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4 Insights from Destinations International’s 2025 Convention
News and Insights July 22, 2025 Summer is arguably the most important season for the travel industry. Full stop. But here’s a hot take: it’s not because of school breaks, longer days, market seasonality, or a consumer expectation of higher spend. For tourism industry professionals, summer is the season of trendcasting, budgeting, data analysis, and […]
News and Insights
July 22, 2025
Summer is arguably the most important season for the travel industry. Full stop.
But here’s a hot take: it’s not because of school breaks, longer days, market seasonality, or a consumer expectation of higher spend.
For tourism industry professionals, summer is the season of trendcasting, budgeting, data analysis, and most importantly, of idea sharing.
More than 2,000 – including an international delegation from FINN – gathered this year at the Destinations International Annual Convention to: dig into the current challenges facing destination marketers; celebrate the most strategic, innovative forward-looking solutions; and explore the complex interplay between tourism organizations, private sector partners, and consumers’ travel booking behaviors.
Four themes permeated the conversation:
1. Advocacy drives investment.
This topic is one of the core themes in the Destinations International landmark research DestinationNEXT Futures Study, an initiative funded by the Destination Foundation which aims to serve as essential guidance for leaders to strategically adapt and thrive.
It comes as no surprise that during times of uncertainty and unrest, investment sources are a hot topic, and according to the Futures Study, 42% of destination organizations foresee funding risks within three years.
The most consistent discussion across sessions reiterated the importance of destination organizations diversifying their funding sources to ensure if one source disappears, there are still others available. The Convention saw many themes within this overarching theme:
- Bolster community engagement. The input of the local community is critical, and worth the time and resources to recruit and compile. Community voices –
spanning private sector businesses to residents – can be powerful advocates when it comes to policy-making. - Curate relationships with local officials. They’re the ones making the policy decisions.
- Develop sustainably (in all senses of the word). Protect your land, and the culture of the people who live there. Level out visitation peaks and valleys with robust offerings in what is typically considered off-season to avoid overcrowding. Engage the community around decisions around environmental impact, keeping in mind that the majority of travelers are thinking about their environmental footprint. Build and market for a sustainable visitor economy that delivers long-term positive impact on the community.
- Paint a complete picture. Champion the tourism industry by showcasing economic impact and growth potential, along with community support.
2. Events matter, and Sports Tourism is here to stay.
In-market activations and events engage local communities (see #1!), and also drive overnight bookings in a big way.
According to Sports Events Tourism Association, spectator sports generated $47.1 billion in direct spending last year. This number does not include spending around amateur or youth sports, which in 2023 generated another $52.2 billion in direct spending. Meanwhile, according to the American Express 2025 Global Travel Trends Report, 60% of respondents planned to travel for events or sporting events this year.
The economic impact of sports tourism is significant. In September, the NFL will play its first-ever game in Dublin. Ireland anticipates the arrival of approximately 30,000 international visitors, generating over €60 million for the Irish economy, and an additional €20 million for the treasury.
Similarly, Expedia shared data around YoY search trends for the cities that hosted Club World Cup matches this summer. For the group play round which ran in June, host cities saw a 3.3x increase in QoQ search. There was similar lift around the quarter and semi final rounds, and a 4.3x increase for the final rounds in the NY area.
3. There is growing awareness around the importance of elevating Indigenous tourism, equitably.
An increasing number of destinations are cultivating relationships with inclusive engagement at the forefront. Meet Minneapolis’ Native American Tourism Strategy and Explore Edmonton’s mâmawokamâtowin (Walking Forward Together) initiative were exceptional case studies. There was conversation around storytelling, land-based programs, land acknowledgments with true meaning, and Indigenous art. Most significantly, multiple sessions addressed the importance of authentic partnerships rooted in learning, amplifying (not editing), and collaborative product development rooted in Indigenous values.
4. Generative AI meets authenticity.
Travel is driven by curiosity and emotional connection – to places and people. Tourism is at the crossroads here, with the potential to leverage data to create customized digital experiences that bring people closer to the places they’re passionate about. For development, management or marketing organizations without their own direct booking mechanism, it is increasingly important to deliver sophisticated interactive digital experiences that celebrate travelers’ reliance on AI in the planning process while opening the door for authentic local connections.
So, what is the red thread?
This industry brings people together all over the world, through exploration, education, and emotion, and this connection is precious.
We’ve got our work cut out for us.
POSTED BY: Samantha Lacher
Rec Sports
Billings actors launch nonprofit to protect youth following abuse allegations
BILLINGS — What began as troubling accusations against a longtime theater director has become a catalyst for change in Billings, as a group of local actors has launched a new nonprofit dedicated to protecting young performers. Watch to learn about the new nonprofit dedicated to protecting children in theater: Billings actors launch nonprofit to protect […]
BILLINGS — What began as troubling accusations against a longtime theater director has become a catalyst for change in Billings, as a group of local actors has launched a new nonprofit dedicated to protecting young performers.
Watch to learn about the new nonprofit dedicated to protecting children in theater:
Billings actors launch nonprofit to protect youth following abuse allegations against former theater director
In May, an investigation by the Arizona Republic revealed allegations of sexual misconduct against Mace Archer, a former Billings theater director who helped form Venture Theatre in the early 90s before departing in 2007. According to the report, Archer is now on leave from his position as a professor of theater at Mesa Community College in Arizona, where students alleged he encouraged inappropriate behavior in class, including forcing students to undress on stage and inappropriately touching them.
The revelations did not just impact current students at Mesa; they reopened old wounds in Billings, where former youth actors expressed that they had experienced similar conduct nearly two decades ago.
“Those of us here in Billings who went through Venture Theatre in the early 2000s were struck by how similar those allegations were to the sorts of things that we ourselves experienced 20 years ago,” said Kate Restad, a Billings actress.
Courtesy
Restad, who began acting with Venture at age fourteen, recalled inappropriate interactions with adults at the theater that at the time were brushed off as normal.
Related: Billings actors end silence on alleged abuse of former theater director
Now, she is turning pain into progress, working to ensure the next generation does not have to endure the same behavior at the hands of predatory adults.
Restad and six other actors and community members recently founded ACT Safe, or Advocating for Children in Theater, a new nonprofit dedicated to implementing child-safety policies, trainings, and educational resources for theaters across the country.
“What we have found in having these conversations is it feels like shining light into a place of darkness, and with that light comes healing,” said Restad.
ACT Safe plans to work with community theaters to train staff on preventing grooming, harassment, and other misconduct. They also hope the policies will help give parents peace of mind when their children take the stage.
ACT Safe/Website
“It’s our dream that someday every time a parent goes to a community theater that they can see a poster in the window saying that theater is a member of the ACT Alliance,” said Restad.
The group’s mission is not to condemn all theaters, as Restad said, many are already doing the right thing, but proper awareness could close the gaps that allow possible harm to happen.
“Many theaters around the country that are doing an incredible job of protecting their children and youth performers, but gaps exist that allow situations like this to occur if you do have a bad actor who comes in.”
In Arizona, The Arizona Republic’s investigation revealed Archer allegedly instructed female students at the college to undress during a midterm while classmates watched. Despite written complaints beginning in February, Archer was allowed to teach the remainder of the semester.
He has not been criminally charged. Fort Peck Summer Theater in Montana cut ties with Archer, who was set to perform in several productions, earlier this summer after the allegations came to light.
Related: Montana theater parts ways with actor facing sexual harassment allegations
When MTN reached out to Archer for comment, he responded by writing only, “You got it wrong.”
The report prompted the college to launch a Title IX investigation, but it also faces criticism for failing to act on student reports sooner. A protest against Archer is planned by Mesa students outside the campus’s theater on Aug. 25.
“It’s been heartbreaking what they have gone through and how hard they have worked to try to have their concerns addressed,” said Restad. “That’s a big part of why we started organizing around the issue here in Billings because we wanted to do everything we could to support them.”
Restad’s own memories of Venture Theatre include similar patterns: inappropriate behavior from adults treated as routine, young actors forced into uncomfortable situations, and little to no oversight. Now, as a parent herself, the past has been difficult to process.
“I looked at these pictures of us from this period of time, and we look like children, and I personally can’t fathom looking at a child and wanting to do anything other than protect them,” said Restad.
Isabel Spartz/MTN News
Stories like hers are now being shared on a private Facebook group titled The Mace Archer Reckoning, which helped bring together those behind ACT Safe.
The nonprofit’s mission has already resonated with parents in Billings. Among them is Jorden Gilfeather, whose son, 14-year-old Emmett, has been drawn to the stage since he was young.
“We came down to NOVA, and he walked in the door, and the director, Gary, went, ‘Oh, here’s our Tiny Tim,’ and that was the end of it. We’ve been in the middle of it ever since,” said Gilfeather.
Her young daughter, Ainsley, has followed in her big brother’s footsteps. The family said the theater has given them countless memories and allowed the children to grow as people.
Courtesy of Jorden Gilfeather
“We love seeing them, we love supporting them, and just seeing that confidence in them grow,” said Gilfeather. “It’s one of those spaces where it doesn’t matter what your background is, if you’re a sports person, if you’re a theater person, whatever, you’re just welcome.”
Emmett and Restad first worked together in the 2023 production of “Straight On To Stardust” at the Yellowstone Repertory Theatre. Restad recalls wanting to ensure his safety at all times, something she did not always have during her time in Venture.
“When I was working with Emmett, it was the first time that I, as an adult actor, was working with a youth actor in an adult show, and so it was just really important to me to keep an eye on him and to make sure that he was being looked after,” said Restad.
MTN News
While Gilfeather has always felt comfortable with her children participating in local productions, she knows not every parent has the same confidence. It is why ACT Safe’s mission has resonated with her.
“People can drop their kids off at sports and come back. Theater should be the same thing,” said Gilfeather. “It shouldn’t take something drastic and awful to happen to someone else for us to look at that change, that we should always be willing to hear ideas and willing to learn to find improvement, especially when it comes to our kids.”
