Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation

What Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation does

The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation (GNOSF) is a non-profit 501(c)(4) organization headquartered in Metairie, Louisiana, that was organized in August 1988 to attract and manage sporting events generating positive economic impact for the State of Louisiana and the greater New Orleans area. The organization operates with 11-50 staff under President and CEO Jay Cicero and serves as the official host committee and local bid organization for major sporting events in the region. GNOSF's documented track record includes hosting four Super Bowls, seven NCAA Men's and Women's Final Fours, three NBA All-Star Games, and two WrestleMania events, with Super Bowl LIX alone generating $1.25 billion in Louisiana economic impact and affecting 10,000 jobs.

GNOSF's service portfolio spans three pillars: (1) event hosting and host-committee coordination for incoming marquee events including the Hondo Rodeo Fest (April 2026), X Games Championship (July 2026), WWE Money In The Bank (October 2026), Savannah Bananas Banana Ball (March 2026), UFC 318, and the Every Woman's Marathon (February 2027); (2) recurring owned events including the annual New Orleans Bowl (celebrating its 25th edition in December 2025) and the Ree Alario Memorial Golf Classic (which has raised $963,000 for St. Michael Special School); and (3) corporate membership and sponsorship programs with six publicly disclosed annual tiers ranging from $350 (Player) to $10,000 (Team Owner), offering VIP hospitality, networking, and promotional exposure.

The revenue model is multi-stream, combining corporate membership subscriptions, event sponsorship from a roster of major regional brands (Shell, Entergy, Chevron, Hancock Whitney, Caesars, Coca-Cola, Ochsner, Marriott, AT&T, TEG), state government appropriations ($20.25 million allocated for major events in 2025-2026), charitable proceeds from the Ree Alario Memorial Golf Classic, and venue referral consideration via its online Facilities Guide and Special Event Venues Directory. Distribution runs through direct partnerships with anchor venues Caesars Superdome and Smoothie King Center, the operational partner Legends Global, the Louisiana Stadium and Exhibition District, and event organizer partnerships with national promoters (WWE, UFC, X Games, Savannah Bananas, Hondo Rodeo Fest). Primary customer segments are corporate sponsors and members seeking brand visibility and hospitality, event organizers requiring local host-committee support, state and local government partners pursuing economic development, and event planners using GNOSF's venue directory. There is no proprietary technology platform or AI/ML capability; GNOSF operates as a services- and events-driven non-profit rather than a technology company.

Name

Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation

Legal name

Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation

Website

https://gnosports.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Non-profit 501(c)(4) founded in 1988 that attracts and manages major sporting events — Super Bowls, NCAA Final Fours, X Games, and Hondo Rodeo Fest — to drive economic impact for Louisiana, serving corporate sponsors, event organizers, and state government through event hosting, tiered membership programs, and venue referral services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Event Management and Hosting

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (71132), Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional Multi-Sport Games & Festival Organizers (MPAKADAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Event & Tournament Sponsorship (Title/Presenting Sponsors, Official Suppliers) (MPAKALAB)

Keywords

• Sports event management
• Sports tourism development
• Corporate event sponsorship
• Venue referral services
• Nonprofit event hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Metairie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Hosting and Management: GNOSF serves as host committee for major sporting events, attracting events that generate economic impact for Louisiana through tourism, hotel stays, and local spending.
2. Membership Programs: Corporate and individual membership tiers ranging from $350 to $10,000 annually, offering VIP hospitality, event tickets, networking opportunities, and promotional exposure.
3. Sponsorship Revenue: Corporate sponsors (TEG, Shell, Entergy, Chevron, Hancock Whitney, Caesars, Coca-Cola, and others) provide financial support in exchange for brand visibility at events and membership benefits.
4. Special Event Venue Referrals: GNOSF maintains a facilities guide and venue directory, connecting event planners with New Orleans area venues and earning referral consideration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation (GNOSF) is a 501(c)(4) non-profit that bids on, attracts, and serves as local host committee for major sporting events in the greater New Orleans area, including the Super Bowl, New Orleans Bowl, Hondo Rodeo Fest, X Games Championship, WWE Money In The Bank, Every Woman's Marathon, UFC events, and the Ree Alario Memorial Golf Classic. It complements event hosting with tiered corporate membership programs (Player through Team Owner levels), a Special Event Venues Directory, and a Facilities Guide that connect event planners with regional venues.

Product overview

The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(4) organization organized in August 1988, whose mission is to attract and manage sporting events that have a positive economic impact on the State of Louisiana and the greater New Orleans area. Rather than a unified software platform, GNOSF offers a portfolio of event management services centered around major sporting events including the New Orleans Bowl (college football), Super Bowl LIX, Hondo Rodeo Fest (rodeo with $1 million prize purse), X Games Championship (action sports), Every Woman's Marathon, WWE Money In The Bank (professional wrestling), the Ree Alario Memorial Golf Classic (charity tournament), and Savannah Bananas Banana Ball games. The organization also provides membership programs with tiered benefits, a special event venues directory, facilities guide, volunteer opportunities, and internship programs. GNOSF has served as host committee for four Super Bowls, seven NCAA Final Fours, three NBA All-Star Games, and two WrestleMania events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• New Orleans Bowl

