2024 Annual Report

The Durham Sports Commission (DSC) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to create economic and social impact by leading the community’s efforts to attract, support and promote youth, amateur collegiate and professional sporting and recreational events. The DSC seeks to maximize the potential of Durham’s sports facilities and venues, as well as provide leadership and guidance to the public and private sectors on developing athletic facilities and programs to positively benefit the quality of life of the residents of Durham.  

When you think about sports tourism, you immediately think about sporting events. But as I reflect on my second year as the Durham Sports Commission Board Chair, I could not be prouder to be a part of an organization that recognizes sports tourism can be so much more. Throughout my career in the sports industry, I have seen sports be a true agent for good in the communities they touch. When you see the work that the DSC team is doing here in Durham, you will see the same. 

The key behind any successful organization, sports or not, is the people behind it. I am always amazed by the thoughtfulness, innovation and eye for the future that Executive Director Marcus Manning, Deputy Director Kaila’Shea Menendez, and Assistant Director Lulu Black carry in their day-to day work. No matter the event or organization, the DSC team is not solely focused on results, but instead, they recognize the importance of building relationships. From youth sports to professional athletics, they are committed to celebrating the individuals who make Durham a true City of Champions. They treat youth events like the Russell E. Blunt East Coast Invitational with the same intentionality, thoroughness and care as championship events like the NAIA Football National Championship. 

The DSC team continues to find ways to support the community through initiatives like the One Team, One Durham Fund, which helps offset the rising costs for local youth participants in sports. They lead the charge for transformative projects like building a new sports complex in Durham. They never stop seeking out events that will bring both a positive economic and social impact to Durham. This year, the DSC bid on and won the right to host the 2025-2027 CIAA Football Championships, an event that last called Durham home in 2015 and is sure to thrive with the passionate HBCU culture we have here. They also successfully partnered with Duke University on the bid for the 2027 National Collegiate Men’s and Women’s Fencing Championship, continuing to establish Durham as a championship hub.

Perhaps my proudest moment so far in my time as Board Chair is seeing the growth and impact of the Emerging Women in Sports Leadership Summit. I have had the honor of speaking in the first two years of the event that, in partnership with Women Leaders in Sports and WISE: Greater Raleigh, have brought together women of all walks of life to connect and engage with other women in the sports industry. It’s a powerful thing to walk into a room full of women and watch them leave empowered as leaders. I can’t wait to see how this one-of-a-kind event continues to grow and flourish next year and beyond.  

The strength in our mission lies in the community I am proud to call home. Whether it’s the NAIA Football Championship, the Emerging Women in Sports Leadership Summit, the Champion Durham Classic, or one of the numerous other sporting events the DSC plays a part in, I encourage you to come out and experience a DSC event first-hand.  

I would like to thank Marcus, Kaila’Shea and Lulu for all of their outstanding work this year. I would also like to thank my fellow board members for providing leadership and guidance, our sponsors for believing in the work we are doing and the Durham residents who recognize and support our mission with a passion. As you read on in this report to see the economic impact, social impact and highlights from this past year, I encourage you to do so while keeping in mind that we are just scratching the surface of what the Bull City can be.  

Dr. Ingrid Wicker McCree, 

Board Chair, 2023-24 

Our board of directors is comprised of forward-thinking leaders in the Durham community dedicated to the future of sports in our region. Members provide guidance as the DSC continues to partner with and support Durham’s local sports ecosystem while recruiting more championship events to the Bull City.

	Ingrid Wicker McCree, Ed.D. Chair Consultant PICTOR Group		Ray Trapp Vice-Chair District Manager Duke Energy Corporation
	Mitch Moser​ Secretary/Treasurer Higher Education Consulting Director Huron Consulting Group		Dan Hill Retired insurance broker- Former President of the Carolinas Golf Association- Former partner of the Orange County Speedway
	Bill Kalkhof Retired, former CEO of Downtown Durham Inc. (1993-2013)		Jonathon Leach Executive Director of Administration North Carolina Central University
	Umar Muhammad Professor of Sport Management/ Faculty Athletic Representative St. Augustine’s University		Scott Strickland Assistant General Manager – Operations Durham Bulls Baseball Club
	Angelique Stallings Vice President of Community Investment Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce		Ryan Craig  Health and Welfare Consultant Gallagher

In June 2024, longtime Durham Sports Commission Board Member and former Board Chair Dan Hill passed away. Dan, a founding board member, played a transformational role in assisting the DSC to achieve several milestones and creating a path for future sustained success. Dan was a true visionary in the Durham community, and he is dearly missed.  

