The Playeasy Warmup

What does it take to grow a sports tourism strategy from the ground up - and turn it into a major part of a destination’s identity?

In this episode of The Playeasy Warmup, Kerri Shields sits down with Clay Partain, Chief Sports Officer at Visit Salt Lake and Board Chair of Sports ETA, to talk about his journey in sports tourism and the evolution of Sports Salt Lake.

Clay shares how an unconventional path brought him to Salt Lake and eventually into the sports tourism industry, where he would help grow a small sports effort within Visit Salt Lake into the dedicated Sports Salt Lake division it is today.

The conversation explores the relationships, community buy-in, athlete experience, and willingness to embrace innovation that have helped drive that growth. Clay also shares his perspective on the changing industry, the role of AI and technology, and why human connection will continue to be at the center of the work.

From Sports Salt Lake’s growth to Clay’s new leadership role with Sports ETA and the destination’s continued transformation ahead of the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the conversation looks at how far Salt Lake has come - and what’s ahead.

What are today’s event organizers looking for - and where are they headed next?
In Part 1 of the Event Organizer Shark Tank from the 2026 Playeasy Innovators Summit, Kerri Shields sits down with leaders from US Senior Pickleball, 3STEP Sports, XTERRA, H3 Athletics, the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC), TRIBU/Jackalope, and Weekend Hockey for a series of conversations about their organizations, their growth, and the future of their events.
From senior pickleball and youth sports to trail racing, football, collegiate esports, action sports, and hockey tournaments, each organization shares how they’re expanding, the types of events they produce, and what they need from future host destinations.
Along the way, one theme continues to emerge: successful events are built on more than great facilities. Communication, hospitality, community buy-in, shared goals, memorable participant experiences, and long-term partnerships all play a role in creating events that organizations and athletes want to return to.
Whether you’re a destination organization, venue, or event organizer, this episode offers an inside look at the opportunities these organizations are creating - and what it takes to become a destination they want to partner with.

Talent isn’t the issue; access is.

In this episode of The Playeasy Warmup, Kerri Shields sits down with Harvey Scruggs, CEO & President of H3 Athletics, to break down how he’s building a platform designed to create real opportunity for athletes.

What started as a gap in exposure has evolved into a multi-sport ecosystem – spanning tournaments, showcases, media, and new formats – all built around one idea: athletes deserve better platforms.

They get into how youth sports is evolving, what separates a good event from a truly memorable one, and why content is now a core part of the athlete experience – not an afterthought.

They also dive into how destinations can better support events, where growth is happening next, and why new formats like flag football are creating major opportunities across the industry.

If you’re thinking about event strategy, athlete development, or how to scale sports experiences, this episode is worth your time.

Action sports might feel niche, but the momentum is global.
In this episode of The Playeasy Warmup, Kerri Shields sits down with Micah Desforges, Founder of Tribu, to break down how Jackalope has grown from a backyard event into one of the most recognized action sports festivals in the world.

From early grassroots beginnings to international expansion, Micah shares what it takes to build events that go beyond competition – blending sport, culture, and community into experiences people remember.

They also dive into how destinations fit into that growth, what makes action sports so compelling, and why the lead-up to LA28 is creating a major opportunity for cities to get involved.

If you care about experiential events, destination strategy, or where the future of sports tourism is heading, this episode is for you.

00:00 – Intro to Tribu & Jackalope
 02:44 – Playeasy Innovators Summit
 03:46 – Micah’s Origin Story
 05:45 – Backyard Event to First Festival
 08:47 – Building Experiences That Feel Different
 12:26 – What Tribu Actually Is
 14:09 – The Growth of Jackalope
 17:00 – Why Culture & Community Matter
 21:17 – Expansion & RFP Strategy
 25:56 – What Destinations Need to Understand
 28:49 – How Events Are Built
 31:28 – Virginia Beach Success Story
 37:08 – Using Playeasy to Find Markets
 39:02 – Why Events Stay Free
 41:35 – What Experiential Marketing Looks Like
 49:00 – Biggest Lesson Learned

As the countdown to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles begins, a new wave of momentum is building behind one of the world’s most electric sports: team handball.

In this episode of The Playeasy Warmup, host Kerri Shields sits down with Michael King, CEO of USA Team Handball, to explore what it takes to grow a sport in the U.S. from the ground up. From his journey as a national team athlete to leading the organization at a pivotal moment, Michael shares how USA Team Handball is building infrastructure, creating opportunities, and capturing attention across the country.

