Sports Planning Guide 2014 by Premier Travel Media

2014 EDITION

A Premier Tourism Marketing publication â&#x20AC;˘ www.sportsplanningguide.com

BUILT ON SPORTS.

READY TO PLAY DECEMBER 2013

SPORTSCAPITALOFTEXAS.COM

Vol. 5, No. 1, 2014 Edition

FEATURES

Expert advice on making the process fun and profitable

88 Tips for Running Smoother Events BY BILL HANSON

A sports management veteran offers key points to keep event organizers on their toes

12 Going for Gold

COLUMNS

6 BY JEFF GAYDUK

Olympic leaders discuss growth and opportunities in their sports

18 Building a Sports Identity

11 Tips for Fundraising Success

Planning Knockout Sports Events BY JUSTIN ROACH

102 Bridge Building to Generate Influence in Sports

BY JON SCHMIEDER

BY VANESSA DAY

Every town and region can create its brand and find a market niche

22 US Sports Congress Preview A look at this December’s big confab in Reno

SITE INSPECTIONS BY REGION Check out the facilities and attractions of sportsfriendly destinations eager to help event planners organize their next tournament or meet.

26 WEST 50 MIDWEST 79 SOUTH 94 EAST

Lubbock, home of Texas Tech, offers many sports facilities, both on and off campus.

Cover photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/Michael Svoboda 4

Sports Planning Guide

sportsplanningguide.com

JUSTIN ROACH

Planning Knockout Sports Events

elcome to the 2014 edition of Sports

keep and reference Sports Planning Guide

Planning Guide. Entering our fifth

throughout the year.

Vol. 5, No. 1, 2014 Edition Editorial & Advertising Office 621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406 Willowbrook, IL 60527 P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652 info@ptmgroups.com

Publisher – Jeffrey Gayduk

year, we have undertaken significant en-

This edition of Sports Planning Guide

hancements in order to better serve you,

also gives you a glimpse into the minds of

our readers. Regardless of your experience

several Olympic governing bodies through

planning tournaments or events, Sports

an in-depth interview discussing the growth

Managing Editor – Randy Mink

Planning Guide will deliver to you the

and opportunities within their sport. Also,

randy@ptmgroups.com

insider planning tips, tools and destination

returning for another year as a contribut-

guides to help organize your next event.

jeff@ptmgroups.com

ing writer, Bill Hanson provides you with

Contributing Writers

In our industry there has been an

invaluable advice after decades of experi-

absence of a resource created specifically

ence planning and executing events, pre-

Vanessa Day Bill Hanson Jon Schmieder

for planners to help ensure event success.

senting you with “88 Tips for Running

With this in mind, we have reengineered

Smoother Sports Events.”

Sports Planning Guide to assist you with each stage of your event planning.

rob@ptmgroups.com

that allows you to connect with destinations

As more medium and small destinations

on a more personal level and are tired of a

enter the industry, they are focusing on

horn sounding after 10 minutes ending your

attracting events that their community

conversations, take a look at our partner-

can support. This includes traditional and

ing trade show, the US Sports Congress,

nontraditional sports events ranging from

and the preview article on page 22. Slated

baseball to obstacle course races. Operat-

for Reno this December, the show brings

ing on a restricted budget, many destina-

together event planners, destinations and

tions have less of an opportunity to meet

industry players to help you increase your

with you at trade shows or bring you in for

sports tourism and have a positive impact

a site visit, even though they may be a

on your local economy.

perfect destination for your event.

Director, Design & Production – Robert Wyszkowski

If you are searching for a trade show

Please hold on to this edition of Sports

Sports Marketing Manager – Justin Roach justin@ptmgroups.com

The publisher accepts unsolicited editorial matter, as well as advertising, but assumes no responsibility for statements made by advertisers or contributors. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information published, but the publisher makes no warranty that listings are free of error. The publisher is not responsible for the return of unsolicited photos or manuscripts. Sports Planning Guide (ISSN 2153-4179) is published annually by Premier Tourism Marketing, Inc., 621 Plainfield Rd., Suite 406, Willowbrook, IL 60527. Postage paid at Willowbrook, IL and Lebanon Junction, KY. The magazine is distributed free to sports events organizers. Single copies for all others is $9.95

We have solved that problem with a new

Planning Guide and reference it through-

feature called a Site InSpection. This edi-

out the year! Be sure to sign up for our

tion provides you with 41 Site InSpections

e-newsletter and keep an eye out for the

of destinations of various sizes throughout

release of our new website, SportsPlan-

Send Address Change to:

the country—with a detailed breakdown of

ningGuide.com, coming to you this fall.

Premier Tourism Marketing, Inc. 621 Plainfield Rd., Suite 406 Willowbrook, IL 60527

their top facilities, attractions available for

Enjoy our 2014 edition of Sports Plan-

athletes and families outside of competi-

ning Guide and feel free to contact me at

tion, accommodations for those attending

justin@ptmgroups.com or 630-794-0696

and any X-factors a CVB or sports com-

with any comments or questions.

mission offers to assist in your event. In order to ensure your event’s success, an-

Sincerely,

swer your destination questions and build this content has been delivered in one edi-

Justin Roach

tion with a long shelf life, as you are able to

Sports Marketing Manager

Sports Planning Guide

publication

popularity and participation for your sport,

sportsplanningguide.com

First CLass Facilities, For All Your Sports Events

1-888-205-7264 f ZZZ KLVWRULFVWFKDUOHV FRP

©iStockphoto.com/pidjoe

ports event management is, to me, the organization of the myriad details required to conduct a successful competition or tournament. In previous editions of the Sports Planning Guide we have attempted to define many of those details within their respective areas of event responsibility, and provide you with a number of forms and lists that can be formatted to your specific needs. Okay, this can be a lot of paperwork, and I’ve been reminded of that by my team members at San Antonio Sports. But I also apply to the theory of “being hit by a bus,” and the potential need for someone to pick up the organizational ball and run with it. This year, my advice for organizing successful events focuses on the following key points designed to inspire the planning efforts of your particular event. This is intended to be a general checklist and it should lead to detailed budgets, equipment lists and timelines. For further information on event management and operations, contact me at billhanson46@gmail.com. Bill Hanson

Universal Tip—Attention to Detail: The smallest item overlooked (water key, electrical adapter, batteries) can cause a major delay of an activity, especially if the venue is not located near a store. List every possible item needed at every area of the venue, and then some.

