Hear from the unicorns in the sports biz, how they achieved their dreams and the see the inner workings of the sports business. In this conversation, Megan Leatham, the CEO of the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation, discusses the role and function of sports commissions. She explains that sports commissions are organizations that work to bring sporting events to their cities, with the goal of driving economic impact. Megan highlights the unique aspects of the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation, including its close ties to the Olympic movement and its role in attracting outside events to the city. Colorado Springs is known as Olympic City USA. She also discusses the funding model of sports commissions and how they measure economic impact. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the importance of collaboration and the power of sports in bringing communities together.

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00:00 Introduction of Megan Leatham
01:26 Overview of the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation
04:39 The Unique Aspects of Colorado Springs as Olympic City USA
07:47 Megan's Career Path to CEO of the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation
10:42 The Goal of Sports Commissions in Cities and Communities
12:20 Funding Models and Revenue Sources for Sports Commissions
16:02 Measuring Economic Impact and Subjective Benefits of Events
23:44 Quick Hitters: Megan's Background and Lessons Learned
26:31 Shameless Plug and Closing Remarks
28:23 Snazzy Music Out

Takeaways
- Sports commissions work to bring sporting events to their cities and drive economic impact.
- The Colorado Springs Sports Corporation has close ties to the Olympic movement and serves as a conduit for bringing outside events to the city.
- The funding model of sports commissions varies, but they are often partially funded by the city or fall under the visitors bureau.
- Measuring economic impact can be challenging, but factors such as hotel stays, spectator numbers, and local spending are taken into account.
- Collaboration and community support are crucial in the success of sports commissions and attracting events to a city.

Intro Song: All World
Artist: JMPSCR

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