Sport Oregon CEO on the rise and future of sports in the state

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — With the Blazers up for sale, funding for a major league baseball stadium being debated in Salem, and a WNBA team on the way, Oregon sports have been in the headlines as of late.

When it comes to major sports and sporting events in Portland, perhaps no organization is as plugged in as Sport Oregon.

The leading advocate for major sporting events in the state, Sport Oregon has been instrumental in putting Oregon on the sporting map, as the state’s nonprofit sports economic development arm.

Sport Oregon’s CEO Jim Etzel has more than three decades of experience in sports, live events, sports marketing and major sports partnerships.

A native Oregonian, Etzel is a graduate of the University of Portland Pamplin School of Business and also sits on the board of Travel Portland and the Portland Metro Chamber.

He joined this week’s Eye on Northwest Politics to talk about this important time for the state.

Watch the full interview in the video above.