Sports, Entertainment and Tourism | McGuireWoods Consulting

Organizations looking to establish or expand their operations turn to McGuireWoods Consulting for a variety of public affairs services, including creating public-private partnerships, developing new facilities, securing public incentives for new development projects and marketing, running referenda campaigns and building community support. Our firm also assists sports betting and gaming entities with public policy services related to betting, marketing, consumer protection, and tax issues.

Who We Help

Our clients include:

Sports leagues and franchises
Entertainment parks
Convention centers
Motorsports organizations
Luxury hotels and resorts
Casino properties
Horse racing venues
Sports betting and gambling entities

How We Help

Policy Navigation and Advocacy

We design and execute state and local strategies, aligning legislation, regulations, and local board of supervisors permitting decisions with our clients’ business goals. We ensure our clients’ development projects enter communities allies, not adversaries.

Site Selection and Incentives

Our team identifies site locations, local and state incentives and public private partnerships that can advance sports and leisure related development projects across the country.

Permitting and Approvals

We facilitate end-to-end state and local permitting and zoning initiatives programs for all types and sizes of venues, including providing community education about project benefits.

Public-Private Partnerships

Our team has helped implement public-private partnership laws across the country and excels at guiding companies through the development process. We represent joint ventures pursuing P3 projects such sports complexes, stadium districts, multipurpose arena developments and resort hotels.

Coalition Building and Mobilization

We build coalitions to reduce opposition and set clients up for long‑term success. We combine stakeholder mapping, grassroots education, survey research, and data‑driven outreach to align development projects with local communities and influence decisionmakers.

Representative Matters

Represented national motorsports organization before state and local governing bodies on a variety of issues, including state legislation for priority selection for a sports betting license, state and local funding for a marketing and site redevelopment initiative, and state and local funding for enhanced transportation infrastructure serving the site.

Defended the video game industry against restrictive legislation in Illinois and Texas that would have negatively impacted video game makers’ business model and the user experience.

Championed a $300 million biennial funding package, an increase from $90 million, for the Texas movie industry, solidifying the state as a premier production hub.

Secured a vital permit from the Department of the Interior to continue the Angels Landing permit system, ensuring both trail safety and steady tourism revenue for nearby communities.

Passed legislation to legalize and regulate the Illinois fantasy sports industry, ensuring user safety and channeling revenue taxes to state educational initiatives.

Established professional sport team’s new ownership structure as a known and trusted corporate citizen within the state.

Provided site selection services and amended state law to secure over $200 million of state and local funds for a large-scale resort and conference center.