Pensacola Sports President and CEO Ray Palmer is heading to the Sports ETA Hall of Fame.
- Sports ETA announced today that Palmer will be inducted during the organization’s annual Symposium on April 22 in Las Vegas. The honor recognizes individuals whose careers have made a lasting impact on the sports events and tourism industry through leadership, innovation, and service.
Building a Sports Powerhouse
Palmer has spent more than two decades building Pensacola Sports into a regional powerhouse. He joined the organization as executive director in 2002 and later became president and CEO, guiding an era of unprecedented growth in event management, sports tourism development, and community engagement.
- Under his leadership, Pensacola Sports has assembled an impressive portfolio of events — high school all-star series competitions, firefighter games, open water swimming, fishing tournaments, and collegiate championships. His biggest wins include landing the Sun Belt Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships and the SEC Women’s Soccer Championship, along with community scholarships and youth initiatives that have deepened the region’s sports culture.
Palmer has also been a driving force within Sports ETA itself, serving as chair of the Board and contributing to committees that have helped shape the industry’s future.
Demonstrated Leadership
Sports ETA President and CEO John David credited Palmer with proving what sports can do for a city. “Ray Palmer has dedicated his career to demonstrating how sports events can elevate a community and create lasting economic and civic impact,” David said. “Through his leadership at Pensacola Sports and his service to Sports ETA, Ray has helped grow our industry and inspire destinations across the country to think bigger about the role sports can play in their community.”
- Palmer was characteristically humble about the recognition. “Just to have been considered to join the other 24 members of the Sports ETA Hall of Fame is special,” he said. “Being selected is an amazing honor.”
A lifelong Pensacola resident, Palmer’s influence extends well beyond the sports world. He is a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International, a recipient of the Florida Sports Leadership Award, and serves on numerous regional boards and committees. In 2026, he was named to the Inweekly Power List for the third time, recognizing him among the 100 most influential people in the Pensacola region.
- Pensacola Sports is one of the oldest sports associations in the United States, founded in 1955. The organization manages or assists with numerous events each year across Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa counties and serves as the lead sports tourism agency for Escambia County.