Director, Sports Sales

Director of Sports Sales drives sports tourism to Nashville by securing major sporting events that generate room nights, economic impact, and destination visibility. Through strategic sales initiatives, competitive bid development, and industry partnerships, this role positions Nashville as a premier sports destination in alignment with NCVC’s mission and brand.

Primary Responsibilities

Sales & Business Development

• Prospect, solicit, and secure sports-related events that generate room nights and economic impact, engaging governing bodies, planners, procurement teams, and third-party organizers across regional, national, and international markets.
• Execute the annual sports tourism sales strategy by identifying priority markets, emerging sports sectors, and major event opportunities; including leveraging Nashville’s new stadium to develop and secure bids for large-scale sporting and citywide events.
• Develop competitive bids, negotiate contracts and incentive packages in partnership with NCVC leadership.
• Serve as the primary liaison between event organizers and local partners including hotels, sports venues, universities, arenas, and convention facilities.
• Research industry trends and competitor destinations to strengthen Nashville’s competitive positioning.
• Develop and present compelling bid proposals in collaboration with marketing and leadership teams.
• Coordinate site inspections, sales blitzes, and familiarization tours for prospective clients and event organizers.

Industry Engagement & Relationship Building

• Actively participate in local, regional, and national trade shows, meetings, and networking events (e.g., TEAMS Expo, Large Market Sports Commission meetings, Sports ETA events) to generate leads and build relationships.
• Cultivate partnerships with local sports organizations, universities, and community stakeholders to identify opportunities and enhance hosting capacity.
• Pursue grants, sponsorships, and funding opportunities to support event feasibility and community benefit.

Collaboration & Internal Coordination

• Transition booked business to services specialists through clear, detailed communication to ensure seamless event execution.
• Maintain accurate client records in the CRM and track key performance metrics including leads, proposals, confirmed events, room nights, and estimated economic impact.

Professional Knowledge & Organizational Culture

• Stay informed on trends and best practices in sports tourism and destination marketing.
• Maintain knowledge of Nashville’s sports venues, attractions, and hospitality offerings.
• Demonstrate NCVC values and contribute to a collaborative, high-performing team culture.

Qualifications

• Experience developing bids and building relationships with major sports governing bodies or leagues (e.g., NFL, FIFA, NHL, NBA, MLS, NCAA) strongly preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in hotel or CVB/DMO sales, or related industry experience working with hotels and CVBs on sports or large-scale events preferred.

Work Schedule

• Full-time (40 hours/week) with flexibility for evenings, weekends, and occasional travel for trade shows and sales missions.

How to Apply for Consideration

Email your resume, along with a cover letter to Leslie Davis at by Friday, March 27, 2026. Resumes received after that time will not be accepted. All questions and inquiries must be submitted electronically to the email above. Questions, inquiries or resumes received in any other format or addressed to any other source will not be considered. Resumes are active 90 days from date of receipt and do not constitute an employment relationship. Statements and representations on documents submitted for consideration must be complete and accurate. The NCVC reserves the right to verify the completeness and accuracy of any and all statements and representations as well as conduct background and job-related checks.

The NCVC is an at-will employer. As such, employment may terminate at any time by either party.

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