Event Organizer Shark Tank | 2026 Playeasy Innovators Summit | Part 1
Episode 1 of our post-Summit series pulls back the curtain on one of the most talked-about sessions from the 2026 Playeasy Innovators Summit in Ann Arbor: the Event Organizer Shark Tank. Kerri sat down with seven event organizers spanning pickleball, youth sports, endurance events, esports, and more – and while every sport looked different, the partnership priorities were strikingly consistent. Here’s what destinations need to know.
Tony Schneider, U.S. Senior Pickleball – USSP has grown to 15,000+ members across all 50 states and runs regional events (100-300 players), zone championships (300-600 players), and a national championship (1,000+ players). They’re actively seeking indoor or covered courts, since rained-out play is a dealbreaker for traveling seniors, and they run January through August. Tony called out Auburn-Opelika by name as a standout “diamond in the rough” partner.
Ariana Darcy, 3STEP Sports – With 60+ acquired companies and seven sports under its umbrella, 3STEP is now looking for large-scale, high-capacity venues – most recently for a new UFC/BJJ series requiring big, open indoor space (not court-lined facilities). Ariana was blunt about wanting honesty over inflated promises in RFPs, and pointed to Rock Hill, SC as a model partnership built on hospitality and follow-through, not just funding.
Steve Andrus, XTERRA – Celebrating 30 years, XTERRA is shifting from pure competition to “immersive experience” branding. They need trail access and proximity to town centers, and they vet destinations on shared long-term goals, not just facilities. Their headline story: a persistent outreach from Ruidoso, NM turned into that town hosting XTERRA’s World Championship, moving it from Italy.
Harvey Scruggs, H3 Athletics – Home of Elite Sevens (grown from 6 teams to 178), H3 is content-driven and Midwest-based but expanding toward Texas and the West. They want partner destinations that grow with them and prioritize marketing support over big-dollar incentives.
Jacob VanRyn, NECC (esports) – A reminder that not every rights holder needs courts or fields – NECC needs reliable tech infrastructure and is eyeing more state high-school esports championship opportunities. His clearest ask: don’t assume esports needs less care just because it’s remote-first — bad computers and slow food service still ruin the experience.
Micah Desforges, Tribu (Jackalope) – Action-sports festivals (skate, moto, snow) drawing 30,000-60,000 people, often built entirely on-site with no traditional field of play. Micah’s Virginia Beach and Ventura stories both trace back to informal, in-person connections – a reminder that relationship-building outside formal RFPs still moves deals.
James Zitmanis, Lucas Zitmanis & Adam Hook, Weekend Hockey – 90 events/year across the US and Canada, actively expanding into Texas. They frame every event as a “hockey vacation” and prize destinations that treat the off-ice experience (hotels, food, things to do) as seriously as the ice sheets. Their standout partner shoutout: Buffalo Sports Commission, praised for constant, personal communication.
The through-line: Every guest, regardless of sport, said some version of the same thing – relationships beat facility size, transparency beats over-promising, and the destinations that grow with an event (not just host it once) are the ones that get invited back.
Listen now:
