Pictured left to right: Dave Dolan and Domico Rodriguez, Rapid City Sports Commission; Mark Longacre, Monument Health; Brook Kaufman, Visit Rapid City; Jeff Biegler, City of Rapid City; Councilman Greg Strommen, City of Rapid City
Sports are a unifier,” said Domico Rodriguez, Executive Director of the Rapid City Sports Commission. “In a post- COVID America, we realized how important sports are. Not having them as an outlet really brought that to light.” In Rapid City, teams — from youth to semi-professional leagues — have been part of the fabric of the community for decades. Domico and others dream of sports having an even greater influence in the region.
The idea of developing a sports commission in Rapid City began back in 2012. Fast forward 10 years, and Visit Rapid City invested in the idea understanding the community was ready and well-positioned for an evolution in sport. “Development in the sports space is all a part of driving quality of life — one piece to a bigger puzzle,” Domico said. “I’m glad so many partners see the value of the work we’re doing and are willing to support our efforts.” Domico is excited for the future of both the Sports Commission and Rapid City.
The work being planned today promises to benefit locals and regional athletes for years to come. “I’d love to see Rapid City expand our tourism season by offering more sports in the off season and through upgrading or building new facilities,” shared Domico. This effort will benefit families and kids in Rapid City and increase visitation. “It’s not going to be easy, but we’ve got some amazing opportunities here.”
Pictured left to right: Dave Dolan and Domico Rodriguez, Rapid City Sports Commission; Mark Longacre, Monument Health; Brook Kaufman, Visit Rapid City; Jeff Biegler, City of Rapid City; Councilman Greg Strommen, City of Rapid City
512 Main Street, Suite 240
Rapid City, SD 57701