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NKCC 3rd Floor Ballroom Foyer420 minsStop by the Registration Center to obtain your EsportsTravel Summit badge, which you will need for all on-site and off-site functions at the EsportsTravel Summit. Please plan to collect your badge before the Opening Celebration.
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Madison Avenue/NKCC15 mins
Buses will load at 1:45 p.m. and return by 4:00 p.m. for our option off-site session. To board, attendees should exit the Northern Kentucky Convention Center from the first floor lobby near the Local Bean. Buses will board on Madison Avenue at the NKCC (under the marquee).
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University of Cincinnati Esports Innovation Lab120 minsJoin us for an optional off-site session to the University of Cincinnati to see their Esports Innovation Lab, which is part of the Cincinnati Innovation District located at the 1819 Innovation Hub.
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NKCC Event Center I60 mins
During this fast-paced reverse trade show, meet with esports event organizers to fill available slots on your appointment schedule or discuss other times to meet during the EsportsTravel Summit. The marketplace is designed for quick check-ins so make sure you are not depriving others of their time to meet with event organizers, who will be stationed at designated tables.
The Event Organizer Reverse Marketplace is open only to event organizers, sponsors and suppliers with marketplace tables.
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Madison Avenue/NKCC150 mins
Buses will load at 6:30 p.m. and depart at 6:40 p.m. to our Opening Celebration. The will run on a continuous loop until the event ends with the final bus departing at 9:00 p.m. to return to the Northern Kentucky Convention Center. To board, attendees should exit the NKCC from the first floor lobby near the Local Bean. Buses will board on Madison Avenue at the NKCC (under the marquee).
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Velocity Esports120 mins
Get ready for an extraordinary opening celebration that sets the stage for the EsportsTravel Summit! Get your game on at Velocity Esports. where we'll kick off the week in style. Play games, compete in esports titles or just enjoy the time getting to know your fellow EsportsTravel Summit attendees at the largest esports venue and arcade in Northern Kentucky.
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NKCC 3rd Floor Ballroom Foyer615 minsStop by the Registration Center to obtain your EsportsTravel Summit badge, which you will need for all on-site and off-site functions at the EsportsTravel Summit.
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BreakfastNKCC 3rd Floor Ballroom60 mins
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NKCC 3rd Floor Ballroom15 minsKick off the EsportsTravel Summit with a welcome from Jason Gewirtz, the vice president of Northstar’s Sports Division, and dignitaries from Northern Kentucky and the Cincinnati Region.
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NKCC 3rd Floor Ballroom25 mins
In-person esports events are evolving fast — but many decisions are still being made without reliable audience data.
In this exclusive presentation, Nicole Pike, global head of sports and gaming at YouGov, will unveil new research on esports fans, live event behavior and what truly drives attendance, engagement and loyalty. Drawing on YouGov’s global data and her deep experience across sports, gaming and media, this session will deliver actionable insights for esports organizers, destinations, and industry partners looking to attract, host and grow successful in-person events.
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NKCC 3rd Floor Ballroom20 minsThe 2026 FIFA World Cup has everyone’s attention. But FIFA is planning much more than that. This year, the international federation is launching a new global esports and gaming experience with the FIFAe Festival. The event will place host cities at the heart of one of the world’s fastest-growing entertainment spaces – where soccer, esports, gaming and youth culture come together. With multiple games in play, the event will open the doors for fans and newcomers alike to dive into the world of digital soccer. In this session, hear directly from FIFA’s organizers on what’s planned and how your community can become one of the first hosts.
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NKCC 3rd Floor Ballroom30 mins
In this rapid-fire session, hear firsthand from several esports event organizers on events for which they are seeking hosts, what direction their organizations are taking in the immediate future and what their vision of in-person events looks like in the years to come.
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Networking Break15 mins
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NKCC Event Center II75 minsThe marketplace is open only to industry suppliers with marketplace tables and event organizers.
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Networking Break15 mins
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NKCC 3rd Floor Ballroom60 minsThe Cincinnati region has found its way in esports through a variety of channels, from professional teams, to a robust collegiate ecosystem to the incorporation of gaming at some of its most iconic traditional sports events. Join us for lunch and listen to a discussion among the city's leaders about how the destination has approached esports, incorporated gaming into its events strategy and how it continues to find its way.
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Networking Break15 mins
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NKCC 3rd Floor Ballroom35 mins
You don’t need a professional sports arena, a massive convention center or a seven-figure budget to win in esports. In Marshalltown, Iowa, a forward-thinking convention and visitors bureau saw opportunity where others saw limitations — and built one of the Midwest’s most compelling grassroots esports ecosystems. By activating existing venues, aligning civic leadership and partnering with local corporate stakeholders and a community college, Marshalltown has positioned itself as a go-to hub for scholastic, high school and collegiate esports. In this session, hear from leaders of the effort and learn what your community can do to make the most of your local assets.
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NKCC 3rd Floor Ballroom40 minsIn this rapid-fire season, hear four 10-minute presentations on a variety of hot topics in esports from leaders in the field.