Sports Planning Guide

TIPS FOR HANDLING ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES

■ The leader of the local organizing committee (LOC) must take responsibility for the entire event, and lead accordingly. ■ Put everything in writing. ■ Read all contracts thoroughly. ■ Compile a contact list for members of the local organizing committee (LOC) ■ Key LOC members must have an assistant in the event of illness or emergency. ■ Produce an information sheet that gives the pertinent details of the event; date, place, directions, competition schedule, ticket prices, volunteer information, etc. ■ Format a timeline for all organizational projects, then track their progress. ■ Format both a competition schedule and a logistics schedule of events. ■ Format a venue map that identifies all areas of responsibility. ■ Hotels can be good partners for annual events that attract out-of-town participants. ■ The local convention & visitors bureau can assist with identifying needed hotels with competitive rates, and possibly result in a rebate program. They typically have other services that could enhance the event. ■ If the LOC is providing hotel rooms, consider potential expenses for incidentals and the option of turning off room service, telephone and movies (especially for youth participants). sportsplanningguide.com

8 ■ Make a realistic budget and then determine if the proposed event/tournament is feasible. ■ As ticket revenue is one of the important budget items, careful planning is needed to determine prices, sellers and supervisors, freebies and cash security. Do not arbitrarily increase it to balance the budget. ■ When discussing value-in-kind items, allow for some budget expense in the event that VIK does not materialize. ■ Ensure that well-defined cash controls are in place. ■ Printed receipts make it easier to account for petty cash disbursements. ■ All LOC members should be surveyed for possible fundraising sources. ■ Limit the number and speech length of “talking heads” during ceremonies, particularly a youth event. ■ Being last on the event schedule, the awards ceremony can be haphazardly conducted. Give them the planning and conduct that they deserve. ■ Devise a good internal communications system (cell phones, radios, etc.) for your LOC, with accountability for the equipment. ■ Have contact info with the local phone company/installer if temporary phone and internet lines are used. ■ A small phone card ensures that all staff have important cell phone numbers.

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■ With social media so prevalent, team tournaments especially should establish on-site communications for scheduling changes, etc. ■ Getting newspaper coverage for a youth event is tough, but not impossible. For large tournaments the emphasis on local teams or nationally-ranked teams can get results. ■ An event that draws media coverage must be prepared to service the media on-site with a contact person, photographer guidelines and possibly work space. ■ A transportation program that requires volunteer drivers must include background checks for both driving record and insurance coverage.

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TIPS FOR WORKING WITH VOLUNTEERS

■ A volunteer coordinator must be a good people-person. ■ Format all the details of a volunteer program before recruiting for an event to include dress, parking, arrival time, snack available, children, dogs, valuables, etc. ■ A volunteer schedule form gives a clear picture of volunteers needed and when. ■ Provide volunteers with a general information sheet so that they can easily answer facility and competition questions. ■ Avoid putting volunteers in challenging situations with event participants. ■ Volunteers can provide good feedback, so collect their suggestions as part of their check-out process. ■ A post-event review is critical to the success of future events, evaluating all areas and for improvements. ■ A post-event survey to participants can also be helpful when planning for future years. ■ Recurring events should build databases of not only participants/teams and spectators but also volunteers.

©iStockphoto.com/Nikada

©iStockphoto.com/OSTILL

TIPS FOR RUNNING SMOOTHER SPORTS EVENTS

Sports Planning Guide

Building a Sports Identity

©iStockphoto.com/apelletr

■ Before signing a facility agreement, ensure you understand the rental rate, additional costs, weather policy, insurance requirements, security needs and the critical incident policy. ■ Ensure that your contact(s) with venue management and janitorial are easily accessible. ■ Know who will unlock the facility and how to contact them.

■ Ensure that wheelchair considerations are given to facility access. ■ Be aware of the amount of time needed for venue lights to reach full power. ■ Ensure that locker rooms are properly secured. ■ Restrooms should be kept clean and stocked. ■ Volunteer cleanup of a venue can be an iffy issue, especially at the end of the event, and the LOC could end up paying for it. ■ Concessions’ food items will vary according to the event participants, and may also be a good source of meals or snacks for LOC staff and volunteers. ■ When seeking outside concession vendors, propose a revenue sharing model or request that the vendor provide complimentary food for LOC staff and volunteers. ■ The policy for outside food/beverages/ coolers/etc. should be noted on entry forms and signage at parking lots and entry gates. ■ Check concessions’ vendors and facility vending machines for potential conflict with event sponsors.

Sports Planning Guide

■ Events held in warm/hot weather should allow for a participant/spectator demand for ice. ■ Compile a (very) detailed equipment & supply List. ■ Canvas LOC members for potential valueIn-kind donations of equipment. ■ Produce a logistics form that identifies the equipment and supplies needed for each area of responsibility. ■ Review equipment and supply needs with persons in charge of each area. ■ Follow up on all incoming equipment and supplies to ensure timely delivery, and inventory all deliveries for accuracy. ■ Equipment and supplies should be ready when staff and volunteers report for work. ■ Recover and secure equipment, merchandise, concessions items, signage, etc., immediately upon completion of the event. ■ Check equipment before storing: deflate balls to ensure they won’t crack; remove batteries from all electrical equipment (bull horns, radios, flashlights); clean and dry coolers and ice chests; remove tape from signs; check tents for damage and wetness. ■ Parking consideration should be given for handicapped, LOC staff, media, VIP, volunteer, buses and emergency vehicles. ■ Sound system malfunctions are always embarrassing, so check the system daily. ■ Some venues may need designated seating areas for athletes, handicapped, media, photographers, spectators and VIPs, with visible signage. ■ Most facilities will have a policy regarding uniformed security, but special consideration should be given to cash areas, parking lots, game officials’ escorts, crowd control and emotional participants. ■ Semi-final and final games of any youth or amateur tournament are very emotional, and a visible uniformed officer is recommended. ■ Be aware of alcohol use in parking lots. ■ A secured storage area should always be provided for multi-day events. ■ Place prominent directional and informational signage around and inside the competition venue.

