GALLATIN, Tenn.—The City of Gallatin has taken a significant step toward building its sports tourism portfolio, hiring former professional sports executive AJ McKinney as its first sports tourism business development manager.
The newly created position within the Gallatin Economic Development Agency (GEDA) is designed to spearhead efforts to attract sporting events, tournaments, and visitor-driven economic development opportunities to the growing Middle Tennessee community.
McKinney brings experience from Major League Baseball, the NFL, and collegiate athletics to the role. His background includes business development and corporate partnership positions with the Atlanta Braves, sports marketing and athlete representation work involving NFL clients, and athletics marketing at the University of Alabama.
For sports event organizers, the hire signals Gallatin’s intent to become a more active player in the sports tourism marketplace, as communities across the country invest in facilities and event-attracting strategies to capitalize on the industry’s continued growth.
In his new role, McKinney will lead event recruitment efforts, cultivate relationships with rights holders and sports organizations, and help guide long-term planning for a proposed indoor-outdoor multisport complex. He will also collaborate with local schools, youth sports organizations, community groups, and business leaders to strengthen the city’s sports infrastructure and visitor economy.
“Sports tourism has become one of the fastest-growing sectors in the tourism industry nationwide, and Gallatin is well-positioned to capitalize on that momentum,” says Rosemary Bates, executive director of the Gallatin Economic Development Agency. “AJ brings the exact combination of sports business experience, relationship development, and long-term strategic thinking needed to help build this initiative from the ground up.”
According to the city, the sports tourism initiative is part of a broader economic development strategy that leverages sports to generate overnight visitation, restaurant and retail spending, destination awareness, and long-term investment.
The move comes as sports tourism continues to grow nationally, with communities increasingly competing for youth, amateur, and championship events that can drive economic impact and fill hotels during key travel periods.
“Gallatin is a community with tremendous momentum, and I’m excited for the opportunity to help shape its future with this new initiative,” says McKinney. “Sports tourism has the ability to benefit visitors and residents alike, create economic opportunity, and elevate a community’s visibility in meaningful ways. I look forward to leading that vision for our city.”
McKinney most recently served as a senior strategy consultant with Accenture, where he worked on business growth and strategic planning initiatives across multiple industries, including sports and entertainment.
He earned an MBA from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School and holds a master’s degree in sports business management from the University of Alabama.
Gallatin, located northeast of Nashville in Sumner County, has experienced significant growth in recent years. Since 2015, GEDA reports facilitating projects that have generated more than $2.1 billion in capital investment, 5,500 new jobs, and an estimated 9,400 indirect jobs.
For sports planners, the creation of the position and the proposed development of a multisport complex indicate Gallatin’s intention to compete for regional and national events in the coming years as it expands its sports tourism infrastructure and event-hosting capabilities.
