Texas Firefighter Summer Games Return to Bryan After 17 Years

For the first time since 2008, Bryan proudly hosted the Texas Firefighter Summer Games. Destination Bryan and the Bryan Fire Department have joined forces to showcase the city's capacity to host large scale sporting events and highlight its unique attractions to visiting participants.

When the Bryan Fire Department approached Destination Bryan in 2022 to bring the Firefighter Games back to the community, the organization saw an opportunity to collaborate and showcase Bryan as a premier sports destination.

“We really wanted to bring the Firefighter Games to the city of Bryan to showcase all our town has to offer,” said Dustin Nash, Driver/Operator with Bryan Fire Department and Treasurer of the Bryan Firefighters Association. “When it comes to our area everyone knows about TAMU but not much about everything else we offer. The games are a great way for us to feature what the city has to offer. The games are also another way for the firefighters from all over the state to get together and enjoy camaraderie and the competitive spirit we all have. With the help of Destination Bryan we were able to make this a reality. Talking with many of the competitors they were very happy with everything we had to offer."

Bryan Fire Department and Destination Bryan had to go through a bidding process against other Texas destinations for the 2025 competition. Ultimately, Bryan was chosen to host the event. “We chose Bryan because of the great presentation in 2023. The location in the state was a factor being in the middle of the larger cities,” said Eric Harr, President of Texas Firefighter Games. “The venues were really good along with Legends opening up.”

This year, more than 1,200 firefighters traveled from across Texas to compete in over a dozen events, including archery, basketball, powerlifting, golf, and horseshoes.

The influx of participants and their families filled local hotels and restaurants, introducing visitors to Bryan’s hospitality and unique local flavor. The Firefighter Summer Games proved to be a win for sports tourism, reinforcing Bryan’s reputation as a top-tier host for large-scale competitions.

The Hilton Garden Inn served as the host hotel for the event and welcomed participants throughout the week. “We loved having the Firefighter Summer Games at our hotel,” said Erika Pinner, General Manager at the Hilton Garden Inn. “They spread so much joy throughout the hotel and the community. We had lots of our transient guests joining them at the restaurant and in the lobby to watch the games and find out where everybody was from. That week our occupancy sat around 70% and firefighter games were about 51% of our total weekly occupancy. I look forward to having them in the future back here in Bryan!”

Bryan’s hospitality extended well beyond the playing fields. Local businesses prepared to ensure visiting firefighters and their families experienced a warm welcome. Carney’s Bar & Grill hosted a social event that brought participants together for an evening of camaraderie. “We were honored to host Hospitality Night for the Firefighter Games at Carney's,” said Hannah Mullins, General Manager of Carney’s Pub & Grill. “It was a special evening celebrating the hard work and dedication for our first responders, and we loved seeing everyone come together over great food, drinks, and conversation. The energy in the room was inspiring.”

The return of the Texas Firefighter Summer Games to Bryan marks more than a successful week of competition. The collaboration between Destination Bryan and the Bryan Fire Department curated a seamless summer event that generated significant economic impact and reinforced the city’s position as a growing destination for sports tourism.

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Media Contact:
Lina Adams
PR & Communications Coordinator
lina@destinationbryan.com