The logo features the word 'CENTER CIRCLE' in large, light gray uppercase letters, centered across a black background. A yellow circle outline encircles the text, with the top part of the circle slightly visible.

SPORTS. CULTURE. POLITICS.

About us

We help international sports teams coming to the United States — and American teams playing abroad — prepare for their upcoming journey by understanding the sociopolitical climate they'll encounter. Through tailored orientation sessions, workshops, and consulting services, we equip athletes with the tools they need to become the best possible representatives of their team, city, and nation.

Too often, players heading overseas focus only on the competition ahead. But before taking the field — or even boarding the plane — it’s essential to understand how local fans perceive you, your sport, and your country. Without this awareness, a single careless remark or action can tarnish your reputation or reinforce an image you might want to change. But with it, you can turn every interaction on and off the field into an opportunity to build connections, earn respect, and make new fans.

First pitch, coin flip, puck drop, kick off, tip off… For many sports, play starts in the center circle. Start yours with us.

A GIF showing various sports fields linked by a yellow center circle.

Our SERVICES

Perfect for pre-travel preparation meetings or post-arrival briefings, these customizable sessions range from one-hour virtual courses to full-day, in-person workshops. Each is individually curated based on your sport, background, and destination — and can be tailored to appeal to any audience, whether that’s students, pros, or front-office staff. We offer:

  • Sports Diplomacy 101
    Discover the role sport has played in shaping international relations and soft power — and why your game might be about more than just what happens on the field.

  • The Athlete, The Ambassador
    Learn how players, coaches, and executives stand for their city, league, and nation on a global scale — and the many ways athletes can use this influence for good.

  • Sociopolitical Analysis
    Get a clear picture of the current climate where you’re headed. From politics to public opinion, you’ll understand what’s going on and where you fit in.

  • Reputation Awareness
    Gain insight on navigating cultural nuances so you can avoid pitfalls and make meaningful connections with spectators, media, and local communities instead.

orientations

While our orientations will give you the sociopolitical lay of the land, we can also help you navigate it. Bring us onto your team and we’ll build a strategy for your upcoming trip so you can manage public perception, form international partnerships, and create new fans.

consulting

Need someone to host a panel discussion, lead a lecture, or emcee an event? Our founder, Travis, is a dynamic public speaker who regularly presents on the power of sport as a diplomatic tool and the impact it can have on business, travel, and tourism. We’d love to hear about your needs and how we can help.

PUBLIC SPEAKING

Want to learn more?

A digital illustration of an ice hockey rink with rink markings on a black background.
Basketball court diagram with yellow circle at center, black background, white lines defining court boundaries, key, and three-point arc.
Digital illustration of a baseball field from a top-down perspective, with an infield circle and a pitcher’s mound on a black background.
Diagram of a soccer field showing goal areas, penalty spots, and center circle, with a black background and gray field markings.
A diagram of a football field with yard lines and a yellow circle near the center.

Our STORY

The word 'CENTER CIRCLE' in large gray letters with a yellow circle partially surrounding the text on a black background.

OUR MISSION

At CenterCircle, we see sport as a crucial tool in facilitating international relations and cultural exchange. Our goal is to help athletes, coaches, and front office executives understand the influential power they hold when they play abroad — and use their role as mini-diplomats to best represent their team, town, and nation.

our founder

A man in a blue blazer and white shirt sitting and speaking into a microphone during a presentation or discussion.

CenterCircle was created by Travis Parker, an expert in international sports, culture, and politics. Prior to starting CenterCircle, Travis served as the Officer for Culture and Sport for the European Union in the United States, where he managed sports diplomacy and cultural exchange initiatives with European embassies, American partners, and global stakeholders.

He’s worked with the likes of FIFA, MLB, the NFL, and more — and helped nations like Ukraine, Germany, and France improve athlete education on international affairs and organize programs to bolster visibility and foster cultural exchange. Beyond CenterCircle, he writes for Rick Steves’ Europe and publishes books on baseball.