Seattle Sports Commission

What Seattle Sports Commission does

The Seattle Sports Commission (SSC) is a Seattle-based non-profit sports commission founded in 2021 that connects and empowers the sports community in the Greater Seattle region. SSC's core function is to bid for, host, and curate major sporting events — most prominently FIFA World Cup 2026, FIFA Club World Cup 2025, the 2024 NHL Winter Classic, MLB All-Star Week 2023, the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, and the Seahawks' Super Bowl LX championship parade — and to operate a calendar of recurring signature events including the Unity Loop 5K, WM SSC Open golf tournament, Urban X Scavenger Hunt, Women in Leadership Breakfast, Sports Star of the Year Awards (originating in 1935), Pacific Northwest Football Hall of Fame, and Region Ready Summit.

SSC does not sell a technology product. Its underlying "platform" is a coordination layer among the City of Seattle, Port of Seattle, Visit Seattle, King County Metro, Lumen Field, Climate Pledge Arena, T-Mobile Park, the SSC Foundation, the SSC Commissioner network, and a corporate partner stack led by presenting partner Kaiser Permanente with official and event-tier partners including Amazon, Microsoft, AT&T, T-Mobile, Bud Light, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, Seafair, and WM. The SSC Foundation extends this work into youth sports equity and inclusion.

Revenue is generated through corporate sponsorship tiers (Presenting, Official, Event, Legacy), event partnership and activation fees, and proceeds from events such as the WM SSC Open. Customer segments are professional sports teams, government and tourism bodies, corporate sponsors, and youth/community beneficiaries. Headcount is 11–50, leadership includes President & CEO Beth Knox, COO Pamela Quadros, Board Chair Joli Mosier, and Director of Sporting Events Development Alex Webster, and documented event outcomes include 750,000+ FIFA World Cup visitors to Seattle, $40M+ in hotel revenue with 40% YoY growth on peak event days, and 750,000–1 million fans at the 2026 Super Bowl parade.

Name

Seattle Sports Commission

Legal name

Seattle Sports Commission

Website

https://seattlesports.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Seattle Sports Commission is a Seattle-based non-profit that bids for, hosts, and curates major sporting events and signature community programs in the Greater Seattle region, serving professional sports teams, government and tourism partners, corporate sponsors, and youth/community beneficiaries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Event Management and Commission Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113), Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

International Multi-Sport Games Organizing Committees (e.g., Olympics, Commonwealth) (MPAKADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK), Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE)

Keywords

• Sports event hosting
• Sports commission services
• Corporate sponsorship activation
• Community sports programs
• Sports tourism development

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Partnership and Sponsorship: The SSC generates revenue through partnerships with corporations who sponsor events and receive visibility, brand exposure, and access to sports audiences.
2. Golf Tournament Proceeds: Annual WM SSC Open golf tournament where proceeds benefit the Seattle Sports Commission and Foundation to promote a vibrant and equitable sports landscape.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Seattle Sports Commission is a non-profit organization that organizes and hosts sporting events in the Greater Seattle region, including major international tournaments (FIFA World Cup 2026, FIFA Club World Cup 2025, NHL Winter Classic) and recurring signature events (Unity Loop 5K, WM SSC Open, Sports Star of the Year Awards, Women in Leadership Breakfast, Region Ready Summit). It also runs the SSC Foundation for youth sports equity, a Women in Sports initiative, and a Commissioner network, operating as a partnership-driven platform rather than a product seller.

Product overview

Seattle Sports Commission is a sports commission organization (not a technology product company) that connects and empowers the sports community in Greater Seattle. The organization operates as a platform of services centered around event hosting and sports community development. Its core offerings include a Signature Events Program featuring recurring events (Unity Loop 5K, WM SSC Open, Urban X, Women in Leadership Breakfast, Sports Star of the Year Awards, Region Ready Summit), hosting major international events (FIFA World Cup 2026, Club World Cup 2025), the SSC Foundation focused on youth sports empowerment, a Women In Sports initiative with leadership programs, a commissioner network, and the We The Game Changers podcast. The organization does not offer technology products, APIs, or software services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Signature Events Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 750,000+ visitors welcomed to Seattle during major events
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 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 presenting, core, official and event.