Quantifiable outcome

• $1.25 billion economic impact for Louisiana from Super Bowl LIX
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Every Woman's Marathon / Team MilkflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2026Every Woman's Marathon coming to New Orleans February 28, 2027. 26.2-mile race from Champions Square through iconic landmarks. Partnership with Team Milk and support from Mayor Helena Moreno.
• X GamesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2026X Games Championship coming to New Orleans July 24-26 at Caesars Superdome. First-ever championship-style X Games event with 18 unique competitions and live music at Smoothie King Center.
• Legends GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 November 2025Legends Global is a key partner in GNOSF's major event hosting operations, including Hondo Rodeo Fest, X Games, WWE Money In The Bank, and other major sporting events at Caesars Superdome. Legends provides venue management and event production expertise.
• State of LouisianacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 November 2025State government partnership including $2 million allocation for Hondo Rodeo Fest and $20.25 million total for major events budget. Governor Jeff Landry provides executive support for event attraction efforts.
• Louisiana Stadium and Exhibition DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 November 2025The LSED oversees Caesars Superdome and provides venue infrastructure for major sporting events hosted through GNOSF partnerships.
• Hondo Rodeo FestflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 November 2025Hondo Rodeo Fest expanding to New Orleans April 10-12, 2026 at Caesars Superdome. Three-day rodeo with $1 million prize purse and concert series. GNOSF part of host committee with State of Louisiana, Legends Global, and LSED.
• WWEflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 October 2025WWE partnership to host Money In The Bank at Smoothie King Center on October 10, 2026. GNOSF serves as local host committee for the event.
• Savannah BananasflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 October 2025Banana Ball games coming to Caesars Superdome March 14-15, 2026. GNOSF hosting the event with Legends Global, featuring games against Party Animals.
• UFCflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 August 2025Partnership for UFC 318 fight week charitable initiatives including visits to Ochsner Children's Hospital and Youth Empowerment Project with $5,000 donation.
• Caesars SuperdomecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary venue for major sporting events including Super Bowl LIX, X Games Championship, Hondo Rodeo Fest, and New Orleans Bowl. Home of NFL's New Orleans Saints.
• Smoothie King CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdjacent venue to Caesars Superdome hosting X Games music lineup and WWE Money In The Bank events.
• AT&TcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAT&T is a long-time sponsor of the Ree Alario Memorial Golf Classic, having supported the tournament since its founding in 2006.
• Corporate Sponsors (TEG, Shell, Entergy, Chevron, Hancock Whitney, Caesars, Coca-Cola, Ochsner, Marriott)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor corporate sponsors providing financial support and brand visibility in exchange for promotional exposure at GNOSF events and membership benefits.
• St. Michael Special SchoolminorOthersRee Alario Memorial Golf Classic benefits St. Michael Special School, which has received $963,000 from the annual golf tournament over 20 years.
• Ochsner Children's HospitalminorOthersUFC fighters visited Ochsner Children's Hospital during fight week as part of community charitable initiatives.
• Youth Empowerment Project (YEP)minorOthersUFC athletes conducted youth meet and greet with YEP, a nonprofit serving 1,000+ local youth across 13 parishes. UFC made $5,000 donation to support YEP's mission.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Indianapolis Sports Corp: Established 501(c)(3) non-profit that hosts major sporting events for Indianapolis, including NCAA Final Fours and Big Ten Championships. Comparable to GNOSF in mission, event-hosting model, and venue partnerships.
• Greater Houston Sports Authority: Non-profit sports commission hosting major events in Houston (Super Bowl LI, Final Four, NCAA events). Closely comparable to GNOSF in business model, scale, regional focus, and reliance on state/city partnerships for event attraction.
• Los Angeles Sports Council: Regional sports commission attracting and hosting major sporting events for the Los Angeles area. Directly comparable to GNOSF in mission (economic impact via events), non-profit structure, and host-committee role for mega-events like Super Bowl and NCAA Final Four.
• Visit Orlando / Orlando Sports Commission: Destination marketing organization with a sports division that bids for and supports major events in Orlando. Comparable to GNOSF in combining tourism promotion with sports event hosting functions.
• Philadelphia Sports Congress: Division of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau that bids on and hosts major sporting events. Comparable to GNOSF in non-profit/CVB-affiliated structure and event-attraction function.
• Greater Cleveland Sports Commission: Regional non-profit organization attracting amateur and professional sporting events to Cleveland. Directly comparable to GNOSF in non-profit structure, event bidding function, and local economic development focus.
• Atlanta Sports Council: Regional sports council under the Metro Atlanta Chamber that bids for and hosts major events like Super Bowl LIII, College Football Playoff, and SEC Championships. Directly comparable to GNOSF as a regional event host organization.
• San Diego Sports Commission: Non-profit organization that bids on and manages major sporting events for the San Diego region. Directly comparable in event-attraction mission, host-committee role, and partnership model with local venues.
• NYC Sports Commission: City-sponsored body attracting major sporting events to New York City. Comparable to GNOSF in mission and event-hosting model, though operating at a significantly larger metropolitan scale.

Others

• Legends Global: Hospitality and venue management partner that works alongside GNOSF on event hosting (Caesars Superdome events). Comparable as a key operating partner in the same event ecosystem, though for-profit and operating at national scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gnosports
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCAg3cBgyFUTHP-YwrPA-7xw
• Facebookfacebook.com/GNOSPORTS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/greater-new-orleans-sports-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/gnosports

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation