Your guide to the NIRSA 2025 Campus Rec Expo: Where innovation meets play!

You never know what you’ll discover at the NIRSA Campus Rec Expo, a can’t-miss event at NIRSA 2025! Known for sparking innovation, this immersive experience features more than leading companies from across the recreation industry showcasing groundbreaking solutions for campus recreation alongside engaging activities that invite attendees to network and learn.

The Campus Rec Expo is the best place for NIRSA 2025 attendees seeking inspiration to elevate facilities, enhance programs, and streamline operations. Plus, the Campus Rec Expo provides numerous opportunities to move, play, and eat (yum!).

Beloved traditions – some with a twist! – return for NIRSA’s big 75

The Expo Grand Opening kicks off at 2:00pm on April 24. Attendees will enjoy an evening of free food, fun swag, and numerous activities to stay engaged between in-booth conversations. Play on the latest equipment and build relationships with exhibitors to leverage an outstanding vendor network.

It wouldn’t be a celebration of NIRSA’s 75th anniversary without showcasing a few traditions in the exhibit hall. But some of these returning favorites may surprise attendees with fun new twists.

• Keep an eye out for exhibitors participating in the Expo Scavenger Hunt. These companies will give you a secret code to enter in the app’s gamification feature. The more codes you collect, the more points you accumulate to exchange for prizes!
• Head to the NIRSA Booth to pick up this year’s giveaway, which you’ll want poolside: Pick between two colors of a NIRSA dry bag!
• The Expo Committee competition, sponsored by Play Wall Sports, tests attendees’ speed and accuracy with a dynamic game an interactive smart wall.
• Workouts in the Fitness Forum, sponsored by Ecore, always energize attendees with the chance to stay active and discover trending workouts. New for 2025, the Fitness Forum extends outside of the exhibit hall onto the Coquina Lawn. Morning classes kick off each day with mindful movement and 15-minute active breaks help attendees recharge between ed sessions. Check the schedule for exercise and recovery classes.
• Who doesn’t love a little organized chaos? The T-Shirt Exchange, 5:00pm-5:30pm on April 24 and Sticker Exchange, 1:00pm-1:30pm on April 25, are returning favorites that see high-energy participation each year. Bring excess stickers and T-shirts from your programs, staff, and other department events to trade in these wildly fun events.
• We’re happy to host a pickleball tournament in the exhibit halls again this year – this time with a new flare. Forty dynamic duos will face off in the “Big Dill” NIRSA Foundation Pickleball Tournament, sponsored by Fusion, ADA Sports & Rackets, and Ecore, to see who will be crowned “The Big Dill.” Space is still available for anyone looking for glory!
• MMM…food. Take a Student to Lunch, sponsored by CENTERS, returns to the expo at 12:00pm on April 25. Come grab a bite on us!
• Visit with vendors one last time at the Expo Closing Social at 1:30pm on April 25. Enjoy the last hour of the expo and grab an iced coffee to sweeten your afternoon.

Connect, play, and compete in brand-new Expo Hall activities

New at NIRSA 2025, attendees can enjoy a (free) mocktail or (sorry, not free) cocktail in our networking lounge: The Quad. Step off the busy show floor to enjoy this “green space,” play games, and chat with other attendees and vendors alike.

The Campus Rec Expo encourages companies to host interactive activities that allow attendees a chance for hands-on engagement with products, games, and networking experiences. We’re excited to feature a few brand-new activities on the show floor:

• Come join the USTA team to try Red Ball Tennis on a custom short court. In addition, learn about the Red Ball Tennis College Ambassador program where your students can earn tuition reimbursement. USTA also offers facility support, play formats, and career opportunities for students. Come learn how to grow the sport of tennis on your campus!
• Disc It is the world’s first team disc game to combine fast-paced action with strategic gameplay. The gameplay is a continuous flow of offense and defense, offering a challenge for beginners and seasoned athletes—perfect for college recreation and intramural programs. Two teams compete to hit a color-coded pole with the disc to score points, all while navigating penalty zones and engaging in interceptions, rebounds, and turnovers. Stop by the Disc It activity space to see why Disc It is the next big thing in campus recreation!
• The Kilter Board is the premier adjustable, LED-lit training wall that allows climbers to try thousands of problems set by top climbers worldwide. At the Expo, we’re bringing the excitement with a fun and interactive climbing competition—whether you’re a seasoned crusher or a first-timer, you’ll have a blast testing your skills on the Kilter Board. Expect dynamic problems, friendly competition, and a chance to win some cool prizes. Come climb, compete, and experience why the Kilter Board is the ultimate training tool!

Special thanks to our brand-new exhibitors!

We’re thrilled to have multiple first-time exhibitors join us at the 2025 Campus Rec Expo. Be sure to stop by these booths and welcome them to the NIRSA family! Many thanks to:

• Arly, Booth 1035
• Beyond the Athlete, Booth 723
• Body Solid, Booth 416
• Bright Breaks, Booth 1330
• Concrete Science, Booth 408
• Disc It, Booth 526
• GraboUSA, Booth 631
• Greenzie, Booth 809
• Health Essentials LLC, Booth 417
• Hellas, Booth 409
• Hoosier Sports Corporation, Booth 624
• Impact Canopy, Booth 622
• Kilter Board, Booth 1432
• Nevco Sports, Booth 1423
• NRS, Booth 1420
• Paladin Sports, Booth 1319
• Party Headphone, Booth 523
• Play Wall Sports, Booth 832
• Prism Fitness, Booth 519
• RecDesk, Booth1324
• Resilite Sports Products, Booth 1430
• Skelcore, Booth 617
• sofSurfaces, Booth 1231
• TGI Promo, Booth 1524
• Waterman, Booth 1417

Get involved and learn more

From hands-on fun to networking and inspiration, the Campus Rec Expo is your destination to explore new ideas, connect with exhibitors, and discover solutions that can transform your campus. We hope to see you there!

Want to get more involved with all the fun or considering a future position on the Expo Committee? We’re seeking volunteers to help pass out the giveaway, monitor the Fitness Forum, and assist the emcee. Thank you in advance for your interest in what the Expo Committee assures is the most fun volunteer opportunity at NIRSA 2025! (Yes, we’re biased!)