About ASEC

The Arizona Sports & Entertainment Commission (ASEC) is among the oldest sports commissions in the United States. ASEC operates as an independent 501 (c) (3) organization. The mission of the Arizona Sports & Entertainment Commission is to represent the citizens of Arizona to bring sporting events to the state, assist in the promotion of existing events, and support youth and amateur sports programs.
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ASEC currently owns and operates the Grand Canyon State Games, The Lori Piestewa National Native American Games, The Arizona Sports Hall of Fame and The GCSG Annual Pickleball Tournament.

ASEC is led by a volunteer board of directors made up of many of the Valley’s top community leaders. The day-to-day operations are led by Executive Director Nikki Balich, Grand Canyon State Games Executive Consultant Gary Nees, Event Coordinator Mike Wagner and Office Manager Debby Munn.

It is the goal of ASEC to make Arizona the country’s number one sports destination. Home to the marquis venues such as: Talking Stick Resort Arena, Chase Field, Gila River Arena, University of Phoenix Stadium, Northern Arizona, Grand Canyon University, University of Arizona, Arizona State University’s myriad of facilities and hundreds of amateur fields and facilities, the Valley of the Sun can accommodate any and all premiere events.

Additionally, the Valley offers over 55,000 hotel rooms, 200 golf courses, a newly reconstructed $600 million convention center with almost 1 million square feet of space, and an average yearly temperature of 72 degrees, which makes Phoenix and its surrounding cities a prime destination for all types of sporting events.

Arizona plays annual host to major events including: The PGA Tour Waste Management Phoenix Open, College Football’s Fiesta, Cactus and Arizona Bowl Games, Major League Baseball’s Cactus League Spring Training, NASCAR races at the Phoenix International Raceway, and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon. Additionally, our state is well represented with seven professional sports franchises including; the Phoenix Suns, Arizona Cardinals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Coyotes, Phoenix Mercury, Arizona Rattlers, and the Phoenix Rising. The ASEC is here to help organizations bring events of all sizes to the Grand Canyon State.

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