The Butler County Sports Commission officially has been formed.

The Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau will oversee the commission, which has a goal to make the county a premier destination for sporting events and tournaments.

Jack Cohen, president of the bureau, said sporting events in the county have been successful. Those include the 2013 USCAA Small College World Series at Pullman Park, the 2015 World Disc Golf Championship at Moraine State Park and Slippery Rock University, the Tough Mudder Pittsburgh at Cooper’s Lake Campground from last year through 2019 and the US Youth Soccer Region 1 Presidents Cup.

Additionally, Cohen said interest in and use of the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township has “exploded.”

“It’s doing really well, and it continues to grow,” Cohen said.

Cohen said attracting more events like these can bring in a lot of money and interest to the county. For instance, the Tough Mudder event in August at Cooper’s Lake brought more than 11,000 people and had a total economic impact of $4.4 million.

The commission had a closed meeting last week to organize.

Following this, Cohen said the commission will not have a regular meeting schedule.

“It’s a loose group,” Cohen said.

He said members will be used when the bureau is working to get events into the county, using their sports expertise, guidance and contacts in the industry.

“They’re ambassadors for us,” Cohen said.

Members of the commission include Sid Bream of Zelienople, former Major League Baseball player; Vonda Wright, medical director of the Lemieux Sports Complex; Matt Herr, executive director of the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex; Seneca Valley athletic director Heather Lewis; Cranberry Township parks and recreation director Pete Geis; Mike Sherry, president of the Miracle League of Southwestern PA; and attorney Don Graham, who coaches basketball at Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School.

“They are quality people who live in our community,” Cohen said.

He said the commission has no chairman.

The commission is working on developing a website and forming new relationships in the sports industry.