Destination Spotlight, Nick Pazzi, Visit Tucson Sports

What’s your current position?

I am currently the Director of Tucson Sports at Visit Tucson and was promoted to that position in July 2023.

Can you give me a brief overview of what you do in your work?

I work closely with my Sports Coordinator, Bree Lopez, to bring sporting events to the Tucson community.

What would you say most motivates you to do what you do?

Nothing motivates me more than seeing children and young adults participating in sports they enjoy, building relationships, and learning what teamwork is all about.

What are you most excited about or passionate about?

My passion comes from seeing teams and athletes come to Tucson to compete in sporting events and discover all our community offers.

What are the goals you most want to accomplish in your work?

My goal is to make a difference in Sports Tourism in our community and create a fun, exciting, and safe environment for anyone participating in sports, locally and nationally.

What led you to this job? What were you doing before you came here?

My passion for tourism and the Tucson community where I grew up. Before coming to Visit Tucson, I spent over 20 years working in the resort & and hotel industry, going from Reservations to Accounting to Group Sales.

Where did you grow up? What was it like to grow up there?

My family moved around a bit when I was younger, starting in Detroit and then on to Kansas City before finally landing in Tucson, where I spent most of my childhood and young adult life.

Tucson was much smaller back in the 70s and 80s, with wide open spaces and a laid-back lifestyle that made exploring and growing up an exciting experience.

Did you go to college? Where and what was it like?

My college experience included time at the University of Arizona and Pima Community College. While in school, I took a part-time job at Price Club (Costco) that eventually led to a 10-year career in Sales & Marketing.

When Costco purchased Price Club, my Sales & Marketing position was eliminated, so I packed up my bags and moved to Telluride, Colorado to begin my hotel and tourism career at one of the resort properties there. From there, I went to Jackson Hole, WY, and Sun Valley, ID, before returning to Tucson.

Did you have any key mentors or people who profoundly influenced who you are?

My father has been the most significant influence in my life and an excellent role model. My father, Nick Sr., received his pharmacy degree at Wayne State University and worked at a local pharmacy before deciding to become a doctor. We then moved to Kansas City, where he was accepted to medical school. He attended school in the day and worked as a pharmacist at night until graduating from medical school. We then headed to Tucson, where he began his career as a physician.

What projects are you working on now?

NJCAA DII Men’s & Women’s Soccer Championship. This will be the second year in a row hosting the NJCAA DII Men’s & Women’s Soccer Championship. Tucson would not have been able to host this event without the support from Pima Community College.

The staff and students at Pima Community College stepped up to provide financial and staffing support. The event utilized athletic trainers, coaches, and security staff from Pima CC to help pull off the tournament.

The biggest challenge with this event was lodging –teams participating in the tournament are notified about a week out, so working with local hotels and all the teams to make sure everyone has lodging on short notice can be a big task.

Tucson is a tourist destination, so we always compete with leisure travelers for hotel space. The best part about hosting the event was hearing all the athletes comment about getting out of the cold weather where they come from and spending a November week in Tucson with sunshine and temperatures in the 80s.

Nick, Visit Tucson Sports has become a leader in sports tourism public relations. It is apparent that your team has tremendous talent and has risen to the top on public relations. How did this happen?

Visit Tucson Sports has benefitted from some of the best in the industry passing through our doors, including Vincent Trinidad and Angel Natal. We have been set up for success thanks to the past efforts of these two individuals.

What gets you out of bed every day to continue your drive?

I am motivated by finding an exciting and fun career in the sports industry, which I am very passionate about.

What would you say are your best skills? What do you bring to the table that helps you rise above the rest? Where and how did you learn those skills?

I learned many skills working in the hotel industry and at Costco. Some of the best skills I took away from those industries would be customer service and communications. In this industry, relationships are critical, and you need skills that are related to that.

What’s next for you in your work? What are you looking forward to down the road in your career?

I hope to close out my career working here at Visit Tucson as the Director of Tucson Sports and one day turn over the reins to the next person who is equally passionate about sports, tourism and Tucson as I am.