In June 2024, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association selected Durham as the host city for the 2025-2027 CIAA Football Championships. The DSC submitted the bid to host the championships at Durham County Memorial Stadium. The CIAA is the oldest HBCU conference in the country and will bring passionate fan bases and high-level competition to Durham for the next three years. We are thrilled to partner with the CIAA to take the championship game to the next level. 

The NCAA selected Duke University as the host site for the 2027 NCAA Fencing Championships. The bid to host the championships were jointly submitted by Duke University and the Durham Sports Commission. This will be the third time the NCAA Fencing Championships will come to Durham, which were most recently held at Cameron Indoor Stadium in 2023.

The Durham Sports Commission’s mission includes creating social impact through: 

• Leading the community’s efforts to attract, support and promote youth, amateur, collegiate and professional sporting and recreational events focused on a positive impact on our community.

• Partnering with community organizations that are aligned with our mission.

• Giving individuals opportunities to gain experience and get involved in our sports community with our internship and volunteer programs.

• Providing opportunities for sports participation to local youth through the One Team, One Durham Fund .

In 2023-2024, the DSC hosted and provided financial support to a number of events that generated a significant social impact in Durham, including hosting the Emerging Women in Sports Leadership Summit at the Durham Convention Center. The DSC also supported the Triangle Race for the Cure, the Trey Ennis Lacrosse for Leukemia Memorial Tournament and the Battle for the Blades Softball Tournament and Community Event.  

The DSC also generates a social impact through partnering with community organizations, such as the Boys and Girls Club of Durham and Orange Counties, Downtown Durham YMCA, Durham Rescue Mission and G.R.A.B. Durham.  

The DSC believes in the importance of giving individuals the opportunity to gain experience and get involved through our internship and volunteer programs. We focus on creating mutually beneficial opportunities and have spent the last fiscal year strengthening both programs.  

The One Team, One Durham Fund (1T1D) supports youth sports development in the area with grants awarded to local nonprofits. The 1T1D Fund is 100% privately funded and provides financial assistance to support youth sports in the areas of: 

• Leadership development 

• Pay for participation in leagues, membership, and organization fees  

• Access to non-traditional sport opportunities 

Grants are awarded up to $200 per recipient to 501(c)3 organizations operating in Durham, with up to five people from an organization eligible to apply.   

In FY24, the DSC awarded 1T1D grants to the following organizations: 

• Bull City Silverbacks

• Durham Academy

• Durham YMCAs 

• Imagine Active 

The DSC knows that it takes a community-wide effort to help increase the social and economic impact of sports. Many thanks to Durham Sports Club, Capitol Broadcasting Company and Marco’s Pizza for supporting the DSC’s mission of expanding access and championship play in Durham through sponsorship. 

We also want to thank the following organizations for their support of the DSC this past year:

• Chick-fil-a
• Dame’s Chicken and Waffles
• Durham Coca-Cola
• Orange Blossom Classic
• Sheetz

At the center of creating economic and social impact through sports, the DSC is prepared to advocate for sports facility development and enhancements at every turn. Through research, stakeholder listening sessions, and feasibility studies, four success factors have been identified for a future facility in Durham: 

• It serves as a community asset. 

• It expands opportunities for participation for people of all ages in the Durham community. 

• It is a significant driver of economic impact. 

• It operates with a sustainable business model. 

The following charts reflect the income and expenses of the DSC from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. The DSC provided financial assistance for a record 56 events in FY24. This was reflected in both grants and events. 

With brand awareness in mind, the DSC strives to create innovative content on social media, while keeping a finger on the pulse of all things sports in the Bull City. We aim to promote events, tell the stories of those who laid the foundation for sports in Durham and celebrate the those who continue to change the game.  

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