AUSTIN, TX – Visit Austin announced the appointment of Nathan Kopp as the new Executive Director of the Austin Sports Commission. Kopp, a dynamic sports industry executive with more than 15 years of experience driving sports strategy, large-scale events, and destination marketing initiatives, joins the organization to lead the strategic growth and operational excellence of Austin’s sports tourism efforts.
In his new role, Kopp will be pivotal in securing high-impact sporting events, building strong industry partnerships, and generating measurable economic benefits for the Austin community. He will oversee business development and event prioritization while supervising the sports sales team to ensure alignment with Visit Austin’s organizational goals.
Kopp most recently served as Vice President of Sports San Diego. Under his leadership, the organization secured and hosted more than 80 new sporting events, including international competitions and world championships, generating over $400 million in economic impact and more than 400,000 hotel room nights. His major wins included the NASCAR San Diego Weekend, the first-ever street race on an active-duty military base, and the inaugural Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup.
“We are thrilled to welcome Nathan Kopp as the Executive Director of the Austin Sports Commission and to the Visit Austin team,” said Tom Noonan, President and CEO of Visit Austin. “Nathan’s extensive background and proven success in event acquisition and fundraising will be invaluable as we continue to market Austin as a premier global destination for sports. His strategic mindset and ability to cultivate deep industry relationships make him the ideal leader to fuel our city’s love of competition and drive significant economic growth for our community.”
Prior to his tenure in San Diego, Kopp held leadership positions with the San Diego Tourism Authority, Competitor Group, and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. He has contributed to the execution and logistics of more than 500 major sporting events worldwide, including multiple Super Bowls and the Sochi Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Kopp earned his Master of Arts in Sport Administration and his Bachelor of Applied Arts in Sport Management from Central Michigan University, graduating with honors from both programs. His industry engagement includes having served on the California Sports Coalition and as a volunteer for the Holiday Bowl.