Gilfeather praised NOVA Center for the Performing Arts, the successor to Venture, for already adopting policies that prioritize safety, such as the “Rule of Three,” which requires three or more individuals to be present in rehearsal spaces at all times.
“I think that’s huge because that’s not only protecting yourself as an individual, but you’re protecting the other people that you’re with, too,” said Gilfeather.
It is a policy Restad would want to see more community theaters welcome. But for her, the introduction of ACT Safe is about putting systemic issues at the center stage, because despite her past experiences, Restad’s passion for theater never dimmed.
“It’s a good thing that you can stand up straight and speak loudly, and ensuring that they can have those formative experiences in a radically safe place in a place that preserves what is beautiful and what is sacred about the theater means the world to us,” said Restad.
The story of misconduct does not begin or end with Archer. For Restad and others, he is one of many adults accused of abusing their positions of power in the arts. But she hopes that by elevating these voices, it will be the first step to ensure there’s a brighter path for the next generation.
“It’s 20 years too late. It should never have happened,” said Restad. “But we’re going to do everything that we can to ensure that it doesn’t happen again.”
For more information on ACT Safe, click here.
Rec Sports
The Rutgers Boardwalk: 2025 Themes
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers Boardwalk, presented by Visit New Jersey, returns for year four to highlight the pregame festivities around SHI Stadium. New this year, there will be a different theme each week for fans to enjoy. The fun on Scarlet Knight Way begins four hours before each home game is free for all […]
The official Rutgers Boardwalk poster, seen below, will be available this Thursday for fans to pick up at the pep rally and parade beginning at 3 p.m.
New for 2025, each game follows a theme:
Aug: 28: Rutgers vs. Ohio – COUNTRY NIGHT
• Live country music
• Fried peanuts, corn dogs, barbecue and more
• “Learn to Lasso” station
• Line dance lessons with the Rutgers University Dance Team
• Meet characters like Woody, Jessie and Lightning McQueen
• Postgame fireworks: Kids are invited onto the field after the game for the fireworks show, instructions will be provided during the game
Sept. 6: Rutgers vs. Miami (Ohio) – SIR HENRY’S BIRTHDAY PARTY
• Celebrate Sir Henry’s birthday with all his favorite mascot friends from around the tri-state area
• Debut of Sir Henry’s Castle and Sir Henry’s Kids Club Zone
• Write a birthday card to Sir Henry
• Get there early to get a chance at a piece of Sir Henry’s birthday cake
• Goody bags and birthday hats while supplies last
• Eric LeGrand’s “A Walk to Believe” participants will be parading down the Boardwalk
Sept. 13: Rutgers vs. Norfolk State – ONCE UPON A BOARDWALK
• Meet your favorite princes, princesses and magical characters
• Craft your own crown
• Visit Sir Henry’s Castle for photos with all of our princesses and princes
Sept. 19: Rutgers vs. Iowa – THE BLACKOUT
• Fans will be encouraged to enter SHI Stadium extra early for an interactive “LIGHT UP THE KNIGHT” event
• Shakers and light-up sticks will be distributed throughout the Boardwalk
•Wear Black!
Oct. 17-18: Rutgers vs. Oregon – HALLOWEEN ON THE RUTGERS BOARDWALK
• For the first time: The Rutgers Boardwalk will open at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17 to start Homecoming & Family Weekend and continue through Saturday, Oct. 18 until kickoff
• Safe trick-or-treating along The Rutgers Boardwalk on Friday and Saturday at all of the food trucks
• Kids 12 and under will receive stadium-approved Rutgers Halloween bags
• Meet your favorite Halloween characters both Friday and Saturday
• Come dressed to impress for our Halloween Costume Contest on Saturday, Oct. 18 before the game
• Participate in Simon Sez and a chance to win big prizes at the pep rally on Saturday, Oct. 18 three hours before kickoff
• Live music Friday and Saturday plus a talent show Friday night featuring groups from across campus and our community
Nov. 8: Rutgers vs. Maryland – HEROES AND SUPERHEROES
• Meet your favorite superheroes: Spiderman, Batman, Wonder Woman and more!
• Climb in and explore military vehicles
• Write letters to troops overseas and veterans at Sir Henry’s Castle
• Superhero obstacle courses
• Celebrate ROTC members and veterans during the parade and pep rally three hours before kickoff
Nov. 29: Rutgers vs. Penn State – WINTER WONDERLAND
• Meet Santa Claus
• Visit Sir Henry’s Hot Chocolate Station for a sweet treat delivered by Sir Henry himself! (while supplies last)
• Decorate a Rutgers ornament for your tree at Sir Henry’s Castle
• The Coca Cola Holiday Caravan: Crafts, letters to Santa and holiday giveaways for fans
• Celebrate the senior class “Senior Walk” during the pep rally and Scarlet Walk
New at The Rutgers Boardwalk in 2025:
• A different theme each week for fans to enjoy.
