The Seattle Sports Commission’s Region Ready Summit convenes members in business, hospitality and tourism, government and the sports communities in Greater Seattle around the hosting of major sporting events.

The 2024 Region Ready Program Includes:

  • 2024 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

  • 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship

  • 2025 Sporting Event Hosting Schedule

  • Future Sporting Event Bid Status

  • FIFA World Cup 26™

    • Seattle Match Schedule Impact

    • Key Dates & Milestones

    • Planning Committees

    • Transportation

    • Security

    • Legacy

The Summit will conclude with a networking reception for all registered attendees to continue the conversation over appetizers and beverages.

Monday, April 22, 2024

Hyatt Olive 8

2:30 - 6:00 PM

Presenting Sponsor

Event Sponsor

Event Sponsor

Event Sponsor

Region Ready Program Schedule

Welcome Remarks

  • Joli Mosier, Seattle Sports Commission (SSC) Board Chair and Principal, MosierMcCann  

Preparing Our Region

  • Moderated by Beth Knox, SSC President & CEO

  • Markham McIntyre, City of Seattle

  • Seattle Port Commission President Hamdi Mohamed 

2024 Hosted Events

  • Alex Webster, SSC Director of Sporting Events Development 

Clipper 'Round the World Yacht Race

  • Karla Graves, Clipper Head of Communications

  • Clipper 2023-2024 Race Skipper 

KPMG Women’s PGA Championship

  • Amy Banovich, KPMG Managing Partner

  • Callum McLuckie, PGA of America Tournament Corporate Sales Hospitality & Marketing  

Future Hosted Events and Bids

  • Alex Webster, SSC Director of Sporting Events Development 

Making the Most of Hosting Major Events

  • Moderated by Beth Knox, SSC President & CEO 

  • Kathy Nelson, Visit KC and Kansas City Sports CEO  

FIFA World Cup 26™

State of World Cup

  • April Putney, SEATTLEFWC26 Chief Strategy Officer 

Transportation

  • Moderated by April Putney, SEATTLEFWC26 Chief Strategy Officer  

  • Sam Zimbabwe, Kimley-Horn

  • Washington State Department of Transportation 

Security

  • Moderated by John Diaz, SEATTLEFWC26 Chief Security Officer 

  • SPD World Cup Lead 

  • Homeland Security Representative 

Legacy

  • Leo Flor, SEATTLEFWC26 Chief Legacy Officer 

Q&A 

Closing Remarks

  • Deputy Mayor Greg Wong, City of Seattle

Seattle On The World Stage

With a guest list comprising many of the region’s key decision makers, our targeted panel discussions feature prominent figures from the major events and sports industries to provide beneficial guidance and area-specific takeaways. The central purpose of this conference is to convene and engage core representatives from the greater Seattle area in an action-oriented conversation on preparedness for major events. The conference is structured around developing and strengthening our hospitality, transportation, security, footprint, equity and legacy, and funding strategies to bid on, secure, and successfully host world-class sporting events.

“There is simply no other event like the FIFA World Cup, and my goal is to make sure that the legacy of the globe’s biggest sporting event positively impacts generations of Washingtonians. We plan on hosting the best World Cup ever. While the world is coming to Seattle and Washington State, we look forward to bringing our great city and state to the world.”

— SEA 2026 Chief Executive Officer, Peter Tomozawa