May 4, 2026
Sport Oregon is a nonprofit that helps drive economic growth through sports. Just weeks ago, the organization released a first-of-its-kind economic analysis of the state’s sport’s economy. Conducted by well-respected economic consulting firm ECOnorthwest, the report found, among other things, that commercial sports account for 23% more of Oregon’s economic output than the national average.
In this episode, Sport Oregon CEO Jim Etzel joins Oregon Business Matters to discuss that report, the role of public investment can play in growing this important part of Oregon’s economy, and some of the state’s biggest spectator sports events. Listen to the interview here.
In case you missed them, check out our recent interviews with Hillsboro Hops President and GM K.L. Wombacher, Looptworks founder Scott Hamlin and Trevor Giroux, president of ATI‘s Specialty Alloys and Components Division in Millersburg. Visit the Oregon Business Matters website to listen.
The Oregon Business Matters podcast can be found on major podcast platforms, including Apple, Spotify and YouTube.
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