• The Rutgers Boardwalk official poster: Fans will be able to pick up a poster at the pep rally each week.
• Sir Henry’s Kids Club: Collectible jibbitz each week, a “Knight in training membership package,” tickets and your name on the big screen. Open to all fans 12 and under the day they sign up.
• Sir Henry’s Castle: A VIP area for Sir Henry’s Kids Club members that will be unveiled next to the stage starting Saturday, Sept. 6 for Sir Henry’s birthday.
• Custom T-Shirt Airbrush Station: Fans can purchase a game-specific airbrushed t-shirt next to the Nike Team Shop.
• Nike Team Shop: As part of Rutgers’ renewed partnership with Nike, stop by the team shop on The Rutgers Boardwalk for the latest Rutgers Nike merchandise.
• Tailgate Village @ The Rutgers Boardwalk: The Boardwalk’s new and improved pre-game hospitality space for fans looking to setup tailgates within 200 feet of SHI Stadium.
• R Fund Scavenger Hunt: Fans can join here and compete in different adventures for prizes each home game.
Check out the top food trucks in New Jersey, plus free rides, mini golf, petting zoos, pony rides, prizes and live entertainment. Get to The Rutgers Boardwalk early for the pregame parade and pep rally, three hours before kickoff, featuring The Marching Scarlet Knights, Spirit Team, our mascot “Sir Henry,” the Scarlet Knight horse “Excalibur” with the Knight and the football team arrival.
2025 Rutgers Football Home Schedule
Thursday, Aug. 28 (6 p.m., Big Ten Network) vs. Ohio (Youth Sports Day & Postgame Fireworks)
Saturday, Sept. 6 (3:30 p.m., Peacock) vs. Miami (Ohio) (A Walk to Believe/R Community), presented by GGL
Saturday, Sept. 13 (3:30 p.m., Big Ten Network) vs. Norfolk State (Band Day), presented by PNC
Friday, Sept. 19 (8 p.m., FOX) vs. Iowa* (The Blackout), presented by Horizon
Saturday, Oct. 18 (6:30 or 7 p.m.) vs. Oregon* (Homecoming & Family Weekend), presented by RWJ Barnabas Health
Saturday, Nov. 8 vs. Maryland* (Military Appreciation), presented by Provident Bank
Saturday, Nov. 29 vs. Penn State* (Senior Day/Thank You Fans)
* – Big Ten game
All times Eastern
About Visit New Jersey
Visit New Jersey is the official tourism and travel guide for the state of New Jersey, curated by the New Jersey Department of State’s Division of Travel & Tourism. VisitNJ.org makes it easier than ever to discover New Jersey’s hidden gems and beloved destinations.
The Scarlet Knights are coming off a second straight winning season, posting a program-high points per game in the Big Ten era. The 2025 campaign, which starts Aug. 28 versus Ohio, opens with four consecutive games at SHI Stadium for the first time since hosting five in a row to begin 2007.
Season and single game tickets are on sale. To purchase, visit ScarletKnights.com/tickets or call 866-445-GORU (4678). Benefits of being a season ticket holder include an exclusive opportunity to purchase season parking on Busch campus within walking distance to SHI Stadium, special pricing, a payment plan option, early access to season tickets and other Rutgers ticket offers throughout the year. Purchasing season tickets directly supports student-athletes. Visit Rutgers Football Ticket Central for more information.
Follow Rutgers football on X (@RFootball & @RUboardwalk), Facebook (/RFootballShow) and Instagram (@rfootball & @ruboardwalk) for the latest news and updates. Also subscribe to the YouTube channel.
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Youth coach found not guilty on charges in shooting during football game
A youth football coach was found not guilty on charges Monday in connection with a shooting during a game that left two people injured.Lamont Ragan has been on trial, accused in a shooting during a youth football game held at Walnut Hills High School in October 2024. On Monday, a jury found Ragan not guilty […]
A youth football coach was found not guilty on charges Monday in connection with a shooting during a game that left two people injured.Lamont Ragan has been on trial, accused in a shooting during a youth football game held at Walnut Hills High School in October 2024. On Monday, a jury found Ragan not guilty on the charges he faced, including attempted murder, felony assault and inducing panic.The jury deliberated for about eight hours before delivering the verdict. Ragan was accused of shooting two people during the youth football game while he was coaching the West End Royals team against the Evanston Bulldogs. The shooting happened on a secondary field that had been rented by a league called Cincinnati United Youth Football and Cheer.Ragan says it was a case of self-defense. League organizers claimed that was not true. During the trial, Ragan’s defense attorney said a person he claimed was the aggressor was not supposed to be on the field. He said in that moment, he had a choice to make and chose to stay alive.After jurors delivered their not guilty verdict, Ragan’s attorney, Will Welsh, said, “The bottom line was he (Ragan) had to make a choice that day and he chose to live.”Welsh described the situation, stating, “The aggressor was not supposed to be on the field. Lamont is a coach. He’s supposed to be on the field. When you don’t know why someone’s running down from the stands onto a field as a coach, things go through your head.”Welsh also commented on the broader implications for youth sports, saying, “We need to look at these youth sports and even, like, high school sports. It’s getting out of hand. Everyone thinks that their child is the next Michael Jordan or Mia Hamm. And they need to rein that in. The only people that should be talking during the game are the coaches and the refs.”After the verdict, Welsh said of Ragan, “He’s relieved. He said it’s hard. Still beating really, really fast. He wants to put this behind him, and he does so much for the community.”Ragan, who had been an inmate at the Hamilton County Justice Center on a $300,000 bond, expressed gratitude for his constitutional and legal rights late on Monday afternoon, but he declined to give an interview. Ragan stated his eagerness to return to working with young people, particularly on educational issues.
