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www.sportseventsmagazine.com September 2015 9 t SPORTS Talk Industry Wells New Sports Director In Sarasota SARASOTA, Fla.—Rob Wells has been named the new direc- tor of sports for the Sarasota County Sports Commission, replacing Nicole Rissler. Wells will work with Visit Sarasota County and the sports commission to expand the area's growing sports market, including homegrown events and outside competitions. In 2014, the sports commis- sion supported more than 80 events. Events On The Rise In Tri-Cities Area Of Washington KENNEWICK, Wash.—The number of conventions and sports events held in the Tri-Cities area is up halfway through 2015, compared with the same time last year, accord- ing to Visit Tri-Cities, the area's visitor and convention bureau. The area hosted 134 conven- tions and sports events since January, up from 128 held during the same timeframe in 2014. More than 63,000 people visited the region to attend the events, about 1,000 more than last year's attendance by mid- year. Spending was also up to $19 million from the $18.9 million posted in the frst six months of 2014. College Players Can't Unionize But Still Win, Prof Says BUFFALO, N.Y.—While the National Labor Relations Board's (NLRB) unanimous decision to dismiss North- western University's football players' call to form a union is a setback for players wanting to organize, a University of Buffalo sports law expert said the players actually accomplished some key goals. "While it might appear that the Northwestern football players lost the battle for representation, as their petition was dismissed by the NLRB, clearly they have won the war," said Nellie Drew, an adjunct faculty member who teaches several courses in the university's law school. NCAA has returned to the four-year scholarship contract form from the one- year renewable deals that left athletes at risk of losing their scholarship due to injury, she said. "Schools are now free to pay athletes stipends to meet costs above and beyond room and board—which, in some instances, can be signifcant. Even food restrictions have been revisited, and the prospect of better health care is also on the horizon. Youth USA BMX STEM Program Reaches 15,000 Kids GILBERT, Ariz.—USA BMX, the world's largest bicycle motocross organiza- tion, announced its Science Technology Education and Math (STEM) Program has distributed more than 1,500 BMX bikes. The two-year-old, school- based program has integrated into more than 150 schools from Walla Walla, Wash., to Jacksonville, Fla., and has reached more than 15,000 students nationwide. "The creation of the BMX STEM Program was one of the best things we have ever done in my time at USA BMX," said CEO B.A. Ander- son. "We look forward to the continued success of this pro- gram, as well as the develop- ment of additional educational offerings in the future." Created in 2013, the USA BMX STEM Program was the frst STEM curriculum developed and sanctioned by an Olympic sport. Free Agent BMX, a BMX bike manufac- turer, sponsors the program. ► f f f i U S A B M X SALT LAKE CITY, Utah—The 36th National Veterans Wheelchair Games will be held June 26-July 2, 2016, in Salt Lake City. Nearly 600 veteran athletes are expected to participate in the multi-sport event that features 19 events plus triathlon. Bobsledding will be offered as the event's exhibition sport. The games are designed to demonstrate the therapeutic value of sports and competition and provide opportunities for newly injured veterans with disabilities to gain sports skills and be exposed to other athletes who use wheelchairs. n 2016 National Veterans Wheelchair Games To Be Held In Utah EVENT Paralyzed Veterans of America