The cities that consistently land major events — national championships, touring concerts, marquee tournaments, and large-scale community celebrations — are doing the work. They’ve built the venues, established the relationships, developed the operational infrastructure, and made the community investments that put them on the short list when event organizers are deciding where to go next.

For most cities, the gap between hosting a regional tournament and hosting a major event is closeable. But closing it requires a clear-eyed understanding of what event organizers look for, what makes a venue and a community competitive, and what cities that consistently win major events do that positions them ahead of the competition.

This session is a candid, behind-the-scenes look at the major event landscape — how events are awarded, what facility and community criteria drive decisions, and what city leaders and venue operators can do right now to position their community as a destination that major events choose on purpose.