A youth football coach was found not guilty on charges Monday in connection with a shooting during a game that left two people injured.
Lamont Ragan has been on trial, accused in a shooting during a youth football game held at Walnut Hills High School in October 2024.
On Monday, a jury found Ragan not guilty on the charges he faced, including attempted murder, felony assault and inducing panic.
The jury deliberated for about eight hours before delivering the verdict.
Ragan was accused of shooting two people during the youth football game while he was coaching the West End Royals team against the Evanston Bulldogs. The shooting happened on a secondary field that had been rented by a league called Cincinnati United Youth Football and Cheer.
Ragan says it was a case of self-defense. League organizers claimed that was not true.
During the trial, Ragan’s defense attorney said a person he claimed was the aggressor was not supposed to be on the field. He said in that moment, he had a choice to make and chose to stay alive.
After jurors delivered their not guilty verdict, Ragan’s attorney, Will Welsh, said, “The bottom line was he (Ragan) had to make a choice that day and he chose to live.”
Welsh described the situation, stating, “The aggressor was not supposed to be on the field. Lamont is a coach. He’s supposed to be on the field. When you don’t know why someone’s running down from the stands onto a field as a coach, things go through your head.”
Welsh also commented on the broader implications for youth sports, saying, “We need to look at these youth sports and even, like, high school sports. It’s getting out of hand. Everyone thinks that their child is the next Michael Jordan or Mia Hamm. And they need to rein that in. The only people that should be talking during the game are the coaches and the refs.”
After the verdict, Welsh said of Ragan, “He’s relieved. He said it’s hard. Still beating really, really fast. He wants to put this behind him, and he does so much for the community.”
Ragan, who had been an inmate at the Hamilton County Justice Center on a $300,000 bond, expressed gratitude for his constitutional and legal rights late on Monday afternoon, but he declined to give an interview. Ragan stated his eagerness to return to working with young people, particularly on educational issues.
Rec Sports
AEG Community Foundation Awards $400,000 in Grants to 20 Nonprofits Across the U.S.
LA Galaxy and LA Galaxy Foundation Amplify AEG’s Commitment to Community Through Ongoing Community Giving and Programming Los Angeles, CA (August 25, 2025) – AEG, the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company, today announced that 20 nonprofit organizations across the United States will receive grants $400,000 from the AEG Community Foundation. The grants, ranging […]
LA Galaxy and LA Galaxy Foundation Amplify AEG’s Commitment to Community Through Ongoing Community Giving and Programming
Los Angeles, CA (August 25, 2025) – AEG, the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company, today announced that 20 nonprofit organizations across the United States will receive grants $400,000 from the AEG Community Foundation. The grants, ranging from $15,000 to $25,000, will support programs focused on K-12 education, the arts, and health and wellness in the communities where AEG and its partners operate.
Several of this year’s grant recipients were nominated by AEG employees who have previously collaborated with or supported these organizations, highlighting their meaningful impact at the local level. Each nomination was carefully reviewed by the Foundation’s national executive board, which selected the final recipients based on their demonstrated commitment to building stronger, healthier, and more equitable communities.
“For 25 years AEG has invested in non-profit organizations that make a meaningful difference in underserved communities with a goal of helping these communities thrive,” said Martha Saucedo, Chief External Affairs Officer, AEG. “The grants being awarded today by the AEG Community Foundation will support the valuable work these nonprofits do every day to uplift and empower the people they serve.”
As part of AEG’s broader commitment to community impact, the LA Galaxy Foundation (LAGF), the official 501(c)(3) non-profit arm of the LA Galaxy, continues to drive meaningful change across Southern California. With a mission to advance the game of soccer and use it as a vehicle for positive transformation, LAGF focuses on three core pillars: expanding access to youth sports, promoting health and wellness, and fostering inclusive communities. Through strategic grants, programming, and partnerships, the Foundation empowers underserved youth and amplifies voices that reflect the diversity of Los Angeles.
Through its Community Partner of the Match initiative, the LA Galaxy highlights the work of local nonprofits and makes a financial gift each game. This years’ recipients include organizations also supported by parent company AEG, such as the Central American Resource Center (CARACEN), A Place Called Home, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Carson. LA Galaxy Foundation programs such as Greener Goals and the Special Olympics Unified Team, which just completed an undefeated 2025 season, promote inclusion, teamwork, and mutual respect through sport.
