Note: The release is courtesy of NACDA. CoSIDA, in conjunction with NACDA and Affiliates Convention Week, will host its first conventions in the city of Las Vegas during June of 2020 and 2022.
The 2020 NACDA & Affiliates Convention dates will be June 7-10, while the 2022 Convention will be June 26-29.
CLEVELAND – The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), along with its affiliate associations, announced today its 2020 and 2022 Conventions will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mandalay Bay Resort will serve as the NACDA & Affiliates headquarters for the Convention week, with Delano Las Vegas serving as a secondary property for attendees.
“The sustained growth of our annual Convention, coupled with our 15 affiliate associations’ desire to meet simultaneously, has driven us to create a consolidated Convention model that can fit in one facility. After prospecting many facilities across the country, Mandalay Bay Resort was determined to be the best fit for NACDA’s new Convention format,” said NACDA Executive Director Bob Vecchione. “As a result, 2020 will be the inaugural year of our condensed Convention model, whereby all 15 associations will meet over the same time period of four days, versus the current elongated model that utilizes a nine-day Convention format.”
The 2020 NACDA & Affiliates Convention dates will be June 7-10, while the 2022 Convention will be June 26-29.
“NACDA is excited to reach an agreement with Mandalay Bay Resort to host its Convention in Las Vegas,” said NACDA President Tim Selgo, director of athletics at Grand Valley State University. “This is a great opportunity for all 15,700 of our members to meet together, as we continue to provide top tier networking and best practice opportunities for athletics administrators.”
"CoSIDA is excited to partner with the NACDA affiliates as the annual Convention comes out west to Las Vegas in 2020 and 2022," stated CoSIDA President Judy Willson, Associate Director of Communications at the Mountain West Conference. "Many of us have great experiences with events in Las Vegas every year and enjoy the variety of hospitality opportunities the city provides its visitors. We look forward to a great time in the desert!
“We are honored to host the combined meeting of NACDA and its affiliate associations and excited to showcase the energy only Las Vegas can deliver,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, president/CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “There’s a reason Las Vegas is a top choice for meetings and conventions. We offer an exceptional experience for delegates, allowing them to conduct serious business and networking while also enjoying world class dining and entertainment that can’t be found anywhere else.”
“We look forward to hosting NACDA and its members at Mandalay Bay in 2020 and 2022. NACDA’s arrival in Las Vegas will give Mandalay Bay the opportunity to present its industry-leading Convention Center facilities to the country’s top athletics administrators while further solidifying Las Vegas as a top destination for collegiate athletics,” said Rick Arpin, senior vice president of entertainment and development for MGM Resorts International.
In the past 50 years, NACDA has hosted its Convention in Nevada eight times – seven in Las Vegas and once in Reno.
What the NACDA Affiliate Presidents are saying:
“CABMA is in full support of all NACDA affiliates meeting over concurrent days. We feel this would benefit all affiliates and improve networking opportunities across the board.” – CABMA President Andy Platt, Senior Associate AD/CFO, University of Georgia
“This is a great opportunity to network with and tap into all of the resources of the entire NACDA affiliate memberships in one place. CEFMA is extremely excited to be a part of this great experience for all of our members that will hopefully lead to increased co-programming, synergies and future opportunities.” – CEFMA President Tim Wise, Senior Associate Athletic Director Facilities & Event Operations, University of Miami
“NACDA continues to innovate, be extremely creative, and provide exceptional professional development opportunities for each of its affiliate associations. This concurrent days concept will really enhance an already outstanding model to provide a broad range of experiences for each attendee.” – D2 ADA President Fran Reidy, Director of Athletics, Saint Leo University
“The opportunity for the D2 CCA membership to concurrently meet with all of the various constituent groups affiliated with NACDA during the 2020 and 2022 Conventions is a stroke of genius. What better way to enable us to explore opportunities for interaction and learn from one another, all for the betterment of intercollegiate athletics. Kudos to NACDA for providing this format.” – D2 CCA President Dave Brunk, Commissioner, Peach Belt Conference
“Combining all associations into one group will create the best place for all athletics administrators to listen, learn, network and increase their abilities for their own personal and professional growth. This will provide a great opportunity!” – FCS ADA President Jeff Tingey, Director of Athletics, Idaho State University
