About GCSC

The Greater Columbus Sports Commission was created in 2002 to attract professional, collegiate, amateur and youth sporting events to Greater Columbus. More than 200 new sporting events have come to Columbus since GCSC first hit the ground running in 2002, generating an estimated $200 million in visitor spending.* GCSC continues to work to retain annual bid events and pitch new bids, ensuring that sports will continue to positively impact the Greater Columbus economy.

The Greater Columbus Sports Commission is the only organization 100 percent focused on attracting sporting events to Columbus

Our Vision: For Greater Columbus to be recognized as a premier destination for professional, collegiate and amateur sporting events on a national and international level.

Our Mission: The mission of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission is to build civic community pride, prosperity and vitality by attracting and retaining state, regional, national and international sporting events and activities to the Greater Columbus area.

New Look

In 2011, the Greater Columbus Sports Commission went through a complete re-branding as part of the ColumbUS image campaign, the unprecedented collaboration towards a marketing and image-building partnership included primary stakeholders: the City of Columbus, Experience Columbus, the Columbus Chamber, the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, the 200Columbus the Bicentennial, the Columbus Foundation, the Columbus Partnership and Columbus2020.

           

Hospitality and Leisure: A Pillar of our Economy

Visitors spend $7.23 billion in Central Ohio annually and pay $1 billion in local, state and federal taxes. The hospitality and leisure industry impacts 60,000 jobs in Franklin County and repersent 10% of the local economy.

Breakdown* of the estimated $200 million** in new visitor spending generated  since the Greater Columbus Sports Commission was created:

  • Restaurants/Food – $64 million – 32%
  • Retail/Other – $46 million – 23%
  • Transportaion – $38 million – 19%
  • Recreation – $32 million 16%
  • Lodging – $20 million 10%


*Not including annual events
**Based on research formulas provided by Longwoods International

Annual Report »Learn more about GCSC

GCSC Board »Meet our board