“Our community giving reflects the spirit of the LA Galaxy. We’re about bringing people together, uplifting youth, and creating opportunities through the power of soccer,” said LA Galaxy President of Business Operations and Chief Operating Officer, Tom Braun. “We are proud to amplify the good work of AEG and amplify our efforts through the LA Galaxy Foundation in supporting organizations that make a lasting impact, especially here in Los Angeles.”
As stated by Tony Brown, chief executive of downtown-based Heart of Los Angeles to the Los Angeles Business Journal: “AEG’s ongoing support – which they’ve provided for decades – is instrumental in moments like these when federal funding for programs has created a sense of scarcity. It’s made the resources tighter… this is when you need those partnerships that have been with you over a long period of time and continue to be part of the community, as we need to be strong in these moments of crisis.”
Learn more about LAGF’s work at lagalaxy.com/community.
The recipients of the AEG Community Foundation 2025 Grant Cycle include:
- BOSS, Inc. (Long Beach, CA)
Little Tokyo Service Center (Los Angeles, CA)
All People Community Center (Los Angeles, CA) - Boys & Girls Club of Carson (Carson, CA)
California Science Center Foundation (Los Angeles, CA) - California Hospital Medical Center Foundation (Los Angeles, CA)
- Central American Resource Center – CARECEN (Los Angeles, CA)
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeast Michigan (Ypsilanti, MI) - City Year New York (New York, NY)
- Heart of Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)
A Place Called Home (Los Angeles, CA)
Inner-City Arts (Los Angeles, CA) - Angelica Center for Arts and Music (Los Angeles, CA)
- Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation (Santa Barbara, CA)
- Alianza Coachella Valley (Coachella, CA)
- Girls Write Nashville (Nashville, TN)
- Youth on Record (Denver, CO)
- The Troy Andrews Foundation (New Orleans, LA
- YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)
Olive Crest (Las Vegas, NV)
*Supported with grants or in-kind by the LA Galaxy and/or LA Galaxy Foundation
Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, AEG is the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company. The company operates in the following business segments:
- Music through AEG Presents, which is dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performances, including the production and promotion of global and regional concert tours, an extensive portfolio of clubs, theaters and other music venues, concerts and special events and world-renowned festivals such as the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival;
- Venues and Real Estate, which develops, owns and operates world-class venues, as well as major sports and entertainment districts like Crypto.com Arena and L.A. LIVE, Uber Platz in Berlin and The O2 in London;
- Sports, as the world’s largest operator of high-profile sporting events and sports franchises including the LA Kings, LA Galaxy and Eisbären Berlin; Global Partnerships, which oversees worldwide sales and servicing of sponsorships including naming rights, premium seating, and other strategic partnerships.
- And Ticketing, through its AXS.com ticketing platform, which provides more than 400 clients worldwide with ticketing services that cover the gamut of entertainments, including sporting events, arena tours, music clubs festival, rodeos and family events.
Through its worldwide network of venues, portfolio of powerful sports and music brands and its integrated entertainment districts, AEG entertains more than 90 million guests annually. More information about AEG can be found at www.aegworldwide.com.
The LA Galaxy are Major League Soccer’s most successful club. Based in Carson, Calif. at Dignity Health Sports Park, the Galaxy have won the MLS Cup a record six times (2002, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2024), the MLS Supporters’ Shield four times (1998, 2002, 2010, 2011) and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup twice (2001, 2005), and one Concacaf Champions Cup (2000) since their inception in 1996. Under the direction of LA Galaxy President of Business Operations and Chief Operating Officer Tom Braun and LA Galaxy General Manager Will Kuntz, the Galaxy are the premier club in MLS, with stars like Landon Donovan, David Beckham, Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Javier Hernandez, Cobi Jones, Riqui Puig and Marco Reus representing LA over the team’s 30 seasons in MLS. For more information on the LA Galaxy, visit www.lagalaxy.com.
Rec Sports
‘Hoosier The Bison’ Set to Make First Public Appearance Saturday, Highlighting New IU Football Gameday Experiences For 2025
BLOOMINGTON, Indiana – Hoosier Football fans will have the chance to enjoy a variety of new and exciting experiences when they watch Coach Curt Cignetti‘s team at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium this fall. These new opportunities all begin this Saturday, Aug. 30, when the 20th-ranked Hoosiers host Old Dominion at 2:30 p.m. […]
These new opportunities all begin this Saturday, Aug. 30, when the 20th-ranked Hoosiers host Old Dominion at 2:30 p.m. for the 2025 season opener. Among the new items planned for this fall are:
Mascot Reveal
Indiana University-Bloomington’s new official mascot, Hoosier The Bison, will make its first public appearance during the pre-game Marching Hundred show Saturday. After re-introducing himself to Hoosier fans before the opening kickoff, ‘Hoosier’ will roam in and around the stadium for the remainder of the game. Fans are encouraged to enter the stadium as early as possible (stadium gates open at 1 p.m.) to ensure they don’t miss what Hoosier has in store for his highly-anticipated debut.
Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium
In addition to the arrival of Hoosier The Bison, fans will also see new signage on the field to recognize the new partnership between Merchants Bank and IU Athletics. Last week, IU announced a 20-year, $50 million agreement with Merchants Bank that includes naming rights for the Memorial Stadium’s playing surface. As a component of the agreement, Merchants Bank will also be providing IU’s student-athletes with comprehensive and complimentary financial literacy training to help them maximize their opportunities in the new world of intercollegiate athletics.
‘Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium’ will be prominently displayed on the field turf beginning Saturday, while additional interior, exterior, and directional signage will be revealed in the coming weeks.
Gameday Experiences
Hoosier fans can take advantage of a series of VIP opportunities that offer on-field, behind-the-scenes, and special recognitions during each of IU’s seven home games this season. These experiences include:
- Hoosier Pre-Game Pass: Register to get a behind-the-scenes, up-close look at IU Football on gameday! Each member of your group will receive a special pregame credential and you will tour the IU Football meeting rooms and training facility; watch pre-game warm-ups from field level; get a group photo from the Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium; and receive a special IU gift bag. Each pre-game pass is good for up to five people (additional passes can be purchased if you have a larger group).
- First IU Game: Commemorate your first IU game with a special IU gift bag and ‘Gift Game’ certificate, which we will have waiting for you at the Hoosier Experience Booth on gameday! You can also upgrade your experience and have Hoosier The Bison make a visit to your seat your first Memorial Stadium visit that much more special!
- Hoosier Birthday: Like the ‘First IU Game’ experience, celebrate your birthday in style with a special IU gift bag and birthday certificate! Hoosier The Bison is also available for an in-seat visit for those who wish to upgrade their experience.
- Shoot the T-Shirt Launcher: After some Mini-Hoosier Hype Crew training, you’ll be ready to launch t-shirts into the Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium crowd. You’ll be accompanied by a member of the IU Athletics staff as you make your way around the stadium during one of the game’s timeouts. You’ll receive a photo of yourself in action, as well as a special IU Gift bag.
- ‘The Walk’ with Hoosier The Bison* – IU’s new mascot will host his own pre-game ‘Walk’ event, reserved exclusively for children ages 13 and under. Participants will first meet Hoosier The Bison before the start of the Walk, and then accompany him to the end of the official ‘Walk’ to be the final fans that can high-five Hoosier players before they enter the stadium.
- Videoboard Announcements – Hoosier fans can purchase a gameday videoboard shoutout to celebrate friends and family during an IU Football game! Display your message on the Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium’s south end zone videoboard for birthdays, anniversaries, retirements, and more.
* Please note that Hoosier The Bison will not be able to participate in the experiences until the Sept 12 Indiana State game due to previously scheduled commitments during the first two games.
B-Town Boulevard
It will once again be a festival-like atmosphere on the lawn south of Memorial Stadium as the area is transformed into B-Town Boulevard. This space will open 2 ½ hours before kickoff, and is open to all ticket holders as well as the general public. It features a concert stage with live bands; food trucks; an outdoor bar; family-friendly games; and other IU-related attractions. A new addition in 2025 is the arrival of Buffalouie’s, which will be selling its famous wings to hungry Hoosiers either in traditional-size orders or in bulk for tailgating. While the area features plenty of pay-as-you-go food truck options, visitors can also consider purchasing a special Food Package Ticket that gives them access to a special Gameday menu of food and drink.
‘The Walk’ Time Has Changed
Indiana Football’s pre-game tradition, ‘The Walk,’ will now take place two hours and 25 minutes before kickoff, a 10-minute change from past years. On Saturday, fans can look forward to it beginning at 12:05 p.m. for the season opener. Indiana Football players, coaches, and the spirit squad will once again congregate on the west side of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall and then march through the parking lot and into Memorial Stadium. This long-standing tradition produces a festive atmosphere and provides fans a chance to wish the team well before the game.
New Pre-Purchase On-Campus Auxiliary Parking Options
While all IU Athletics complex parking is sold out for the 2025 season, there are a series of convenient, on-campus parking opportunities that are all within one mile of Memorial Stadium that fans can now purchase in advance for $50/game. We anticipate these parking opportunities will sellout in advance of the season as well.
