Sports today is big business in the United States, and Baton Rouge is no exception. Since 2006, sporting events that have been lured here over have generated an economic impact of more than $304m.  

Stephanie’s guests on Out to Lunch are two of the leading lights growing Baton Rouge’s sports sector.

Pat Fellows is a serial entrepreneur who, among other things, created the Louisiana Marathon in 2012. In the years since, it has grown to become Baton Rouge’s premier sporting event (after Tiger Football) attracting some 10-thousand runners from all 50 states and nearly 40 foreign countries to its January 2017 event. Pat also recently launched the first annual Gulf Coast Marathon, and in his spare time is a personal trainer and triathlon coach, as well as a downtown restaurant owner.

Mack Chiulli is CEO and Sports Performance Director of Traction Sports Performance, an elite sports performance institute focused on enhancing all areas of athletic performance. Traction Sports has two Baton Rouge locations, employs dozens of trainers, coaches and nutritionists and its 20,000 square foot facility on Burbank Drive attracts NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball pros from around the country. Aspiring NFL players actually come to Baton Rouge every year for Traction’s NFL Combine Devleopment Program.

Thanks to Pat and Mack, Baton Rouge is truly making a name for itself on the national sports stage.

Photos at Mansurs on the Boulevard by Ken Stewart.