TIPS IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

■ Consult venue management for their critical incident response policy. ■ LOC staff should discuss a critical incident response plan and designate an incident spokesperson. ■ Crowd control is a critical part of an emergency incident, and the P.A. announcer must be prepared to give proper instructions. ■ Ensure that fire exits are unlocked and clearly visible. ■ Ensure that emergency vehicles have quick and easy access to the venue. ■ Even the smallest event needs to have a first aid plan to cover participants and spectators, and large events/tournaments should have on-site medical personnel. Venues and sports vary on what’s required for medical coverage. ■ Have a form available and write up any incident that could become an insurance and/or legal issue.

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©iStockphoto.com/h0rde

TIPS FOR VENUE SELECTION AND OPERATIONS

Universal Tip—Never Assume Anything: If an item affects your area of responsibility in any way, never assume that someone else is “taking care of that.” Checking and double-checking will ensure that all details are covered. sportsplanningguide.com

©iStockphoto.com/Andrew Rich

■ Any and all hospitality areas must have controlled access in order to prevent unauthorized use. ■ All-day hospitality areas need special attention in order to stay stocked and clean. ■ An Information booth/table will be very helpful to out-of-town participants and their guests. ■ Designate and prominently sign a lost & found location. ■ An event T-shirt can be a good merchandise item with proper planning and control.

TIPS FOR COMPETITION CONSIDERATION

■ An experienced competition director is a must in order to ensure a well-run event. ■ Starting the competition “on time” should be a primary objective of every LOC. ■ Ensure that competition equipment and floor or field markings comply with the sport specifications. ■ Tournaments or other large events should have a Results Board in a central location, but separated from registration and administrative areas. ■ Game officials are crucial to an event’s success, and a former official will be a good liaison for handling associated details. ■ Paying officials with cash requires a cash payment form that they can sign. ■ An event that will be telecast will require close coordination between the LOC and the production company, and some details will affect the actual conduct of the competition.

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■ A good public address announcer helps make an event a success, not only with competition calls but with sponsor acknowledgements, music, sport information and, if necessary, emergency procedures. ■ Signs and banners that feature the event logo quickly become souvenir items if easily accessible. ■ Sagging banners and crooked signs are eyesores, so check them constantly. ■ Plan for high-demand periods at the ticket windows and avoid long lines.

Universal Tip—Anticipate Problems: Every area of responsibility should have a Plan B. Apply the “what if…” question to every area and give thought to an alternate plan of action.

BILL HANSON

©iStockphoto.com/Rich Legg

TIPS FOR SPONSORSHIP CONSIDERATIONS

Bill Hanson is a co-founder of San Antonio Sports, a sports commission established in 1984 that has helped generate over $450 million in direct visitor expenditures for the city. He is recently retired after 42 years involvement in sports administration and operations. His event management experience includes the sport operations of the AAU Junior Olympic Games, U.S. Olympic Festival and State Games of Texas. He has organized and directed individual competitions for the 1984 and 1996 Olympic Games, Pan American Games, Goodwill Games, professional soccer and numerous NCAA, NGB, local youth competitions and events created by San Antonio Sports. Bill is a past chairman of the National Association of Sports Commissions.

Sports Planning Guide

GOING FOR

GOLD

Olympic Sports Leaders Discuss Growth and Opportunities in the Field

JAKE LEASE

DAN CLOPPAS

RICK MACK

MICHAEL MASSIK

JIM FOX

JEFF DYREK

USA KARATE

USA BADMINTON

USOC

USA WEIGHTLIFTING

US FIGURE SKATING

USA TRIATHLON (FORMERLY)

his spring, Sports Planning Guide publisher Jeff Gayduk traveled to Colorado Springs to meet with U.S. Olympic Governing Bodies about the state of their sports and tournaments. In attendance were Jeff Dyrek, former National Events Director for USA Triathlon; Michael Massik, CEO for USA Weightlifting; Jake Lease, CEO for USA Karate; Genadijus Sokolovas, from USA Pentathlon; Rick Mack, former USA Archery and Senior Staff at USOC; Dan Cloppas, CEO Secretary General for USA Badminton; and Jim Fox, Associate Executive Director for US Figure Skating.

Sports Planning Guide: What is the state of your sport? Jeff Dyrek, USA Triathlon: We’re seeing continued growth despite the recession. We’re getting closer to that double-digit growth, seeing lots of expansion. The number of events that we’re sanctioning is growing. Michael Massik, USA Wrestling: Our Junior world championships is going on right now and we’ve won five medals. We’re changing a lot of things that have been done traditionally, and these are pretty significant operation changes. Genadijus Sokolovas, US Pentathlon: Our main focus is on elite level performance. Pentathlon is not a recreational sport, so our focus is Olympics. In the last four years we have 12

Sports Planning Guide

had much better results than the two Olympic cycles before. We are back on track with our performances, we have a strong young women’s team and most of them are still a junior age. There are lots of efforts to recruit new talent; in order to do that we’ve developed a series of regional competitions across the country. Also, we are hosting different international events around the country. Jake Lease, USA Karate: Since the economy went down, we have seen no decline in our sport. There’s been only one year that hasn’t seen double-digit growth, and we are up 33% since 2007. We have tried to shift the focus of our events towards “B tier” cities that have a lot of activities to offer and peosportsplanningguide.com

