The Global Gathering for the Sports-Event Industry
TEAMS: Travel, Events and Management in Sports, stands as the world’s leading conference and expo for the sports-event industry. Presented by SportsTravel and produced by Northstar Meetings Group, TEAMS has for more than 25 years helped define the sports-event and appointment-based trade show industries. The 2026 edition, TEAMS ’26, will be held October 26–29 in Birmingham, Alabama.
A Hub for Sports-Event Professionals
TEAMS draws more than 1,300 participants including CEOs, executive directors and event managers from sports organizations as well as representatives from sports commissions and convention bureaus, corporate sponsors, event suppliers and other hospitality industry opinion leaders. The conference is designed to connect the entire ecosystem of professionals involved in producing and managing sport events.
The significance of this industry is substantial. Sports-related travel generates 90 million room nights and $32 billion in direct spending every year, with sports ranking as one of the strongest segments in the entire travel industry. Sports-related meetings and conventions generate nearly 25 million room nights annually, highlighting the immense economic impact of this sector.
The Appointment-Based Trade Show Model
What distinguishes TEAMS from traditional conferences is its curated business marketplace. One-on-one appointments allow sports-event organizers quality face-to-face time to strengthen relationships with destinations, hotels, venues and suppliers. This appointment-based trade show model ensures that every participant’s objectives are met, creating a dynamic deal-making environment.
U.S. Olympic and Paralympic SportsLink
A distinctive feature of the TEAMS Conference is its co-location with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic SportsLink program, designed to build relationships between destinations and the Olympic and Paralympic Movement. At TEAMS ’25 in Columbus, Ohio, attendees heard insights from a wide range of Olympic national governing bodies providing updates on their organizations, offering a unique window into the Olympic ecosystem.
Educational Programming and Industry Insights
TEAMS offers sports-specific educational content featuring the industry’s most innovative programming. Recent conferences have tackled key topics including hotel trends, the NCAA bid cycle, and the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games. The 2024 event in Anaheim explored LA28’s new sports and the decade ahead in sports-related travel, examining how major events like the World Cup and Olympic Games are driving important travel policy discussions and shaping destination positioning.
TEAMS Europe: Expanding the Global Reach
Building on the success of the U.S. conference, TEAMS Europe serves as the continent’s premier gathering for the sports-event industry. TEAMS Europe ’26 is being held March 17–19 at The Belfry Hotel & Resort in Sutton Coldfield near Birmingham, England. The event brings together hosted event organisers from international sports federations, professional and semi-professional leagues, mass participation events, youth sports, and esports with destinations, venues, and suppliers eager to grow their share of the global sports travel market.
Looking ahead, TEAMS Europe ’27 will move to Manchester, taking place March 23–25, 2027 at the Etihad Stadium, home of Manchester City Football Club. This marks the sixth edition of TEAMS Europe and represents a significant expansion for the event.
Looking Ahead: Future Host Cities
The TEAMS Conference has announced host locations through 2031, reflecting the event’s continued growth and vitality:
- TEAMS ’25: October 13–16, 2025 – Columbus, Ohio
- TEAMS ’26: October 26–29, 2026 – Birmingham, Alabama
- TEAMS ’27: October 18–21, 2027 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Networking and Recognition
Beyond the business appointments, TEAMS provides unrivaled networking opportunities through a variety of social functions designed to help build valuable relationships. The conference also hosts the annual SportsTravel Awards, honoring the best events, new venues and host cities in the sports-event industry.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
TEAMS strives to create an environment of inclusion at its conferences, embracing, valuing, and championing attendees’ diverse backgrounds and experiences. The organization continues to expand its diversity, equity and inclusion efforts to ensure that its events embrace diverse perspectives.
For anyone involved in the sports-event industry—whether as an event organizer, destination representative, venue operator, or supplier—TEAMS Conference + Expo remains the essential gathering where business gets done, relationships are built, and the future of sports travel is shaped.