Clayton County Considering Formation Of Sports Coalition

The aim is to generate revenue and spur long-term economic development through sports.

Short term goals (within two years)

♦ Establish formal Clayton County Sports Coalition infrastructure.

♦ Launch specific pilot sports programs.

♦ Staffing to help in getting grants, private donations and other funding.

♦ Develop partnerships with local schools and community organizations to expand reach and development.

♦ Anticipated impact return of $1 million.

Mid- and long-term goals (three to six-plus years)

♦ Build a state-of-the-art sports facility.

♦ Establish an endowment for scholarship funds for county athletes.

♦ Implement comprehensive sports education programs in collaboration with schools, promoting skills development ad culture of sportsmanship over the next five years.

At its March 5 meeting, the county commission approved a contract with Game Changer Nation to provide an assessment of parks and recreation facilities.

Commissioner Gail Hambrick said Game Changer and the Sports Coalition could work in conjunction with one another.

“We see the value in having a coalition too,” Hambrick said.

Commissioner DeMont Davis, who is a proponent of the sports coalition, said the coalition can help spur economic development.

According to statistics provided at the work session, U.S. sports tourism has an impact of nearly $92 billion, generates 635,000 jobs, and nearly $13 billion is collected in tax revenue.

In 2023, the SIAC basketball tournament generated $1.5 million for the Savannah area while the annual Fountain City Classic football game between Ft. Valley State and Albany State generates about $1 million on game day alone for Muscogee County.

The March 12 work session is online at claytoncountyga.iqm2.com/Citizens/SplitView.aspx?Mode=Video&MeetingID=1512&Format=Agenda. The Sports Coalition presentation begins at about 13 minutes into the meeting.