©iStockphoto.com/BrianAJackson

port indicates there are over 7 million badminton players in the U.S.; of that over 2 million play regularly, which is defined as 13+ times per year. Our challenges are finding those players; to get them to become members and getting our sport back to becoming a sanctioned collegiate sport, which we were at one point. One of the biggest issues we have is the competition venue – we compete with basketball and volleyball during the year. For us, the facility is very important, especially when we hold our national events. The flooring, lighting, backdrop and airflow have to be just right. Jim Fox, US Figure Skating: Figure skating is doing extremely well. We have the current world champions in dance and our women have qualified three athletes for the Olympic games. For our sport, since 73% of our membership is women, it’s important that our women do well. Our current men’s program has the current Olympic champion, and as our season is winding down we had over had 600 delegates at our governing council meetings. Here we were able to look at implementing new programs, funding grants for basic skills programs and growing our membership, which currently stands at 160,000. Looking inside the state of your sport, growth was a relatively common theme each of you expressed. Explore that topic a little further - where’s it coming from? Jake Lease, USA Karate: Our primary growth has been through events. Membership has stayed relatively flat. We were in downward spiral in 2007, then the USOC came in and blew us up. The top-tier cities are bringing athletes to events. We’re getting much stronger participation out of New York, Chicago, Southern California and the Pacific Northwest. But the events are where the growth is coming from. For years we had members on the fringes - they would join and just not participate. We tried to focus more on customer experience at the event and that has really helped us out. For instance, we expanded events to four days from three, so instead of competing and being in the gym from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., if they start at 8 a.m. they are out at 10 a.m. and they can get out and see the city. By getting rid of some of the old school process we’ve tried to change up some of that, and the results are good. Jeff Dyrek, USA Triathlon: We’ve just been added as a NCAA emerging sport, which was a major hurdle for us. Our club base is huge, and the collegiate national championship had over 1,200 participants, with 20 universities and colleges coming in to compete. Since athletes are planning a year out, we saw a little lag when the recession hit, but now we’re getting back to that double-digit growth. The number of events we are sanctioning is growing, we’re in a good place right now. We’re not a mainstream sport, but we’re getting there.

ple are interested in getting out and seeing them. So when people are making that decision of whether to go to the national championships or go on vacation, they can combine the two. We partnered heavily with cities on trying to educate our attendees about the various things to do in these cities. We’ve seen the impact statements we get back from the cities climb and our attendees have been happy as well. Dan Cloppas, USA Badminton: Badminton is one of the most played and fastest sports in the world, and is a national sport in China and Indonesia. In the U.S. we are still trying to get over the hurdle of being perceived as a backyard sport. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association yearly participation resportsplanningguide.com

Sports Planning Guide

GOING FOR GOLD How important are volunteers to running your events? Dan Cloppas, USA Badminton: We can bring in an operational team to run the tournament, but it’s always much better to have a club that’s close by, especially for the volunteers. A good volunteer base is very important to a successful event. Jim Fox, US Figure Skating: We get cities that come to us all the time and we have two questions to ask: 1) Do you have a local club that will volunteer their support and 2) Do you have two rinks with 8,000 to 10,000 seats in the main arena, plus a practice facility. Most of our events are volunteer-driven. We have volunteers for our music component, lighting components, announcers, time keepers – all coming out of the system. Our volunteers are all segregated by category according to their skill level and we provide them with room & board. Michael Massik, Weightlifting: We rely on the same volunteer pool and we pay for all their expenses. They love it and are very dedicated to the sport. If you offered them a chance for a free ticket to a Broadway play or 12 hours at a weightlifting event, they would choose weightlifting. I think that applies to other sports as well. Your membership base should be passionate about your sport. Rick Mack: Going back to my archery days, it was never a spectator sport, so the volunteers already knew the sport. All we had to do was figure out what their role was – it was the absolute junkies of the sport. They would do whatever you wanted them to do. Jeff Dyrek, USA Triathlon: Our sport is very labor-intensive; we occupy 25 miles worth of roads and need upwards of 1,000 volunteers. Not necessarily passionate members, because if they are members they want to participate. We have a full-time event staff of six and have key membership volunteers who are paid for their time, but then rely on the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) from course management to stuffing goodie bags. When you have that many volunteers without a long history, it’s always a challenge. No matter where we go we are always struggling to make sure we have enough. Jake Lease, USA Karate: Volunteers have always been critical for us, but we have been going the opposite way. Since karate is such a youth-central event, we had a lot of the same parents at the events for years. We still rely on local volunteers,

Several sports governing bodies reside in this Colorado Springs office.

Sports Planning Guide

but it’s opened up some smaller cities for us that had a smaller club base, and we’ve been able to tap that club for maybe half the volunteers. The national core makes up the rest to get us to 200, which is what we need. The biggest advantage is that it allows us to use new cities. Previously, a city would hit our radar only if a club within that city would volunteer to host an event. How important are the locations to your events? Is there a trend towards larger or smaller cities? Jim Fox, US Figure Skating: We are a lifetime sport and have competitors of all ages, so destinations are important to us. Proximity to a major airport in a hub city is a JEFF DYREK factor due to rising airfares. We get USA TRIATHLON less pushback on hub cities.

Our national events bring people in from all 50 states, so getting people there is becoming more of a factor….People want something more to do, they want downtown experiences. Michael Massik, USA Weightlifting: For us it’s not as much the destination as the event itself, though the two do tie together. We look at location, distance from airport, hotel costs and food. There’s a trade-off; when you go to a big city, the hotel and food costs and transportation costs on the ground are much higher. When using smaller cities, it’s our job to communicate to our members that you might pay $80 extra for your air, but you save on food, hotel and ground transportation. If we had an event in Paris and all our members went, they would stay in the gym and they may never see the Eiffel Tower. They’d be fine with that because they know why they are going. It’s up to us to give them the best event experience. Jeff Dyrek, USA Triathlon: Our national events bring people in from all 50 states, so getting people there is becoming more of a factor. Last year we did Vermont and the closest available hotel was Lake Placid because we sold out everything in the area. It’s becoming more appealing now to have a destination city for our bigger events. People want something more to do, they want downtown experiences. Our members want to travel, they don’t want to go to the same city all the time. So if we put an event in a city for two years, build on those years and then move it around if there’s a region we want to get to, part of my job is to solicit and better understand what venues may be available and make my pitch to them - “hey here’s a great venue”- and maybe drive interest. That doesn’t necsportsplanningguide.com