Inclusive by Design: Rethinking Diversity and Accessibility in Esports Events
Inclusion in esports goes beyond opening the door. It requires intentional design. This session explores how event organizers can actively create competitive spaces for underrepresented groups, with actionable insights drawn from the GIRLGAMER Esports Festival initiative focused on women in gaming.
Presenter: Tiago Fernandes/Grow uP EsportsEnhancing Engagement: How Esports and AV Technology Transform Experiences
Educators embrace esports to foster SEL, teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and creativity. Whether a dedicated facility or adapted learning space, institutions are investing in audiovisual systems and infrastructure to empower learners and improve outcomes. Discover the range of AV technologies and strategies to create scalable and intuitive systems that are tailored to your program and meet key requirements of gameplay, coaching, spectating, and streaming.
Presenter: Lucas Hayworth/ExtronMeaningful Esports Events on a Small Scale
Your destination doesn’t need a 20,000-seat arena to host esports. Some of the most impactful events are being staged in small- and mid-sized cities around the country. Learn how some esports event organizers are leaning into different-sized events in venues that may surprise you. In this session, hear about how the right mindset can help you take advantage of events in whatever venues your destination has available.
Presenter: Evan Cameron/Rally Cry
Engaging University Students to Help With Your Events
Esports events can be organized by large production companies or organizations. But they can also be run by university students who are learning the tricks of the trade and preparing themselves for future careers in the industry. Hear how destinations have engaged with universities to help launch events, and how you can build a relationship with collegiate programs to everyone’s benefit.
Presenter: Sean Kelly/Syracuse University
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Networking Break15 mins
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NKCC 3rd Floor Ballroom45 mins
Peoria, Illinois, is stepping into the esports spotlight with a bold vision — and an event to match. In this session, hear firsthand from Discover Peoria, the Peoria Civic Center and the organizer of the Future Play in Peoria gaming and tech festival, which will feature the National Collegiate Esports Showdown when it comes to town in September 2026. The event expects to draw hundreds of college teams who will compete for $50,000 in prizes — and demonstrates how a mid-sized destination can attract large-scale competitive gaming while activating downtown spaces and engaging community partners.
Learn how the city, venue and organizer collaborated on issues such as economic development, CVB strategy, state tourism support and local hospitality buy-in to position Peoria as a forward-thinking esports destination.
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Networking Break15 mins
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NKCC Event Center II70 minsThe marketplace is open only to industry suppliers with marketplace tables and event organizers.
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NKCC 3rd Floor Ballroom Foyer60 mins
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Great American Ball Park165 mins
Courtesy of our friends at Discover Peoria, join your fellow EsportsTravel Summit attendees at Great American Ball Park as the Cincinnati Reds take on division rivals the Milwaukee Brewers. Our experience will run 6:15 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (The game starts at 7:10 p.m.) Enjoy the game, soak in the atmosphere, and keep the networking going in one of the jewels of the Cincinnati sports scene. RSVP details will be coming soon.
And after the game, make your way back across the river — because Discover Peoria isn't done with you yet. The legendary Late-Night Lounge awaits back at the Marriott at RiverCenter.
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Riverview Ballroom, Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter150 mins
After an open evening to explore everything that the Cincinnati Region has to offer, continue your experience at the EsportsTravel Summit during our Late-Night Lounge in the Riverview Ballroom at our host hotel, the Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter. Meet people you haven't yet met and make the most of this open networking opportunity!
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NKCC 3rd Floor Ballroom Foyer315 mins
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Breakfast/ESTA Coffee ConnectionsNKCC 3rd Floor Ballroom60 mins
Start the final day of the conference with the Esports Trade Association's Coffee Connections! Join us for a fresh cup of coffee, a delicious breakfast, and one last opportunity to connect with fellow attendees before the event concludes. Whether you're following up on conversations from previous days, exploring new partnerships, or exchanging ideas with industry peers, this relaxed networking session is the perfect way to maximize your experience. Come energized, make meaningful connections and help us close out the conference on a high note.
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NKCC 3rd Floor Ballroom45 mins
The 2026 Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup (CECC) May Madness featured 2,000 students from nearly 100 college and university teams competing for national titles. And for the first time, the event was staged in Waco, Texas. In this session, hear from the Collegiate Sports Management Group about how they have grown the competition into the national postseason destination for collegiate esports, bringing together conference champions, national qualifiers, rising programs, and elite student competitors across Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Rocket League, Overwatch, VALORANT, NBA 2K and more. And learn how they made it all work in a first-time destination for the event.
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Networking Break15 mins
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NKCC Event Center II120 minsThe marketplace is open only to industry suppliers with marketplace tables and event organizers.
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NKCC 3rd Floor Ballroom60 mins
In our closing session, stay for lunch and receive a warm welcome to Tulsa, Oklahoma, host of the 2027 EsportsTravel Summit before settling in for our final session of the day.
Afterward, we'll delve into a final discussion on the future of international esports. Hear from the International Esports Federation and leaders of the national effort in the United States on what the future holds for Olympic-style competitions in esports and how your destination can take advantage of the growing event infrastructure of international competition.
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