Fiesta Sports Foundation

Nikki Balich is the Executive Director of  the Arizona Sports and Entertainment Commission (ASEC). Balich oversees the operations of the ASEC brands which include, the Grand Canyon State Games, The Lori Piestewa National Native American Games, The Arizona Sports Hall of Fame and The GCSG Annual Pickleball Tournament. Her focus is to drive the mission of the ASEC which is to represent the citizens of Arizona to bring sporting events to the state, assist in the promotion of existing events and support youth and amateur sports programs.

Balich has been involved with the Fiesta Bowl since 1983. She has served on 23 Committees, served in Committee Leadership for seven years and as a Committee Chairman during the first “double hosting” model before joining the Board 2010.  She currently serves as an Executive Committee Board Member and held the position of Board Secretary in 2016. She served as the Volunteer Coordinator for the 2017 Phoenix Final Four, Founder of the Arizona Bowl in Tucson Arizona, was an owner liaison for the 2015 Super Bowl, on the Volunteer Executive Committee for the 2008 Super Bowl, a member of the 2014 Arizona Centennial Steering Committee, past Board Member of the National Football Foundation and past Board Chairman of the Girls Ranch of Arizona. A native Arizonian, Balich attended the University of Arizona. She resides in Scottsdale, Arizona with her husband Steve and her three children, Joey, CC and Nicholas.