essarily drive where our event will go, as we’re still driving by the bid, but it’s a factor. Michael Massik, USA Weightlifting: Our philosophy in regard to location is that we want to move our events around the country to foster growth, and when we bring that event to a location like Denver for instance, the popularity of the sport in that region is going to grow. The second is that we want to be geographically fair, so for example if I’m in New York, I don’t want to have to get on a plane and fly to California for every single event, so we are mindful of our geographic distribution. The third is that if there are areas we want to target for growth, we will assist that target with placing an event in the area. Rick Mack: With archery it was all up to the LOC (local organizing committee) bid. Who really has the best infrastructure, the best local volunteer base and the right facilities, because there was no skin in the game if they didn’t. What happens of course here is that you can get trapped in a destination for years. Michael Massik, USA Weightlifting: What happens in a region is that the local organizing folks learn how to run an event better - that both your members will enjoy and that will make more money. This gives them incentive to hold the event next year so it becomes an interesting cycle that again is convenient for the organization, moderately convenient for members, but in terms of wanting to expand, inhibits growth. Jake Lease, USA Karate: That’s been our model for years. But what we found is that we have been in the Southeast since 2004 and now we have the West Coast guys with torches and pitchforks - so recently there was a city where I said, okay, no rights fee – see this budget, I have to hit this net - and if you can find a way to do that, we are interested. Jeff Dyrek, USA Triathlon: The reason why we own our events is that we got into this lack of consistency where you went to one event that didn’t have that national event feel. So we took ownership of our key events and now it doesn’t matter MICHAEL MASSIK USA WEIGHTLIFTING

Our philosophy in regard to location is that we want to move our events around the country to foster growth, and when we bring that event to a location like Denver for instance, the popularity of the sport in that region is going to grow. sportsplanningguide.com

where you are – Burlington, Chicago, Milwaukee - you show up at the event, you know what it is. As a result, we are getting more participation, there is more relevance, and we can ask for more from the host cities because we are putting heads in beds. Michael Massik, USA Weightlifting: Triathlon is further up the evolutionary scale in that because last year weightlifting said we’ll just solicit bids from our local organizers and hope we get enough bids to cover our events, and if that’s the case we’re not going to lose money, we’re going to make a little money and everyone should have a decent time. Our goal is to move to your level, but it’s going to take us a while. Jake Lease, USA Karate: It’s important for us to be in a city with things to do. Our four-day schedule is built so that 80% of the competitors have a day off. They will compete two days and be off one. What we found is on their off day they tend to not come to the venue. How important is the sports commission or CVB in the process of evaluating a potential destination and how helpful are they on-site? Michael Massik, USA Weightlifting: For us it’s huge, I’m not going to work with someone who is not going to do a great job. We would rather work with a sports person who has learned sales than a sales person who has learned sports, because frankly when we are putting events together our reputation is on the line. Jeff Dyrek, USA Triathlon: We require the sports commission to be actively involved in the bid process and help us with the permitting. When we go to a new city, we don’t understand the permitting process so we rely on the local group to do that. When we work with sports commissions and award business, they are required to hire someone who knows how to run a marathon – the permitting process, getting volunteers. Without that local knowledge we would be lost. Jake Lease, USA Karate: Some tourism authority or sports commission is critical in the process. Sometimes, to a fault we have not relied on the CVB/sports commission to draw on volunteers – they are giving us information on the locality but post-reward, the biggest thing we rely on from the CVB is making sure we navigate around the tax pieces. I think it’s a flaw in our planning that we don’t utilize the CVB or sports commission as much. Rick Mack: We’ve taken flyers on destinations because we wanted to have an event in that city. For example, we had most of our events in California or Boston and other big cities. Years ago we had Shreveport out of the clear blue because we knew they had a club there to support it. They did our senior nationals for the first time and it was a dismal failure. We waited two years and they did it again and they learned from it. Since then they have hosted our junior nationals, senior nationals and our adult nationals and it turned out fantastic. It started out that they weren’t on the map, but because of the CVB and their willingness to get behind it, plus the right facility, it ended up working out great. Sports Planning Guide

GOING FOR GOLD Jim Fox, US Figure Skating: We have nine regionals and three zones in the East, West and Midwest. We work with the various skating clubs, CVBs and sports commissions, but the main component for us is the facility. When you bring our national events into your building, the arena may be down for 10 days. We just came out of Omaha where we held our national championship and we were in the arena there with a Hilton Hotel across the street. We didn’t have a second sheet of ice, so we brought one in to the convention center, adjacent to the arena. How is technology changing how you run your events and communicate with your members? Michael Massik, USA Weightlifting: I bet everyone here has some mechanism for people to view their events on TV or live streaming on the web. Five years ago that didn’t exist. Ten years ago it was posted in the newsletter. Yesterday we won JAKE LEASE medals at the junior worlds. We sat USA KARATE

As far as social media goes, for us, if it’s not on Twitter, it didn’t happen. That has quickly become our primary communication piece to our members. here in Colorado and watched it happening in real time, which was really a lot of fun. As we host events, we know moms, dads and grandmas and friends and family are sitting at home watching their loved one compete. That’s a huge sea change for sports events. Today’s technology is really simple. The crew is one person with a laptop, some software and cameras. It doesn’t have to be HD broadcasts because you are limited by bandwidth. Jake Lease, USA Karate: We did a $20,000 live-stream broadcast a few years ago and might have had 100 people watch it. It was just a bottomless pit. Last year we partnered with a company and did a single fixed position of every single ring - no big overlay, no commentary and did it pay-per view and made $10,000, plus we paid for all the equipment. It’s gotten so much bigger and for us technology is the key. As far as social media goes, for us, if it’s not on Twitter, it didn’t happen. That has quickly become our primary communication piece to our members. We have Facebook, we are there, but numbers wise 2,500 on Facebook, 6,000 on Twitter and our base is extremely active, retweeting, responding, asking questions, and so forth. We also use Twitter to communicate with our 16

