2022 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 sector on developing athletic facilities and programs to positively benefit the quality of life of the citizens of Durham.

I don’t know about you, but it certainly feels like the pandemic has altered how we each process time. It felt like yesterday I welcomed Executive Director Marcus Manning and Assistant Director India Johnson to the team in last year’s annual report. A few championship events, a new grant program, and millions in economic impact generated for Durham later that you’ll soon read about, it is stunning to think of what they have accomplished in such a short period. Anyone close to the sports commission knows it’s our hope to build on this momentum, recruiting high-caliber events, to lay the groundwork for a new sports complex in Durham that will become a true community asset for generations to come.

I would like to take time in this year’s letter by appreciating the work of the DSC’s new Deputy Director, Kaila’Shea Menendez, too. Since joining in December, Kaila’Shea has immediately excelled at driving the nonprofit’s mission to create social and economic impact through sports by leading the management of strategic initiatives and special projects. The DSC truly has a dynamite team, an all-star roster of passionate and innovative individuals, working hard daily to better our community.

My term as board chair ended with this past fiscal year, making this note a little bit more poignant than usual. I am proud to continue my service and remain on the board, eager to see what can continue to be accomplished with the highly respected Ingrid Wicker McCree, Ed.D., leading the charge through 2024.

As you continue to read on, you will find the fruits that have materialized over the last year. Some of what transpired this year was initiated by my predecessors, George Habel and Omar Beasley. Some of what Ingrid kickstarts now will emerge after 2026. It is a joy and an honor to be included in what has become such a forward-thinking, transformative group, collectively concerned with sustaining the best for all of Durham’s residents over the next 5, 10, 20 years and beyond.

To see firsthand what we’re working on, come by Durham County Memorial Stadium on December 16-17 for championship-level pigskin from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. This past year, the first time the NAIA hosted both the Senior Football Classic and the National Championship in the same weekend, fans from all over the country traveled to catch the action happening right here in our own backyard. Bookmark December 27-29, to see local and regional high school talent compete on the hardwood for the 2nd annual Champion Durham Classic. Numerous college coaches found the competition compelling enough to watch in 2021, with more stellar teams lined up to compete again this year. If you already have your 2023 calendar ready, I’ll see you at the NCAA National Collegiate Men’s and Women’s Fencing Championships at storied Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 23-26.

Those are just some of the championships that have already been announced. We have our fingers crossed till November, when the International University Sports Federation (FISU) will announce the host country for the summer 2027 World University Games event (it’s down to North Carolina and South Korea as finalists). The DSC is actively supporting the bid led by Hill Carrow and the Triangle Sports Commission, knowing that the event would bring a forecasted $100 million in economic impact to the area.

These seeds planted will be nurtured as we plan beyond our own time. Please continue to support our pursuits, offer constructive feedback, and encourage others to get involved. The future will be brightest if we engage together now, communicate across fences, and continue to build upon the sports culture established here in Durham.

Dan Hill,

Board Chair, 2021-22

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.

	Dan Hill – Chair Retired Insurance Broker, Former President of the Carolinas Golf Association, Former Partner of the Orange County Speedway		Susan Scott Vice-Chair Chief Growth Officer PBS North Carolina
	Mitch Moser​ Secretary/Treasurer Deputy Director of Athletics/ Resource Development and Management/CFO Duke University		Omar Beasley Self Employed
	Terrence Holt  President Holt Brothers, Inc.		George Habel VP/Special Projects Capitol Broadcasting Co.
	Tommy Hunt Retired Former ACC Referee and Supervisor of ACC Football Officials		Bill Kalkhof Retired, former CEO of Downtown Durham Inc. (1993-2013)
	Jonathon Leach Executive Director of Administration NCCU

In May, the DSC announced the One Team, One Durham Fund (1T1D), a grant program established to support youth sports development in the area and offset rising costs of youth sports participation. With an initial $10,000 pledged, 100% privately funded, grants will be awarded to allow for greater access to the benefits of sport.

Project Play, an initiative created by the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program, reports that the annual costs of youth sports participation average $693 per child, per sport. Parents of a child competing with a travel team spend an average of $2,266. Costs include travel, equipment, lessons, registrations, camps, and more. 1T1D will offset some of those costs by awarding grants of up to $200 per recipient to 501(c)3 organizations operating in Durham.

1T1D is separate from and complements the grants DSC provides to event owners, assisting those planning sporting events within Durham. To date, the DSC has awarded more than $428,000 in those types of grants.

Since its launch, the DSC has incorporated opportunities for giving to 1T1D into the DSC Virtual 5K, its BSN Sports apparel store, and the 2022 Champion Durham Classic. One of the DSC’s goals is to increase the size of the fund, finding new ways for the public to support the initiative and aligning with more organizations to sponsor it. If you are interested in increasing sports participation opportunities for Durham’s youth, contact Marcus Manning.

The following charts reflect the income and expenses of the DSC from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. The DSC hosted their first NAIA Senior Football Classic, National Championship Game and Champion Durham Classic in FY22. This was reflected in both expenses and revenues as bid events, owned & operated and donations and event revenue all increased, respectively.

As part of the brand awareness plan, the DSC has engaged with social media followers by sharing upcoming events and other highlights. Be sure to follow @DurhamNCSports on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn to stay connected.