Connect Sports and Varsity Spirit Form Exclusive Partnership

Varsity Spirit Agreement
Connect Sports is pleased to announce an exclusive partnership with Varsity Spirit, the country’s leading dance and cheer event organization. As part of the agreement, Connect Sports will be the only sports tourism industry event where suppliers can meet face-to-face with Varsity Spirit to discuss hosting any of its more than 3,000 annual events. Adam Stluka, director of venue relations at Varsity Spirit, says the partnership is a natural outgrowth of its existing relationship with Connect Sports. “With Connect Sports, we’ve seen success year over year, and our goal with this exclusive partnership is to not only take it to the next level with venue selections across the country but also open up more opportunities with our current partners and allow for a more unified front on our end.” The exclusive opportunity to meet with Stluka and the Varsity Spirit team further cements Connect Sports’ position as the country’s must-attend sports tourism event. Connect Sports, held this year in Louisville, Kentucky, from Aug. 26-28, pairs the country’s best sports event organizers with elite destinations and venues to develop plans for future tournaments and competitions. The event will continue its reputation for star-studded speakers in 2019 with Olympic swimming hero Michael Phelps and World Wrestling Entertainment legend John Cena. “From appointments, speakers and being up to date on the latest industry trends, Connect Sports allows planners to capture every angle in a few short days,” notes Stluka. “Varsity Spirit is one of the most respected names in the cheer and dance industry,” says Patrick Higgins, Connect’s vice president of meetings and events. “Their events are not only highly coveted but they generate over half a million hotel room nights annually. We are very excited to partner with them.” Adds Higgins: “We look forward to leveraging Connect Sports’ products and services to help foster meaningful relationships between Varsity Spirit and host cities and venues.” For more information, contact Patrick Higgins at phiggins@connectmeetings.com. About Connect Connect is a leader in the meetings, events, travel and tourism industry. Specializing in destination marketing, the company produces digital programs, online and mobile solutions, meetings business and travel magazines, trade shows and consumer events, travel guides for newspapers and leisure magazines, and destination information which is distributed through broadcast and custom programs. Connect, formerly known as Collinson Media & Events, introduced the popular Marketplace format to the meetings industry and now produces national shows for meeting planners in the Corporate, Expo, Sports, Diversity, Association and Faith sectors as well as other state- and region- specific meetings- and hospitality-focused events. More information about the company's brands and services is available at connectmeetings.com. About Varsity Spirit Varsity Spirit is the worldwide leader in cheerleading and dance apparel, competitions and camps. Each season it hosts more than 900,000 athletes at more than 600 competitions and hosts more than 325,000 campers at camps around the country. Media contact: Matt Swenson, Editorial Director, mswenson@connectmeetings.com.