Sports Planning Guide

national team direct and we have to approve anyone who wants to follow. We have seven Twitter accounts, a primary one, one for the junior national team, the senior national team, one for the event staff and so forth. We found that it allows us to text a bunch of people at the same time without SMS. Jeff Dryek, USA Triathlon: We live-streamed our collegiate nationals this spring and had about 10,000 users on there, and it’s continuing to grow. We have to spend a lot of time, however, as our race is a moving show. Jim Fox, US Figure Skating: We have a partnership with Major League Baseball (MLBAM) who operates and manages icenetwork.com, allowing us to distribute our national, regional and sectional championships. The biggest thing about social media for us is that we are using it to promote our events and communicate with our member base. We sell tickets, promote national, regional and sectional events via social media. Michael Massik, USA Weightlifting: If the CVB had a robust infrastructure of IT that they could offer as an incentive to come, it would have greater weight in deciding to host an event there. So instead of hiring an extra salesperson, you hire an internal IT support team that could help you execute the event. It would really turn my head. In light of the Boston Marathon bombing, how are you relooking at security at your events? Have athletes brought security concerns to your attention? Rick Mack: I think it’s pretty early and a lot of organizations are having to rethink how they handle security. That, however is a bigger discussion than the race or the event organizer. There’s a broad level of law enforcement on the local, state and federal level, and sharing of information is more important. Michael Massik, USA Weightlifting: We’re not going to talk about that; whatever we are doing is behind the scenes. Jeff Dryek, USA Triathlon: We had our big international event in San Diego this spring with over 2,000 participants and had every news station knocking on our door asking “what are you going to do to make your event more safe.” So it’s a bigger issue than what we are doing. We work with the local authorities to make sure that we’re doing everything that makes sense and is feasible. Jake Lease, USA Karate: With our event coming up I haven’t had anyone reach out to me from the sport. I have had the city reach out to me and say hey, we’ve upgraded some of our planning, but it’s still relatively new. Does anyone think that if you try to make this big show of what we’re doing to promote safety, if they are not careful they end up sending the message that the events are not safe? You have to have a disaster plan in place, but I would be concerned if we are trying to puff our chests out with how safe we are, people would ask why do you have to be that safe? Rick Mack: Be very careful about that and stay under the radar. It’s almost laying down the challenge to the bad guys— “hey we got the safest thing.” They are going to try and show you how safe you are. ■ sportsplanningguide.com

BY VANESSA DAY

hen you think of baseball, iconic cities come to mind: Chicago, Boston, St. Louis, New York. Football probably brings up visions of Dallas, Miami or San Francisco. Most of these associations come from the presence of professional sports teams, as well as

the sheer size and familiarity of these cities. But if you were to think of youth soccer or equestrian, what city would come to mind then? How about Overland Park, Kansas or Ocala, Florida? These locales have made a name for themselves as elite destinations for specific sports, creating a strong brand that resonates with sports planners, teams and athletes.

This is Who We Are: The Bloomington-Normal (Illinois) area hosts events like wrestling tournaments and ASA Championships. Below: Overland Park (Kansas) Soccer Complex.

Building a

Every town or region, no matter the size, can create its own brand, develop niche markets and cultivate a passionate sports community 18

Sports Planning Guide

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Having a sports identity, however, is more than just choosing one or two sports at which to excel. It is about knowing your cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capabilities and appeal, and selling those factors to potential guests. It is about determining the right fit for the community and marketing to the events that will do the most for it. Bottom line: itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about knowing who you are and having a passionate community that supports your efforts. Small communities have been battling with the big boys for sports business for years. One of the biggest challenges is size, both when it comes to facilities and budgets. Most small

to mid-size cities do not have the kinds of sports venues found in major metropolitans. This limits the type and amount of events a city can host each year. As a result, cities have reevaluated their strategies to attract non-traditional sports, find niche markets that fit within their means, aggressively market their strengths to sports directors and grow the support of the community. So how does one begin to build a sports brand? It tends to start with facilities and what the city can handle. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At the very beginning, we took a look at all the facilities our

Sports Identity

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Sports Planning Guide

Building a Sports Identity county had and determined what sports could go into those,” says Matt Dunn, president and CEO of The Dunn Agency, which works with Ocala/Marion County in Florida. Despite limitations on the number of sports it can cater to, Ocala/Marion has found plenty of clients within the sports it can accommodate—such as equestrian, baseball and golf—that it is able to target with marketing. Ocala/Marion has worked with the resources it has to build its repertoire of unique sports, as well as to branch out into some new territory, such as freshwater fishing and obstacle courses. The team in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois also notes the importance of venues. “I think it really starts with your facilities,” says Matt Hawkins, sports marketing manager for Bloomington-Normal Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Figure out what your facilities can host, which will help you target certain sports and certain events.” The Bloomington-Normal area has found success with this strategy, as well as with its facilities, which, for a community its size, are pretty impressive, Hawkins says. It is these venues that allow Bloomington-Normal to attract multiple athletic events each year, and a key part of their brand is figuring out which ones will work the best with their area. “The way we decide is, first, do we have the facility that would accommodate them, [and is it] available,” Hawkins says. “Then [we look at] what kind of economic impact they are [going to] generate when they get here.” This includes factors like hotel room nights and number of visitors, which help the city determine the events for which to bid. Overland Park, Kansas, close to Kansas City, has made it a mission to determine the community’s distinctiveness and highlight its strengths as part of its sports branding. “When you start talking about branding…I think we first have to identify who we are,” says Justin Stine, director of the Overland Park Sports Alliance. “What are some of our strengths and selling points that tournament directors on a local, regional and national level would want to know about our specific area?” Stine shares similar opinions with Hawkins and Dunn, saying that facilities are a key aspect of building a sports identity, and communities need to pinpoint exactly what they have to

The Fieldhouse of Kansas City—a prime venue in Overland Park, Kansas

offer and the kinds of events to which they can cater. Much like Ocala/Marion, Overland Park has managed to become involved in some offbeat sports events, such as racquetball— it is one of the few cities in the U.S. that has access to some 15 courts, Stine says. Open communication and solid marketing about these amenities have allowed Overland Park to attract interest from professional organizations and athletes. But facilities are only one part of the equation. The local community plays a huge role in a city’s sports identity. “One thing that has made us successful in the last few years is to have that community support,” says Stine. Recently, Overland Park held the U.S. Youth Soccer Championships, and attendees commented on what a big soccer town it was. This was due to the fact that the whole community was involved, from local restaurants and retailers to hotels and athletic organizations. “Everyone collaborated and came together, and I think that’s something that makes or breaks a destination,” says Liron BenDor vice president of marketing for the Overland Park Convention and Visitors Bureau. “A lot of tournament directors love to come to a certain city because that city has a passion. That’s sometimes a big factor in their decision process.” A passionate community and strong local teams certainly

Ocala/Marion County, Florida, offers a number of tournament-ready courses.

