Raleigh, NC-- The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (GRCVB) announced today that its sports marketing department has a new name – the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance – and a new advisory board of local sports leaders.

The Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance, or GRSA, will market Raleigh and Wake County for the purpose of attracting sporting events, tournaments, championships and sports-related meetings to the area. The GRSA also will provide support and host services to existing events in order to help those events grow, become successful and ultimately remain in Wake County.

“The name Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance provides a more accurate description of who we are and what we do,” says Scott Dupree, vice president of the GRCVB, whose title will now become Executive Director of the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance. “Occasionally there is confusion in the marketplace over a CVB’s role within the sports event industry. This will help to clear that up.”

The staff of the GRCVB Sports Marketing Department remains in place and is now the staff of the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance, with one notable addition: Michael Robson has been named Sports Coordinator and will join the staff later this month. Robson was previously the GRCVB’s destination database coordinator. The GRSA staff:

Scott Dupree, Executive Director (sdupree@raleighsports.org)

Tori Collins, Associate Director (tori@raleighsports.org)

Jason Philbeck, Sports Marketing Manager (jphilbeck@raleighsports.org)

Theresa Tyler, Sports Services Manager (ttyler@raleighsports.org)

Michael Robson, Sports Coordinator, (mrobson@raleighsports.org)

In addition, the GRSA will have a 21-member  Advisory Board, made up of sports, government, tourism and hospitality officials who play key roles in the sports event industry in Greater Raleigh. The GRSA Advisory Board will meet quarterly, beginning this fall.

Members of the GRSA Advisory Board are as follows:

Paul Campion, Senior Director of Sales, Octagon Global Events

Al Carter, Dean of Students, Shaw University

William Davis, Athletic Manager, Town of Cary

Alison Edmonds, Executive Director, Greater Raleigh Sports Council

Curt Johnson, President, Carolina RailHawks

Kelly Johnson, Director of Athletics, William Peace University

Chris Kingston, Executive Senior Associate Director of Athletics, NC State University

Joe Kremer, General Manager, Carolina Mudcats

Brian Maloney, General Manager of Capitol Sports Radio, Capitol Broadcasting

Jeff Merritt, Executive Director, Centennial Authority

Barry Mitsch, Vice President, Pyramid Resource Group

Jackie Myers, Athletics Director, Meredith College

Laurie Okun, Director of Sales & Marketing, Raleigh Convention Center

Dave Olsen, Executive Vice President, Carolina Hurricanes/PNC Arena

David Perkins, Chief Operating Officer, USA Baseball

Larry Perkins, Vice President of Guest Relations, Carolina Hurricanes/PNC Arena

Diane Sauer, Parks and Recreation Director, City of Raleigh

Charlie Slagle, CEO, Capital Area Soccer League

Chris Snow, Parks, Recreation and Open Space Director; Wake County

George Williams, Director of Athletics, St. Augustine’s University

Hotel Representative (1-year term): Michele Bevevino, Director of Sales & Marketing, Raleigh Marriott City Center

“The single biggest strength of the sports event industry in Greater Raleigh  -- and the most important factor in our success – is our tremendous partners,” Dupree says. “We have individuals and organizations that are among the best in the world at what they do, in terms of recruiting, creating and hosting sporting events. That’s why we chose the word “Alliance” in our name, because it highlights our greatest attribute – our superb partners.

“We figured now was the perfect time to bring many of our key partners together under one umbrella in the form of an Alliance. This will help to generate an even greater sense of teamwork, as we move forward and make decisions that help chart the future of the sports event industry in Greater Raleigh. This will also strengthen our relationships and improve the lines of communication between all members of the Alliance.”

All contact information for the GRSA remains the same:

Phone: 919-834-5900

Fax: 919-831-2887

Web site: raleighsports.org

Twitter: @raleighncsports