizers. Bringing TEAMS there will be the perfect opportunity to showcase everything the city has accomplished.”
About Catch Des Moines
The Greater Des Moines Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Des Moines Area Sports
Commission, collectively known as Catch Des Moines, is the official destination marketing
organization promoting and representing Greater Des Moines to leisure travelers and meeting/sports planners. Our focus is to increase visitors to the metro and elevate the visitor experience to drive economic success and enhance the quality of life in the 14 local Greater Des Moines communities we represent. For more information, visit catchdesmoines.com.