Organizers have announced an ambitious new conference and festival focused on sports tech and innovation as well as the sports fan experience.

The four-day event dubbed Pokatok is slated for April 2024 in and around the George R. Brown Convention Center. Gow Companies, the group that now owns the innovation consortium Houston Exponential and sports accelerator Pokatok Labs, is behind the event. They believe Pokatok has the potential to become the “world’s fair for sports” and an annual Houston draw.

According to a news release, the event will be split into two tracks: one, a conference focused around sports innovation and a second built around a fan experience with product releases, demos and competitions.

“Pokatok will not only be the largest gathering of the entire sports tech ecosystem, it will also be a true fan festival for sports enthusiasts,” said Lawson Gow, founder of Gow Companies, in the release. “Everyone speaks the language of sport, it’s an incredibly powerful unifier of our society, and this festival will bring together people from around the world to experience hundreds of events revolving around the new and the next in sport.”

Gow and other organizers hope Pokatok will draw thousands in its first year and continue to build over time. 

Houston’s long experience in hosting major sports events makes it a great location for a festival like Pokatok said Janis Burke, CEO of Harris County – Houston Sports Authority. "As an organization, we are consistently looking for ways to innovate and grow in the sports sector,” Burke said in the release. "Events like Pokatok are great for advancing sports within the region and providing unique opportunities for our community!"

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner added that he expects Pokatok will help further Houston’s vision of being a destination city for global sporting events and innovations in the sector. “The business community also supports this venture, and I thank them for their involvement and support,” Turner said. “This project is an excellent example of local business leaders joining forces to expand the attractions the city has to offer to both residents and visitors.”

Tickets are slated to go on sale later this fall according to the festival’s website.

Houston has enjoyed a whirlwind of sports activity in recent months with the Houston Astros’ World Series win in November 2022 and the NCAA Men’s Final Four tournament in early April. The city is slated to host the College Football National Championship in 2024 and is one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

(Image: rendering of what Pokatok festival could look like from organizers)