This June, The Vanguard Ann Arbor, Autograph Collection, will host the 2026 Playeasy Innovators Summit. Playeasy, a digital marketing platform and network which connects stakeholders across the sporting event and sports tourism industry, puts on the summit as an opportunity for destination marketing organizations to connect and collaborate with industry leaders, destinations, and rightsholders in an environment where they can share new ideas and explore possibilities for sports tourism. This year’s summit is expected to welcome 150 attendees, including destination leaders and event rightsholders, from across the sports tourism industry.
The Playeasy Network helps destinations market their sports facilities and events and communicate with planners, venues, and visitors, while Playeasy Experiences provide planners with opportunities to engage potential attendees through digital avenues, including marketing email campaigns, event listing pages, social media integrations, and more. Planners can access the software by contacting Playeasy directly for onboarding. The Ann Arbor Sports Commission is a longtime supporter of the platform; Playeasy and the Michigan Sports Commission are partners in a statewide initiative aimed at promoting sporting events and tourism across the state.
“Ann Arbor has been a trusted, forward-thinking partner since Playeasy’s early days, and we’re beyond excited to bring our second Innovators Summit to a destination that truly embodies innovation and a deep-rooted sports and events culture,” says Kerri Shields, CEO of the Playeasy Network, in a prepared statement.
The city and its surrounding area host numerous large-scale competitions, multiday tournaments, and top-tier collegiate events that exemplify Ann Arbor’s strength as a sports destination. Examples of past events include the USRowing RowFest National Championships, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Cheer & Dance National Championships, and the NAIA Women’s Golf National Championships. This summer, neighboring Yspilanti will host the USA Artistic Swimming 2026 Junior Olympic Championship.
The Ann Arbor area is home to a breadth of capable sports venues, all supported by nearby hotels, dining, and a walkable downtown, shares Chad Wiebesick, director of media relations and special projects at Destination Ann Arbor. These include:
● Biggby Coffee Ice Cube Ann Arbor, a four-sheet ice arena
● Biggby Coffee Ice Cube Chelsea, equipped with two NHL-size ice rinks for hockey and figure skating
● Eastern Michigan University Rowing Course at Ford Lake (Ypsilanti), the largest rowing course in Michigan with eight competition lanes
● George Gervin GameAbove Center at Eastern Michigan University (Ypsilanti), a multipurpose arena seating up to 9,500
● Jones Natatorium at Eastern Michigan University (Ypsilanti), a competition-ready aquatic facility that regularly hosts state and national swim and dive events
The Ann Arbor Sports Commission already has leveraged Playeasy’s technology, including its new Compass and Simpleview CMS sync which can connect a city’s or CBV’s website with Playeasy’s sports database, to host events efficiently and effectively—making the commission’s endorsement of the summit both resounding and authentic.
“The integration allows us to deliver real-time destination information—including dining and things to do—directly to event attendees, improving visitor experience,” says Wiebesick. “It also helps us better support event organizers by streamlining content and ensuring accurate, up-to-date information.”
