PHL Sports: Larry Needle

Larry Needle is executive director of PHL Sports, formerly the Philadelphia Sports Congress, a division of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), which attracts major sporting events and conventions to the Philadelphia area. Larry’s primary role is to pursue bids for future sporting events and to facilitate their implementation in Philadelphia. PHL Sports is also the producer of the annual Army/Navy Game, a tradition held in Philadelphia for a century.

In 1991, Larry joined the PHLCVB as director of promotions for the Philadelphia Sports Congress, and in 1996, was promoted to his current position as executive director.

Under Larry’s leadership, PHL Life, working in conjunction with the city and its professional teams and universities, has attracted many sporting events to Philadelphia. Those events have included the ESPN X Games, NBA All-Star Weekend, NCAA Women’s Final Four, Major League Baseball All-Star Weekend, U.S. Gymnastics Championships, U.S. Figure Skating Championships, World Dragon Boat Racing Championships, NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championships and NCAA Men’s Basketball East Regional, among others

Prior to joining the PHLCVB, Larry was the communications manager for Maccabi USA-Sports for Israel, the organization responsible for overseeing the United States’ participation in the World Maccabiah Games in Israel.

Larry is a 1988 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism. He currently resides in Merion Station, Pa., with his wife, Amy, and their two sons.

Media Contact

Khaila Edward

215-636-3412

khaila@discoverPHL.com