Item:
Title
Program Updates from Discover Durham, Durham Next, and the Sports Commission (45min)
Body
Date of BOCC Meeting: November 2, 2026
Request for Board Action:
Agenda Text
The Board is requested to receive presentations Discover Durham, Durham Next, and the Sports Commission.
Discover Durham, governed by the Tourism Development Authority, is a leader in the marketing and development of Durham as a world-renowned leisure, business and sports destination by attracting and serving visitors for the transformational economic and social benefit of those who live and work here.
Discover Durham expanded in 2016 to establish an organization dedicated to harnessing Durham’s championship-caliber pride and putting it on the map as a premiere sports destination. The Durham Sports Commission (DSC) is a 501(c)(3) whose mission is to create economic and social impact by leading the community’s efforts to attract, support, and promote youth, amateur, collegiate and professional sporting and recreational events.
In 2024, Discover Durham launched Durham Next, a 501(c)(3) community partnership for the sustainable advancement of Durham as the best place to live, work and visit, to oversee the implementation of the Destination Master Plan initiatives and support adjacent work happening in the community.
Discover Durham (the assumed business name for Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau) was organized in 1989 and was reconstituted as a local tourism development authority in 2002. Prior to becoming a tourism development authority, Discover Durham was originally chartered by the City and County of Durham from 1989 to 2002 via interlocal agreement and as a provision for first receiving authority to collect the room occupancy and tourism development tax in 1986. Due to Legislative changes in 2024, Discover Durham’s share of the Occupancy Tax expanded from 2%, with 1% incremental growth occurring over the three fiscal years to follow. Starting in 2027-2028, Discover Durham will receive 5% of Occupancy Tax revenues and continue to assume ongoing debt repayments for DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center, and the Museum of Life and Science through 2034.
Alignment with Strategic Plan: Focus Area: Regional Leadership
Resource Persons: Cara Rousseau, Discover Durham, Chief Executive Officer; Tara Kenchen, Executive Director, Durham Next; Marcus Manning, Executive Director, Sports Commission; Andrew Miracle, Durham County, Director of Economic Development; Maurice Jones, Durham County, Deputy County Manager;
County Manager’s Recommendation: The County Manager recommends that the Board receive presentations from Discover Durham, Durham Next, and the Sports Commission.
Signature
County Manager: ____________________________