Sports ETA

Thursday, August 13, 2026

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (EDT)

Event Details

Sports Tourism: Your Destination’s Best Advocacy Tool presented by Jackie Reau (Game Day Communications)

Session Description

Sports tourism is one of the most effective advocacy tools available to destinations today because it directly impacts residents, local businesses, community pride, and elected leadership. In this session, Jackie Reau will explore how destinations can leverage sports tourism strategy, storytelling, and measurable impact to better communicate the value of their DMO to stakeholders and the broader community. The session will also highlight how destinations can utilize Sports ETA’s State of the Industry Report and additional industry resources to strengthen advocacy efforts and showcase the power of tourism through sports.

As the only trade association for the sports events and tourism industry, Sports ETA is the most trusted resource for sports commissions, destination marketing organizations (DMOs), and sports rights holders. Sports ETA is committed to the success of more than 800 member organizations and 2,400 sports event professionals. We promise to deliver quality education, ample networking opportunities, and exceptional event management and marketing know-how to our members to protect the integrity of the sports events and tourism industry. For more information, visit SportsETA.org.

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Jackie Reau

CEO & Co-Founder

Game Day

Jackie Reau is CEO and Co-Founder of Game Day, an award-winning media and marketing agency, based in Cincinnati. The firm specializes in strategic communications, media relations, sports marketing, influencer relations, event marketing, sponsorship activation and media training.

She is also the President of the Cincinnati Fear, a professional esports organization.

Jackie has more than 25 years of experience in marketing and public relations management. Most notably, Jackie served as director of marketing and public relations at the Cincinnati Art Museum managing the marketing, media relations, visitor satisfaction and special events.

Prior to the Museum, Jackie was a public relations counselor at The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati.

She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and a master's degree in sports administration from Ohio University.

She has completed the Harvard Business School’s program, “Strategic Perspectives in Non-Profit Management” and Northwestern University’s program, “Data Marketing & Artificial Intelligence.” Jackie has also completed Harvard Business School’s “Corporate Board Governance” program in April 2025.

Jackie also earned a Masters Certificate in Sports Gambling Education from Ohio University in 2020.

Jackie has served as an adjunct professor at University of Cincinnati and Xavier University.

She serves on a number of boards, including: Cincinnati Art Museum, Mount St. Joseph University and Ohio University Foundation.

Specialties: Media relations, sports philanthropy, event marketing ideation and execution, sports marketing, media training, social media, sports fan research, crisis communications.