Applications will open September 1 for residents interested in serving on the newly created Brownsville Sports Commission.
The seven-member commission will serve as an advisory board focused on sports tourism and giving the community a voice in how Brownsville continues to attract tournaments, teams and sporting events.
“The Brownsville Sports Commission has been created specifically to have the community’s input on sports tourism,” said Nathan Burkhardt, director of the Brownsville Convention and Visitors Bureau and Office of Space Commerce.
The City has increased its focus on sports tourism over the past year through several efforts, including hosting the Games of Texas, investing in sports facilities and exploring the possibility of bringing a United Soccer League expansion team to Brownsville.
The Sports Commission is expected to help guide that growth while looking at opportunities across multiple sports.
The board will include community members and representatives connected to local schools, colleges, universities, and sports leagues.
The commission will initially focus on providing recommendations and community input rather than operating with its own dedicated budget.
“This is a seed that we’re planting, so it’s going to start off as an advisory board, but I can see in the coming years, this board expanding its responsibility with a direct line item or some funding behind it,” Burkhardt said.
Local sports leaders say the commission could also help ensure the community has a role in deciding what types of events and opportunities Brownsville pursues.
“I think that the makeup of that sports commission is going to be a mix of different individuals that put the city first, and it’s going to help guide what happens here in a way, what kind of tourism we can bring here,” said Francisco Chavez, director of BTX Soccer Club.
Applications open September 1. Those interested in serving on the Brownsville Sports Commission can submit a Public Service Application through the City of Brownsville at:
https://brownsvilletx.mccicloud.io/Forms/PublicServiceApplication