They dive into:

• Why team handball is gaining traction in the U.S.
• What makes the sport so fast-paced and captivating
• How destinations and host cities play a role in growth
• The strategy behind athlete recruitment and development
• What success looks like on the road to LA28

Pickleball is everywhere, but what does it actually take to build a structured, competitive ecosystem behind the scenes?

In this episode of The Playeasy Warmup, Kerri Shields sits down with Karen Parrish from US Senior Pickleball to break down the systems powering one of the fastest-growing sports in the country.

From ratings and sanctioning to national championship pathways, Karen shares how tournaments are designed for success, and what separates a great event from an average one. They also dive into the role of destinations, the importance of community, and why pickleball continues to grow across generations.

In this episode of The Playeasy Warmup, host Kerri Shields sits down with former Boston College standout and WNBA veteran Carolyn Swords for a conversation that goes far beyond basketball.

Just in time for Women’s Final Four weekend, this episode dives into the momentum, visibility, and transformation happening across women’s basketball right now.

From her journey to Boston College and nine-year WNBA career, to her work with the WNBPA and time on the product team at Nike, Carolyn shares how sport shaped her leadership, and why this moment for the game feels different.

They dive into:

• The evolution of women’s basketball from college to the pros
• What makes this Final Four moment so powerful
• How brands, events, and destinations can show up in women’s sports
• The importance of player experience in building the game

If you’re watching this weekend, this conversation will give you a whole new perspective on what’s happening on and off the court.

Adaptive sports are transforming the way athletes of all abilities experience competition, community, and connection.

In this episode of The Playeasy Warmup, host Kerri Shields sits down with Marynka Rojas Gorgen, Director of Operations for Paradragons USA, an organization dedicated to expanding opportunities in adaptive dragon boat racing.

Marynka shares how the Paradragon movement is opening doors for athletes with physical, sensory, neurological, intellectual, and psychological disabilities to train and compete in one of the world’s most community-driven sports. From grassroots education and coaching development to international competition, Paradragons USA is helping grow the sport while ensuring accessibility remains at the center.

The conversation explores how adaptive sports create powerful community connections, the logistics of hosting inclusive sporting events, and the impact that team-based competition can have on athletes’ confidence and quality of life.

In this special extended episode of The Playeasy Warmup, co-founders Kerri and Sean sit down for an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about the company’s journey.
From a spontaneous conversation on a Boston roof deck in 2017 to navigating the uncertainty of COVID-19, Sean and Kerri share the pivotal moments that shaped Playeasy’s evolution.
The conversation explores how the company moved from a simple idea, helping people find sports facilities, into a platform connecting destinations, event organizers, venues, and visitors across the sports tourism and destination marketing ecosystems.
They also introduce Destination Experience Co., the parent company behind Playeasy and Compass, and how new technologies like AI are shaping the next generation of destination engagement.
This episode is a candid reflection on entrepreneurship, resilience, and the power of community in building something that lasts.

Episode Chapters

00:00 – Introduction: Why We’re Sharing the Full Story

04:33 – The Origin of Playeasy

26:45 – Discovering Sports Tourism & Finding Product-Market Fit

34:30 – Surviving COVID and Reinventing the Platform

1:06:00 – The Catalyst Behind Our New Company Evolution

1:16:30 – Introducing Destination Experience Co. & Compass

1:20:00 – Looking Ahead to the 2026 Innovators Summit

The fitness competition landscape is changing, and World Fitness Project is leading the charge.

In this episode of The Playeasy Warmup, Kerri Shields sits down with Jason Ansley, Global Event Director for the World Fitness Project (WFP), to discuss how they’re reimagining what high-performance fitness events can look like on a global stage.

From signing the top 40 athletes in the world to building a multi-stop international tour with live broadcast in multiple languages, WFP is professionalizing a space where athletes historically paid to compete.

Jason shares:

• Why protecting and fairly paying athletes is mission critical

• What it takes to produce a fitness event like a TV show

• How digital reach and live streaming are reshaping destination partnerships

• Why youth engagement through Project 1 is essential for the future of the sport

• What host cities need to know if they want to partner

With stops across the U.S., Europe, and now Mexico City, and ambitions to expand globally, World Fitness Project is creating something bigger than competition.

It’s community. It’s culture. It’s the future of professional fitness.