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X-WR-CALNAME:Minnesota Women's Economic Roundtable
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SUMMARY:Monthly Meeting - March 2025 - The Business of Women’s Sports in MN
DESCRIPTION:EVENT RECAP \nThe Rise of Women’s Sports: A Tipping Point \n2024 is being heralded as the year for women’s sports—not just a peak\, but a turning point. With women’s sports projected to surpass $1 billion in revenue\, it’s clear that this movement is here to stay. \nMinnesota’s Role in Women’s Sports Growth \nWendy Blackshaw highlighted Minnesota’s unique appeal as a hub for major women’s sporting events. Its strong sports culture\, fan engagement\, and ability to host large-scale events make it a top contender for national and international competitions. The Olympic Gymnastics Trials in 2023 were a prime example—costing the state $6 million but generating an impressive $75 million in return. She emphasized the importance of strategic investments to ensure continued success in attracting these events. \nSustaining the Momentum \nLea Olsen pointed out that while the recent “Caitlin Clark effect” has brought a surge in women’s sports interest\, this movement has been building for years. The key to sustaining it? Continued investment\, visibility\, and fan engagement. Media coverage\, corporate sponsorships\, and community involvement all play crucial roles in keeping the momentum going. \nBeyond the Game: Community Impact \nBoth panelists underscored how these events extend beyond the arena. Major sporting events boost local businesses\, create jobs\, inspire young athletes\, and strengthen community pride. Lea\, with her background in both playing and broadcasting sports\, also highlighted the need for more women in sports media\, ensuring diverse representation and perspectives in storytelling. \nCall to Action: How to Support Women’s Sports \nThe conversation ended with a call to action for the audience. Supporting women’s sports means more than just watching games—it includes buying tickets\, supporting brands that invest in women’s sports\, advocating for equal opportunities\, and amplifying female athletes’ stories. \nWomen’s sports aren’t just having a moment—they’re shaping the future of sports and communities alike. Minnesota is at the forefront of this movement\, and with the right investments and engagement\, the impact will continue to grow. \n  \nEVENT INFORMATION \nJoin us as Amanda Brinkman conducts a fireside chat with Wendy Blackshaw\, CEO of Minnesota Sports and Events\, and Lea B. Olsen\, renowned sports broadcaster and founder of Rethink the Win\, for an inspiring and insightful discussion on the state of women’s sports in Minnesota. The panel will explore the rapid growth of women’s sports\, their economic potential\, and the transformative impact they have on communities. From the rise of professional teams to the opportunities for investment and innovation\, Wendy and Lea will shed light on the challenges\, triumphs\, and future possibilities in this dynamic space\, leaving you motivated to champion the continued momentum of women’s sports! \nSPEAKER INFORMATION \nWendy Blackshaw is currently President and CEO of MN Sports and Events\, the regional sports commission that brings economic\, reputational and social impact to Minnesota through the procurement and execution of iconic sporting events. \nSince MNSE’s inception in 2020\, Wendy’s unwavering vision to bring world-class events to Minnesota has resulted in hosting multiple mega-events including 2022 Women’s Final Four\, 2023 and 2024 Men’s and Women’s Big Ten Basketball Tournaments\, 2024 Olympic Trials – Gymnastics and NXT WWE. Future events secured by MNSE include 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup\, 2026 Summer Slam\, 2026 Special Olympics USA Games\, 2027 NCAA Men’s Basketball Prelims and 2028 NCAA Wrestling National Championships. Based on the spectacular success of the 2024 Olympic Trials – Gymnastics\, Minnesota has been named a finalist to host the event in 2028. \nWendy’s exceptional efforts at the legislature\, in securing funding for events\, have allowed Minnesota to become a competitor in the large-scale event market\, bringing in over 750M in economic impact to the state. \nPrior to Minnesota Sports and Events\, Wendy was Executive Vice President for MN Super Bowl Host Committee where she was responsible for Marketing and Sales and raised $53.2M to fund Super Bowl LII.  Prior to the Super Bowl\, Wendy was CMO for Sun Country Airlines. Wendy also held leadership positions at Mall of America\, Minnesota North Stars\, Rollerblade\, KDWB and KSTP-TV. \nLea B. Olsen is a game analyst for the Minnesota Lynx and a television sideline reporter for the Minnesota Timberwolves on Fan Duel Sports Network North. She also covers Minnesota state high school basketball tournaments. As a motivational speaker\, Lea challenges athletes\, coaches\, and business professionals to rethink winning at all costs. Lea founded Rethink the Win in 2015 to help preserve a healthy environment for athletes to thrive in. She was also named to the 2023 Twin Cities Business 100 list. \nLea played basketball for the University of Minnesota before launching her sports journalism career and is the only Minnesotan to sit on the Board for Bell Bank. \n 
URL:https://mwer.org/dashboard/events/monthly-meeting-march-2025-the-business-of-womens-sports-in-mn/
LOCATION:The Minneapolis Club\, 729 2nd Ave S\, Minneapolis\, MN\, 55402\, United States
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ORGANIZER;CN="MWER":MAILTO:info@mwer.org
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