Please Note: Only single-game ticket buyers are eligible to pre-purchase a single-game parking pass. Single-game parking is not available for purchase without the purchase of a game ticket. When purchasing your single-game ticket, you will be given the opportunity to pre-purchase parking at one of these on-campus paid parking locations:
Indiana Avenue Lot
800 North Indiana Avenue
0.5 miles to Memorial Stadium
IU Outdoor Pool Lot (grass)
1490 North Fee Lane
0.6 miles to Memorial Stadium
17th Street Lot
17th Street, immediately across the street from St. Paul Catholic Church (1413 East 17th Street)
0.8 miles to Memorial Stadium
Forrest Avenue/Luddy Garage
1015 East 11th Street
0.8 miles to Memorial Stadium
Fee Lane Garage
709 North Fee Lane
0.9 miles to Memorial Stadium
12th and Indiana Lot
861 East 12th Street
0.7 miles to Memorial Stadium
In addition to these paid parking options, the Poplars Garage (415 East 6th Street, 1.4 miles to Memorial Stadium) and Henderson Garage (301 South Indiana Avenue, 1.6 miles to Memorial Stadium) offer free gameday parking for fans. Both lots offer parking on a first-come, first-served basis on gamedays. Space(s) in these lots cannot be reserved in advance.
Rally Towels
Individually designed rally towels will be distributed to all Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium gameday visitors throughout the 2025 season. The rally towels were an enormous hit after making their debut midway through the 2024 season, and they’re back for 2025. Each game towel will have its own special twist unique to that day’s game.
East Side Club
This new premium seating and gameday experience space is officially open for the 2025 season. East Side Club ticket holders will enjoy a premier seat location between the 35-yard lines and new mesh seatbacks, along with the opportunity to request to upgrade their ticket to include access to a dedicated indoor lounge that features complimentary drinks and snacks as well as a cash bar.
Corner Suites
This season will also feature the debut of two new Memorial Stadium Corner Suites in the northwest and southwest corners of the stadium. Located where the stadium’s old ‘flower gardens’ were, these new suites offer spacious seating and edge-of-the-field viewing opportunities for suite visitors. Both suites have already been purchased for the duration of the 2025 season.
Special Events Set for Week Two
IU Football will host Youth Sports Day and Hoosier Bison Buddies Club Day on Sept. 6 in conjunction with the Kennesaw State game. Youth Sports Day is open to children ages 5-12 and will feature a youth runout on the Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium prior to the game. The Hoosier Bison Buddies Club, meanwhile, is IU’s new, rebranded, kids club. Like the Youth Sports Clinic participants, Bison Buddies Club members will be invited to the field as well during the pre-game to run onto the field. Bison Buddies Club members are invited to a special breakfast on gameday with Hoosier The Bison and friends.
Rec Sports
Julian Swartz Joins Milwaukee Men’s Basketball Coaching Staff
Story Links MILWAUKEE – Julian Swartz has joined the staff of the Milwaukee men’s basketball program, head coach Bart Lundy announced today. Swartz, a veteran of over 20 years in the coaching profession, will join the Panthers as the Special Assistant to the Head Coach. “We are thrilled to be […]
MILWAUKEE – Julian Swartz has joined the staff of the Milwaukee men’s basketball program, head coach Bart Lundy announced today.
Swartz, a veteran of over 20 years in the coaching profession, will join the Panthers as the Special Assistant to the Head Coach.
“We are thrilled to be adding Julian to our program,” Lundy said. “He is a Wisconsin native and a seasoned veteran in the business. His experiences as a player and a coach will add to all the areas of our program. Julian has a humble demeanor and fits perfectly with our staff.”
Swartz has many ties to the area as both a coach and as a player, dating back to when he was named the 1999 Associated Press Wisconsin Player of the Year at Waukesha South High School.
“I am extremely grateful to Coach Lundy and Milwaukee for this wonderful opportunity and am excited to help the program pursue excellence in all areas,” Swartz said.
Swartz’s coaching career spans 20+ years, including 14 years at the NCAA Division I level, most recently at Georgia Tech (2016-23) where he was on Josh Pastner’s staff, spending one season as the director of basketball operations before being elevated to assistant coach.
One of two members of head coach Pastner’s staff at Memphis to follow him to Georgia Tech, Swartz arrived at Georgia Tech in May of 2016 after four years with Pastner at Memphis. During his time at Memphis, the Tigers compiled a 92-44 overall record while transitioning to the American Athletic Conference from Conference USA.
Prior to Memphis, Swartz spent three years as a graduate assistant at Marquette (2005-08) with head coach Tom Crean and one as an intern at Indiana (2008).
From 2009-12, he served as a counselor in the West Allis/West Milwaukee school district, counseling kids and teaching character education, while also serving two separate stints as an assistant coach for the Waukesha South High School varsity hoops squad (2003-05, 2009-11) along with coaching youth basketball (2009-12).
A native of Waukesha, Wis., Swartz graduated from Carroll College in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He earned his master’s degree in school counseling in 2008 from Marquette, which made him the recipient of the 2016 Marquette University Alumni Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology Achievement Award.
A highly-successful high school player, Swartz scored 2,123 points in his career at Waukesha South to break the county scoring record. He was inducted into the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2021 and received one of the highest honors when he had his No. 42 jersey get retired by the Blackshirts in February of 2024.
A three-time First-Team All-State selection and the 1999 AP Wisconsin High School Player of the Year, he was also named academic all-state. Swartz began his collegiate playing career at the University of Wisconsin in 1999-2000 and was a member of the Badgers squad that advanced to the 2000 NCAA Final Four.
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