Phoenix Regional Sports Commission Executive Director Alan Young announced today a new name for the organization that promotes and operates amateur sporting events in Arizona. The organization will now be known as the Arizona Sports and Entertainment Commission.
“Our mission is to enhance our communities through sports,” said Board Chairman Kemp Ellis. “We feel that the new name reflects our goals of assisting all of Arizona in bringing sporting events of all types for participation and economic impact.”
Young and Ellis also announced the hiring of longtime sports and business leaders Wally Kelly as CEO of the new organization, Doug Blouin as President of Marketing and Dan Lewis as Executive VP of Marketing and Government Relations.
“This is an exciting opportunity to work with the State of Arizona and all our communities to better enrich the growth of sports and fitness throughout our great state,” said Wally Kelly. “I am honored to have the privilege to serve in this Chief Executive role and look forward to our future growth and development.”
Wally Kelly recently retired after 11 years as Chairman & CEO of CBS Outdoor where he directed all market operations in South America, US, Canada and Mexico. For the past 33 years, he has played a significant role in outdoor advertising industry. He currently serves on the board of directors for The National Collegiate Football Hall of Fame Foundation and the Outdoor Advertising association of America where he was elected as Chairman for three years. One of his most significant achievements was receiving the Myles Standish Award in 2007, which is the highest honor in the industry.
The Arizona Sports and Entertainment Commission is a non-profit organization created in 1988. The Commission currently collaborates with hundreds of partners to help fulfill this mission, bringing national and international sporting events to the state, assisting in the promotion of existing events and Arizona sports teams, and developing youth sports programs throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area. In 1999, it assumed oversight of the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2012, the Grand Canyon State Games.
For more information about the Commission call (602) 258-6272 or visit www.phoenixsports.org.
