What is the Sports Backers?
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Sports Backers, named best sports commission in the country by the National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC) both in 2006 and 2009, is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization founded in October 1991 to build a more vibrant community through sports. The mission of the organization is to “maximize the community benefits of sports tourism.” This mission is accomplished by focusing on three main strategic objectives:
- Creating, attracting and improving significant sporting events;
- Serving as a catalyst in the development and utilization of sports
facilities, and;
- Aiding area youth through sports outreach programs.
These activities and programs strengthen the economy, provide health benefits to participants and make the region a more desirable place to live.
Here are just a few of the events the Sports Backers have actively helped bring to Richmond over the years.
- 2010 VHSL AAA State Outdoor Track and Field Championship
- 2008 USA Track & Field National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships
- 2008 USATF Men's 10k National Championships
- 2008-2010 Duathlon National Championships
- 2007 ITU Duathlon Long Course World Championships
- 2006 Action Sports World Tour
- 2005 & 2006 USA Field Hockey National Indoor Tournaments
- 2004, 2006 & 2007 North American Cup Fencing Tournament
- 2001 USA Track & Field Junior National Championships
- 2000 NCAA Women's Volleyball Championships
- 2000 AAU Karate National Championships
- 1999-2005 VHSL State Football Championships
- 1999 ESPN X Trials
- 1999-2008 XTERRA Triathlon
- 1999 International Team Gymnastics Championships
- 1998 Whitewater Open Canoe National Championships
- 1996 Men's World Cup Soccer Qualifier
- 1995-1998 NCAA Men's Soccer Final Four
Among the organization’s other major programs are:
- Indoor Sports Tournament Center – The Sports Backers purchased $500,000 of portable sports flooring and related equipment to convert the Greater Richmond Convention Center into a sports tournament center.
- Bid On Events – The Sports Backers have bid on and successfully landed several events that are coming to the region that include 2010 VHSL AAA State Outdoor Track and Field Championships, 2008 USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships, the 2008 USATF Men’s 10k National Championships, the 2008 Duathlon National Championships, the 2008-2012 CAA Basketball Tournament.
- Sports Tourism Marketing Grants—The Sports Backers are providing 15 grants for a total of $40,000 to area sports organizations to help expand the marketing of existing sports tourism events in our community.
In addition to growing sports tourism, the organization manages the Times-Dispatch/Sports Backers Scholarship program that annually provides $55,000 in college scholarships to area student athletes. Scholarships of $423,000 have been awarded to 315 student-athletes over the life of the program to date. The Sports Backers also help motivate thousands of area youth to be more active on a regular basis through our Fit For Life youth running program.
In 1998, the Richmond Sports Backers joined forces with the Richmond Road Runners Club and Crestar Bank (now SunTrust Bank) to save the Richmond Marathon. This partnership now owns the event and plans to make it one of the top ten marathons in the country.
The Sports Backers' success in turning around the Richmond Marathon also led the organization to start the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k which, in just seven years, has become one of the largest 10k races in the country. The Sports Backers also own and organize the X-Country Festival at Maymont, the U.S. Army 3 on 3 Summer Hoops, the McDonald's Half Marathon, the HCA Va 8k, Dominion Riverrock, the Anthem Stride Through Time, the Henricus Dauber Dash, and the Anthem Moonlight Ride.
Unique to any other sports commission across the country, the Sports Backers have a facility named after us. On August 24, 1999, Sports Backers Stadium officially opened its gates for the Grand Opening Celebration. The result of a collaborative effort between the Sports Backers, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Union University and the City of Richmond, the stadium is the finest of its kind in the state of Virginia. The facility features the Richard A. Hollander Track and an infield area that includes a 120 yard by 75 yard soccer field. Sports Backers Stadium has seating for 3,250 along with bathrooms, locker rooms, a concession area and a storage facility. The facility also includes a press box, skybox and office space for the Sports Backers.
