WORCESTER—City officials are looking into creating a new sports commission aimed at bringing more athletic events—and the economic activity that comes with them—to Worcester.
The order, introduced by Councilor Tony Economou, calls for establishing a volunteer Worcester Sports Commission tasked with attracting, promoting and supporting sporting events across the city, from large-scale tournaments to regional competitions.
At its core, the idea, which was spearheaded by District 1 resident and longtime journalist Walter Bird, is straightforward: organize a group focused solely on positioning Worcester as a destination for sports—and in turn, fill hotel rooms, draw visitors and support local businesses.
“We’ve all talked about it,” Economou said, pointing to events already hosted at the DCU Center and other venues. “How do we parlay that going forward?”
The proposed commission would include between nine and 13 members appointed by the city manager, with representation from city government, local businesses, sports venues, colleges, tourism and hospitality sectors, youth sports organizations and the broader community. The group would elect a chairperson and develop both short—and long-term strategies, including potential fundraising efforts.
Supporters say the effort could help Worcester compete more aggressively for events and opportunities that can generate significant economic ripple effects, such as NCAA tournaments, boxing matches and regional championships.
Councilor Jose Rivera backed the concept, commenting on its broader impact beyond sports.
“It’s about bringing attraction to the city of Worcester,” Rivera said. “That brings revenue, tourists and all that good stuff.”
Several councilors framed the proposal as a way to better coordinate efforts that are already happening, but not always in a unified way. Worcester currently has multiple boards and commissions tied to venues and recreation, including the DCU Center, Polar Park and the parks system.
Rivera suggested the city could consider consolidating some of those efforts rather than creating a new body from scratch.
Vice Chair Khrystian King echoed that caution, saying he would support the idea but questioned whether a new commission is necessary without first evaluating existing ones.
“I don’t want to see a commission for the sake of a commission,” King said.
He pointed to past and current efforts— including outreach tied to international events and sports-related initiatives—as evidence that some of the work is already underway. King also referenced concerns about the effectiveness of certain existing bodies, including a ballpark-related commission, suggesting the city should examine how those groups are functioning before adding another layer.
At the same time, King stressed the importance of acting quickly if Worcester hopes to land major future events, including NCAA basketball tournaments, which operate on long lead times.
The proposal also drew support from Councilor Satya Mitra, who said Worcester’s growing sports culture — highlighted by venues such as Polar Park — makes the idea a natural fit.
“People in Worcester are really sports fans,” Mitra said, adding that a dedicated commission could help build on that momentum.
Under the current proposal, the city council is seeking a report from City Manager Eric Batista outlining how such a commission could be structured and whether it should be created as a new body or integrated with existing boards.
