State Games Of Mississippi

What State Games Of Mississippi does

State Games of Mississippi, Inc. is a non-profit organization founded in 1992 that operates the state's largest amateur multi-sport sportsfest. Headquartered in Meridian, Mississippi, the organization runs an annual competition featuring 40+ sports across 18 Mississippi counties, drawing 5,000-5,200 amateur athletes of all ages and abilities each year. The event includes Olympic-style Opening Ceremonies (parade of athletes, torch lighting, fireworks) held in downtown Meridian, a 33+ year heritage, and a structured pathway for medalists to advance to the national State Games of America and Southeast Sports Festival. The organization is a member of the National Congress of State Games and is affiliated with the U.S. Olympic Committee; it is governed by a 15-member Board of Directors with statewide Advisory Board input, while a four-person staff runs day-to-day operations. The annual Games are estimated to generate over $12 million in economic impact for the Meridian/Lauderdale County region.

The organization's core product is the annual State Games competition, with sub-products including the Ochsner Rush Health Athletes of the Year recognition program, the Pumpkin Run special event, and facilitation of participation in the State Games of America. Its underlying technology is a SportReach-powered online registration and account-management platform (stategamesofms.org) that supports athlete profile management, online entry, and purchase tracking, supplemented by a 2026 Digital Program PDF. Athlete-facing pricing is unit-based and intentionally kept affordable (e.g., $25 per pickleball player, $60 per 4-person volleyball team), with day-of-event registration available for many sports.

The business model is non-profit and sponsorship-driven: revenue is generated primarily through corporate sponsorships structured in Founding Gold and Gold tiers (Meridian Coca-Cola Bottling Company and Ochsner Rush Health as Founding Gold; BlueCross BlueShield of Mississippi, City of Meridian, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Pearl River Resort, media partners and others as Gold), supplemented by individual and organizational donations and entry fees. The organization relies on more than 400 community volunteers for event operations. Marketing is conducted via organic social channels, the company website and blog, an email mailing list, and earned media through local TV (WTOK-TV, Coastal Television) and print (The Meridian Star). Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

State Games Of Mississippi

Legal name

State Games of Mississippi, Inc.

Website

https://stategamesofms.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

State Games of Mississippi is a non-profit founded in 1992 that organizes Mississippi's largest amateur multi-sport sportsfest, hosting 5,000+ athletes annually across 40+ sports with Olympic-style opening ceremonies and a national pathway through the U.S. Olympic Committee ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Amateur multi-sport athletic competitions

NAICS

Other Spectator Sports (711219)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Amateur Event & Tournament Organizers (Meets, Invitationals, Opens) (MPAKACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth & Amateur Sports Tournaments (MPAGAMAF), Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE)

Keywords

• Amateur sports competitions
• Multi-sport games
• Olympic-style events
• Amateur athletics
• Sports tourism

Headquarters

HQ city

Meridian

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Sponsorships: The organization is funded primarily through corporate sponsorships from Founding Gold Sponsors, Gold Sponsors, and other supporting sponsors. These sponsorships enable affordable entry fees for athletes.
2. Entry Fees: Registration/entry fees charged to athletes for participation in individual sports and team events. Entry fees are kept affordable thanks to sponsor support.
3. Donations: Private donations from individuals and organizations supporting amateur athletics and healthy lifestyles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

State Games of Mississippi organizes an annual multi-sport amateur athletic competition held across 18 Mississippi counties, featuring more than 40 sports (swimming, track and field, volleyball, soccer, pickleball, cycling, Choctaw stickball, etc.) and an Olympic-style Opening Ceremony in downtown Meridian. Athletes register online via the SportReach platform or on-site, pay per-sport entry fees, compete for gold/silver/bronze medals, and qualifying medalists advance to the national State Games of America.

Product overview

State Games of Mississippi is a non-profit amateur sports organization operating as a single unified multi-sport event product, not a technology platform. The organization hosts the State's largest amateur sportsfest with over 40 sports competitions held annually across Mississippi, particularly concentrated in May and June with the Opening Ceremony in Meridian. The portfolio includes the main State Games competition, the Athlete of the Year recognition program, Opening Ceremonies, and the Pumpkin Run special event. The organization also facilitates participation in the State Games of America national competition. User-facing digital services include an athlete registration and account management portal powered by the SportReach platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• State Games of Mississippi Annual Competition The organization's flagship annual multi-sport amateur athletic competition held across Mississippi, featuring more than 40 sports for athletes of all ages and abilities with gold, silver, and bronze medals awarded.
• Opening Ceremonies Olympic-style opening ceremony featuring the Parade of Athletes, torch lighting, and fireworks display to officially launch the State Games.
• Athlete of the Year Awards (Ochsner Rush Health Athletes of the Year) Annual recognition program honoring outstanding amateur athletes in Male, Female, and Youth categories based on sportsmanship, participation, and achievements.
• Pumpkin Run Special fall-season running competition event within the State Games of Mississippi program.
• State Games of America Participation Pathway National multi-sport competition pathway where Mississippi medalists can compete at the State Games of America, hosted in 2026 by Keystone State Games at Penn State University.
• Volunteer Program Recruitment and management program engaging more than 400 volunteers who support event operations including souvenir stands, entrance gates, registration, and result reporting.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $12 million in annual economic impact for Meridian/Lauderdale County region
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor, founding gold sponsor, gold sponsor, economic development partner, media/award partner and core affiliation.