• Kaiser PermanentepresentingStrategic or Co-development PartnerKaiser Permanente serves as the Presenting Partner for the Seattle Sports Commission, supporting major sporting events and initiatives in the Greater Seattle area.
• Seattle SeahawkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary team partner collaborating on events including the Super Bowl LX championship parade and ongoing game-day activities.
• Port of SeattlecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent partner for major events including Clipper Round the World Yacht Race and FIFA World Cup 2026 preparations.
• AmazonofficialGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting sports events and community initiatives in Seattle.
• MicrosoftofficialGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner for Sports Star of the Year Awards and other SSC signature events.
• AT&TofficialGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting Women in Leadership Breakfast and other SSC events.
• SeafaircoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProducing partner for the Seahawks World Champions Parade and hydroplane races during Seafair Festival Weekend.
• Bud LighteventGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for the Seahawks World Champions Parade along with Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and T-Mobile.
• Muckleshoot Indian TribeeventGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for the Seahawks World Champions Parade.
• T-MobileeventGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for the Seahawks World Champions Parade and event partner for FIFA World Cup celebrations.
• Visit SeattlecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTourism partner collaborating on major event hosting and visitor attraction.
• WM (Waste Management)eventGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for the annual WM SSC Open golf tournament.
• King County MetroeventStrategic or Co-development PartnerProviding waterfront shuttles and match day transportation for FIFA World Cup events.
• U.S. Association of Blind Athletes (USABA)eventStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Blind Soccer International Tournament and clinic programs.
• Baseball Beyond BorderseventStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading organizer for HBCU Seattle Series bringing Jackson State University baseball to Seattle.
• Seattle Mariners / Mariners CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting HBCU Seattle Series and investing in community baseball access at all levels.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Atlanta Sports Council: Sports council within the Metro Atlanta Chamber focused on attracting sporting events and driving economic impact. Comparable destination-marketing and event-bidding mission with corporate and civic stakeholder model.
• Philadelphia Sports Congress: Sports division of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau. Comparable as a destination-marketing sports arm that competes for major event hosting rights across multiple professional venues.
• LA28 (Los Angeles 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games Organizing Committee): Organizing committee for a marquee international multi-sport event in Los Angeles. Highly comparable as another U.S. city-based commission responsible for bidding, planning, and hosting major international sport events with corporate sponsorship and government partnerships.
• Houston Sports Commission: Non-profit sports commission serving Greater Houston. Directly comparable as a regional commission that bids for major events, partners with venues and pro teams, and markets the city as a sports destination.
• NYC Sports Commission: City of New York's sports commission under NYC & Company. Closely comparable as a public-affiliated commission coordinating event bids, sponsorships, and venue partnerships for a major U.S. metro.
• Greater Cleveland Sports Commission: Non-profit commission serving Northeast Ohio. Comparable as a mid-size city sports commission that hosts signature events and bids for NCAA championships and other national-level competitions.
• Minneapolis Sports Commission / Greater Minneapolis Convention & Visitors Bureau: Regional sports commission in the Twin Cities. Comparable in scope and mission, hosting NCAA events and coordinating with U.S. Bank Stadium and other major regional venues.
• San Francisco Bay Area Sports Organizing Committee: Bay Area organizing body for major sports events. Comparable as a city-region commission that orchestrates bids and event hosting across multiple venues and corporate stakeholders.
• Boston Sports Commission: City-level sports commission focused on attracting and producing sporting events in Greater Boston. Directly comparable mission, non-profit structure, sponsor-driven model, and destination-marketing orientation.

Broad incumbents

• Sports ETA (Events & Tourism Association): Industry association for sports commissions, destinations, and event organizers across the U.S. Relevant as the broader incumbent ecosystem of which SSC is a part, providing benchmarking, networking, and best practices for the sports commission model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/seattlesportscommission
• Xx.com/SeattleSC

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Seattle Sports Commission