Sports Planning Guide

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helps to build a sports brand, as well as create more business for cities. “It really has to do with great service and the folks behind the scenes that are putting on the events locally and assisting the visitors when they’re in town,” says Hawkins. “We really try to focus on that service aspect, and that while they’re here they have a good time and have a great experience so they’ll return in future years.” A supportive sports environment is all part of the overall identity of a city, and it comes in handy when faced with challenges and competition from large metropolitans. Most of the opposition comes from big cities with more sports facilities, aggressive marketing arms, a wide selection of attractions and big budgets. “Probably our biggest hurdle is that…our budget is smaller than a lot of our competitors,” says Dunn. To overcome that issue, Ocala/Marion emphasizes what it can offer and the kind of budget relief sports directors can get by hosting their event there, such as reasonable hotel rates and lower costs when it comes to vendors and equipment. The region also puts a lot of emphasis on its hosting capabilities by showing images of all kinds of events through its dedicated advertising while also highlighting its convenient location. “Budget is our biggest hurdle to overcome, but through the relationships we’ve established over the years, we’ve been able to make up the difference,” says Dunn. Hawkins says, “One thing we run into is that we are not Chicago, we’re not in the Chicago area, and that’s one of our challenges.” Bloomington-Normal has stayed positive, however, despite the competition from Chicago, choosing instead to highlight the features that make it a strong sports town. This includes its attractive location, conveniently situated two to two-and-a-half hours from Chicago, St. Louis and Indianapolis, as well as its elite facilities. An important factor Bloomington-Normal has picked up on is that many sports directors select bigger cities not necessarily for the venues, but for the attractions. “We try to work closely with our local attractions to offer discounts or coupons for those to make our city look attractive,” Hawkins says. Many small communities have experienced positive challenges, such as having all their facilities booked, leaving little room for new events or tournaments to come in. “There are a lot of great events that would be great fits, and getting them comes down to availability,” says Stine. When this issue arises, cities really have to

Building a sports brand takes time, and

most communities understand its importance when attracting sports tournaments. That identity may start with a certain sport or specific sports venues, but each city has found a way to create its own image.

think about what tournaments work the best with their schedules and availability and determine the ones to go after that will complement their identity. Building a sports brand takes time, and most communities understand its importance when attracting sports tournaments. That identity may start with a certain sport or specific sports venues, but each city has found a way to create its own image. Whether it’s branching into non-traditional sports and finding niche markets or cultivating a strong, passionate sports community, every region, no matter its size, can find the athletic events and tournaments that mesh with their style and environment. ■

Sports Planning Guide

US Sports Congress

Slated for Reno

iding an unprecedented wave of success from the 2012 event in Sarasota, FL, the United States Sports Congress has selected Reno, NV as the host city for its premier event this December. The exclusive, invitation-only conference brings together the leaders of the sports events industry for three days of education, networking and trade fair.

The Location The Reno-Tahoe region is fast becoming a Mecca for major sporting events – summer or winter – and they are eager to show off recent revitalization efforts. Shelli Fine, director of sports development, said, “Reno Tahoe USA and the Grand Sierra Resort couldn't be more thrilled to be the host of this year's US Sports Congress. Our winter destination will provide the attendees with an excellent ski/spa experience rivaled by few, and Grand Sierra Resort's plush new amenities will satisfy all. The United States Sports Congress is one of the best sports industry shows of the year - and we plan on meeting their every expectation.”

The Show Unlike traditional industry trade shows, the Sports Congress focuses first and foremost on continuing education for event stakeholders and sports commissions. General sessions, breakouts and networking events address the key issues that are affecting industry stakeholders. “The US Sports Congress does a great job combining both education and networking opportunities. I have been able to take away valuable information, and at the same time get to know someone on a more personal level,” said Ben 22

Sports Planning Guide

Wilder, director of the Savannah Sports Council. At a time when the industry’s largest show is in decline, the Congress has shown consistent year-over-year growth because it delivers value for attendees. “It’s really about being in tune to the market,” explains Lou Mengsol, president of the US Sports Congress. “We develop our own view of the market, gather opinions from attendees

“Reno Tahoe USA and the Grand Sierra Resort couldn't be more thrilled to be the host of this year's US Sports Congress. Our winter destination will provide the attendees with an excellent ski/spa experience rivaled by few, and Grand Sierra Resort's plush new amenities will satisfy all. The United States Sports Congress is one of the best sports industry shows of the year - and we plan on meeting their every expectation.” — Shelli Fine, Director of Sports Development

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and other stakeholders, and mold those ideas and concepts into the conference programming.”

The Schedule The event kicks off on Sunday, Dec. 8, with registration and a president’s reception. The next morning, attendees have the option of visiting Northstar Ski Resort or enjoying a spa experience at the newly renovated Grand Sierra, host of this year’s event. That afternoon the trade show opens, with plenty of opportunity for networking before the opening reception. The Congress has a robust line up of top-notch educational sessions, keynotes and motivational speakers. The line-up includes Al Fahden, who will lead a session on business building. Fahden is a noted author, corporate trainer, and former stand-up comic. He has consulted with Fortune 500 companies, as well as celebrity business owners such as Paul McCartney and Bill Murray. Allen has been featured in People Magazine and countless television and radio broadcasts. Danny Heinsohn will conduct a session called “It’s Not What You Sell, It’s How You Sell.” An accomplished Ironman triathlon competitor, Danny’s worked with some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment. He will share his methodology to sales and marketing success. Also speaking is Professor John Wolohan, noted sports management guru from Syracuse University and the David B. Falk Center for Sport Management. Professor Wolohan will provide keen insights from his visit to the just-completed WADA (World Anti-Doping Association) Conference to provide insights on an update to the code and how this will impact athletes and events.

cluding the new premier ultra-lounge, WET, featuring flair bartenders, live music and exclusive design features, plus Cantina Mexican restaurant, which provides an authentic experience and more than 115 different tequilas.

