Sports Committee Meeting Minutes

Branson Chamber/CVB - Silver Dollar City Room

Wednesday, February 18th

 

Call to Order / Introductions – Given by Caylen Cantrell

  • Meeting was called to order. Caylen reviewed 2026 committee requirements and expectations for all members.

 

Branson Chamber & CVB / Sports Committee Updates – Given by Kristina Hagey

  • New faces were introduced. Idea was shared about future meetings being at different sports facilities in town.

 

Sporting Event Updates – Given by Kristina Hagey

  • Kristina provided year-end update and quarter 1 updates for 2026:
    • Explore Branson Top 5 destination on PlayEasy in 2025
    • Explore Branson Athlete Program
    • MoNASP’s 10th year anniversary in Branson (handouts were given out). VIP invite
    • 12 events so far for 2026 Q1

 

Venue & Facility Committee Member Updates – Given by Stewart Grimm

  • Branson RecPlex – Updates given by Josh
    • Lots of softball tournaments going on this winter and spring of 2026. They are hoping for a busy summer. There are basketball opportunities in the horizons that the RecPlex is trying to go after.
  • Ballparks of America – Updates given by Wade Early
    • Baseball season is about to start. New vendors at Ballparks. New innovation in acquiring camera analytics around the fields. Idea of implementing a trading cards tradition.
  • Branson Convention Center – Updates given by Jordan Cannefax
    • Getting ready to host Royal Events, Redline, All Out Championships, MoNASP, and Apex for the first quarter of the year.
  • Table Rock Lake State Park – Updates given by Caylen Cantrell
    • 1.4 million visitors in 2025. 2,700 camping nights. 22 new camp sites. Ribbon cutting for 6 new yurts soon.

 

Explore Branson Sports Department Updates – Given by Stewart Grimm

  • Sports Express Conference Update: 29 appointments. Multiple RFP’s and leads.
    • US Taekwondo good ongoing process in bringing back to Branson, Missouri.
  • MSTE (Missouri Sports Travel Exchange): 15-20 appointments in Columbia, Missouri from March-2nd to March 4th. Opportunity to talk to peers and rightsholders.

 

Committee Member News & Updates – Given by Caylen Cantrell

  • Caylen invited members to share any updates with the committee. Some of the comments shared:
    • Sports Facility project taken over by the City of Branson. TIFF approved. Land being tested. No timeframe of groundbreaking at the moment.
    • More wristbands being ordered for the sporting events coming in 2026
    • Branson RecPlex working on new leads for the upcoming year
    • Branson sport facilities trying to accommodate together to keep/bring events into town

 

2026 Sports Committee Meeting Dates – Given by Natalie Calvert

  • Next meeting: Wednesday, May 13th @ 3:30pm