• Keystone State GamesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Presenting organization for 2026 State Games of America to be held July 24 - August 2, 2026, at Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania. Medalists from State Games of Mississippi are eligible to compete.
• Happy Valley Adventure BureauminorOthers · 1 January 2026Partner providing discounted rates and hotel blocks for State Games of America 2026 attendees in State College, Pennsylvania area.
• Meridian Coca-Cola Bottling Companyfounding gold sponsorOthersFounding Gold Sponsor of State Games of Mississippi, contributing to keeping entry fees affordable for athletes.
• Ochsner Rush Healthfounding gold sponsorOthersFounding Gold Sponsor of State Games of Mississippi. Naming sponsor of Athletes of the Year awards (Ochsner Rush Health Athletes of the Year).
• BlueCross BlueShield of Mississippigold sponsorOthersGold Sponsor supporting amateur athletics and helping keep entry fees affordable.
• Paul & Sherry Broadhead Foundationgold sponsorOthersGold Sponsor supporting the Games through foundation funding.
• Meridian Community Collegegold sponsorOthersGold Sponsor and educational institution partner supporting the Games.
• City of Meridiangold sponsorOthersGold Sponsor and municipal partner; Opening Ceremonies held at Meridian City Hall in downtown Meridian.
• Pearl River Resortgold sponsorOthersGold Sponsor supporting the Games.
• Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indiansgold sponsorOthersGold Sponsor; tribal community with traditional Stickball sport featured in the Games.
• WTOK-TVgold sponsorOthersGold Sponsor and media partner providing coverage of the Games.
• The Meridian Stargold sponsorOthersGold Sponsor and local newspaper providing coverage of the Games.
• Coastal Televisiongold sponsorOthersGold Sponsor and television media partner.
• Max Haik Automotive Groupgold sponsorOthersGold Sponsor supporting the Games.
• Digiogold sponsorOthersGold Sponsor supporting the Games.
• Visit Meridianeconomic development partnerOthersTourism bureau partner in cooperation for 2024 Economic Impact Champion award. Works with City of Meridian to support the Games.
• Sports Destination Managementmedia/award partnerOthersLeading publication for sports event planners recognized State Games of Mississippi as a 2024 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism.
• National Congress of State Gamescore affiliationStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe State Games of Mississippi is a member of the National Congress of State Games, which is affiliated with the U.S. Olympic Committee. NCSG consists of 27 full members divided into three regions.
• U.S. Olympic Committeecore affiliationStrategic or Co-development PartnerState Games of Mississippi is affiliated with the U.S. Olympic Committee through National Congress of State Games membership.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• State Games of America: National multi-sport amateur competition organized by the National Congress of State Games. State Games of Mississippi feeds medalists directly into this event, making it the most directly comparable peer in the same product category and customer base.
• Keystone State Games: Pennsylvania-based State Games program and presenting organization for the 2026 State Games of America. Operates a comparable multi-sport amateur competition model in a different state, serving similar athletes and sponsors.

Others

• Visit Meridian: Local tourism bureau that markets Meridian as a destination and co-promotes sports tourism events like State Games of Mississippi. It is a partner in the 2024 Champion of Economic Impact recognition rather than a direct competitor.
• Mississippi Sports Medicine: Regional sports medicine provider that often partners with amateur athletic events in Mississippi. Comparable ecosystem participant supporting amateur sports but does not operate competitions directly.
• Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation: Health-focused foundation sponsoring community wellness initiatives in Mississippi, including amateur athletics. Functions as both a Gold Sponsor and an adjacent promoter of healthy-lifestyle programming similar to State Games' mission.

Broad incumbents

• AAU (Amateur Athletic Union): National amateur sports organization running youth-oriented multi-sport events and competitions. Overlaps with State Games of Mississippi's youth and amateur athletic competition offerings but operates at a much larger national scale.
• National Congress of State Games: Umbrella organization coordinating State Games programs across the U.S. and serving as the conduit for U.S. Olympic Committee affiliation. It operates broadly across all 37+ member state games, of which State Games of Mississippi is one.

Regional players

• Special Olympics Mississippi: State-level chapter organizing amateur athletic competitions for athletes with intellectual disabilities in Mississippi. Comparable mission and event-driven model in the same geography, serving an overlapping segment of amateur athletes.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/stategamesofms
• Facebookfacebook.com/State-Games-of-Mississippi-157131327641276
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/state-games-of-mississippi
• Instagraminstagram.com/stategamesofmississippi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about State Games Of Mississippi