With rising costs, increased scrutiny on public spending and more competition than ever for sponsorship and hosting dollars, event organizers and destinations are under pressure to prove that their events make financial sense. What once passed as a “good idea” now has to stand up to rigorous budget analysis, risk assessment and long-term sustainability planning. This session brings together leaders from national governing bodies, commercial directors, and destinations to pull back the curtain on the real economics of sports-event delivery. Panelists will share how they balance costs and revenues across different markets, structure commercial partnerships, manage financial risk and adapt event models to meet today’s economic realities.