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 225 new sporting events have come to Columbus since the Sports Commission first hit the ground running in 2002, generating an estimated $250 million in visitor spending.* GCSC, a non-profit organization, 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: To provide leadership, guidance and marketing expertise in attracting regional, national and international sporting events and activities to benefit Greater Columbus economically and socially.
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 $250 million** in new visitor spending generated since the Greater Columbus Sports Commission was created:
- Restaurants/Food – $80 million – 32%
- Retail/Other – $58 million – 23%
- Transportaion – $47 million – 19%
- Recreation – $40 million 16%
- Lodging – $25 million 10%
*Not including annual events
**Based on research formulas provided by Longwoods International