"I am delighted to hear that NACDA will be meeting in Las Vegas in 2020 and 2022 and give all the affiliate groups the ability to convene during the same period of time. It will be a wonderful opportunity for joint programming and educational sessions among senior and junior administrators. And, what better place than Las Vegas which provides first class, affordable, family recreation.” – I-AAA ADA President Gene Doris, Director of Athletics, Fairfield University
“ICLA is excited about the establishment of a new platform for the 2020 NACDA & Affiliates Convention under one roof in Las Vegas. Cutting the previous nine-day Convention to a three-day event will significantly enhance the ability of our members to collaborate with all other NACDA Affiliate Associations which is tremendous for the collegiate licensing industry.” – ICLA President Robin Cooper, Assistant Director of Licensing and Trademarks, Indiana University
“NACDA returning to Las Vegas, Nevada will yield a tremendous bonus in that ALL affiliate groups will be in attendance at the same time in the same location, enabling more robust collaboration, networking opportunities and exposure of all groups to the many different disciplines of intercollegiate athletics. In addition, an easy-to-reach destination with inexpensive rooms and flights will be a significant benefit to cost-conscious institutions.” – MOAA President Mario Moccia, Director of Athletics, New Mexico State University.
“Since joining NACDA, N4A has reaped the benefits of the highest quality of professional development and an enhanced opportunity to network and information share with many other facets of the intercollegiate athletics profession. The move to a concurrent meeting structure with all associations gathering over the same set of days creates an even more dynamic opportunity for N4A to have synergy amongst the diversity of elements of college athletics, giving us all the best chance to ultimately impact the student-athlete experience.” – N4A President Jean Boyd, Senior Associate Athletic Director - Student Athlete Development, Arizona State University
“The opportunity for NACDA affiliate members to hold concurrent meetings in the same location allows for the type of idea sharing and development opportunities that are at the core of NACDA’s values. This opportunity will empower our membership and their professional growth and makes the NACDA Convention a “can’t-miss” event.” – NAAC President Dan Bartholomae, Executive Associate Athletic Director - Compliance & Administration, University of Pittsburgh
"This is a truly monumental partnership between NACDA and its affiliates and the city of Las Vegas. It will allow for unprecedented professional development opportunities for our membership. At the same time, it will put the business of intercollegiate athletics center stage in one of our country's most exciting cities." – NAADD President Bill Ring, Assistant Vice President, Leadership Gifts, Boston University
"The NACDA Convention is the premiere event for collegiate athletics administrators and young professionals looking to gain that cutting edge in new ideas, shared concepts and best practices. The ability to house all Conventions together, at the same time is a vital asset to showing exactly the amount of networking impact amid the connective tissue of learning from your peers. This is one of the best opportunities for those looking to break in, stay in and grow at their acumen as the college athletics ecosystem changes in the modern era with the rest of the sports industry." – NAATSO President Troy Kirby, Director of Ticket Operations, UC Davis
“I’m excited for all of our associations to meet simultaneously in 2020. No area of athletics works in a silo, so providing a forum for all of our collective members to come together offers unique opportunities to hear from and collaborate with administrators we may not encounter otherwise. This is a great step in the continued evolution of our organizations.” – NACMA President Becky Parke, Assistant Athletics Director for Marketing, Game Experience and Special Events, Arizona State University
"I really like this idea. Last year a couple affiliate groups graciously stayed extra days so they could present at the NATYCAA Convention. This new format will give people a greater opportunity to network with more people than ever before." – NATYCAA President Kulwant Singh, Director of Athletics, De Anza College
About NACDA
NACDA, now in its 51
st year, is the professional and educational association for more than 15,700 college athletics administrators at more than 1,700 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. More than 5,500 athletics administrators annually attend the NACDA Convention. Additionally, NACDA administers 15 professional associations, including seven for the separate business units that report directly to the athletics directors. For more information on NACDA, visit
www.nacda.com.