A few sponsorships remain. If you are looking for exposure for your destination, product or service, allow us to customize a sponsorship to meet your budget. Contact 608-3630873, or visit ussportscongress.com for more conference details

Accommodations Attendees will be staying at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino. Fresh from a $25-million renovation, Grand Sierra is one of the largest convention center resorts in the country, with more than 200,000 square feet of meeting space. The main entrance features the chandelier from the original MGM Hotel and Casino, which is now surrounded by fresh lounge-style seating and digital displays of the surrounding area. The lobby has seen a substantial upgrade, and guest rooms throughout the resort are also being upgraded to reflect a chic design flair. Food and beverage outlets abound, insportsplanningguide.com

Sports Planning Guide

11 TIPS FOR TA PPING INTO

FUNDRAISING

SUCCESS KaBecky/Bigstock.com

undraising can be fun, but it can also be a total chore. It can make you feel utterly exhilarated as you edge toward your goal, or it can make you feel constantly behind the clock and harried. Make no mistake, however. Fundraising is absolutely what you make it, so make every effort not to make it hard on yourself. Here are 11 top tips that’ll ensure you rock your fundraising efforts and quickly get to where you want to go:

1. Be an Early Bird

2. Set a Goal

Everyone is guilty of procrastination at some point or another, but when it comes to fundraising, leaving things to the last minute just won’t cut it. Plan early, way early. The entire process will instantly feel more fun and effortless because you’ve preemptively taken some pressure off. This will give you much-needed time to get your Google on, in order to research fundraising ideas, tips and checklists. Search for testimonials of things others have done to raise money, and take note of any obstacles that might’ve come up for them. Knowledge is power. Arm yourself with it early and you’ll get your worm.

Sounds like an obvious thing to say, but you might be surprised how many people start their fundraising without first figuring out exactly how much money they need. Take some time and make your tally, factoring in some extra for unforeseen incidentals and for peace of mind. Publicize your goal proudly to potential supporters. It will give them a frame of reference as far as how much to give, and they’ll feel more confident giving when you appear entirely confident about your needs.

Sports Planning Guide

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8. Keep in Contact

Break your total fundraising goal into digestible, equal portions over time. While $2,000 all at once may feel like a lot, shooting for $500 a month over the next four months doesn’t feel quite so daunting, does it? Meeting mini-goals along the way will also highlight your progress and give the motivation you need to keep moving forward.

Your early supporters jumped on board because they care, so be sure to keep them in the loop on your progress. Did you have a particularly good day fundraising? Share the news! Did someone do something especially generous? Name names! Fundraising isn’t just about asking people for help, it’s about making them feel appreciated and a part of something meaningful.

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3. Break it Down

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4. Budget, Budget, Budget 9. Make it Routine

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Even if math was always one of your favorite subjects, it’s never easy work to create and adhere to a detailed budget. If you have plans to orchestrate an event to raise your funds (say a car wash or auction), or if you plan to perform some services for cash (think house painting or landscaping), you’ll want to ensure every purchase you make for the tools and supplies stays within your financial limits. You’ll have to promote your events and/ or services too, so don’t forget to include those costs. Finally, immediately subtract any little surprises that come up along the way, so that you always know exactly where you stand financially.

10. Get Friendly with Facebook Hands down, there is no better online tool out there to spread the word to literally thousands of friends—and friends of friends—in one fell swoop. This doesn’t mean, of course, that you should inundate your pals with nothing but fundraiser talk. Three to four times per week should be plenty to fill them in on how you’re doing. Give props to the people who support you as you go, and express gratitude and positivity at every turn. Post photos and videos to capture attention. Consider using notes to broadcast major milestones. As you know, even a few shares can go a long, long way in terms of visibility.

5. Pinch Those Pennies

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Set aside time every day – whatever time you feel most productive – to further your fundraiser. Whether it’s sending another round of emails, writing thank you notes to those who’ve already contributed, or updating friends on your progress through Facebook. Keep your cause fresh and alive by making it a daily priority.

On a similar note, be sure to stay on the alert for stray, additional expenses that have the tendency to get tacked on where you least expect them. When sourcing out fundraising products, for example, look for those that come with free shipping, or better yet, one that requires no payment up front. There’s simply no reason to buy what you don’t need.

11. Go All Out Online We’re huge advocates of calling on the talents and pull of friends and family to help you along your way, but there’s still nothing like drawing on your own unique talents to bolster your fundraising efforts. Are you a Photoshop whiz? Are you handy with video editing or a palette of paints? Call upon the strengths you already possess to create compelling collateral to promote your campaign.

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7. Flex Your Popularity Muscles Sure, it’s a given that Mom, Dad and the grandparents will be your most avid supporters, but what about your aunts and uncles? Your neighbors, your teachers, your friend’s parents or even your brother’s basketball buddies? Now is the time to get out there and get schmoozy. The more people you reach out to, the better chance you’ll have at raising the funds you need. sportsplanningguide.com

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6. Help Yourself

Consider registering with a free online fundraising platform like My.Fundraising.com. Whether running it alone or in conjunction with other fundraising initiatives, you’ll have a customizable, virtual storefront that makes literally hundreds of items available to your supporters around the clock—from chocolate and magazines, to “wow-factor” goods such as exclusive jewelry and gourmet food. Human touches like photo galleries and customizable email templates bolster the impact of your fundraiser, while sales and other campaign insights can be tracked through a dashboard or Campaign Manager. You’ll keep as much as 40% profit of all sales, and a profit check will be mailed to you monthly. All items are shipped direct to your supporters nationwide. Easy peasy! ■ These fundraising tips are courtesy Fundraising.com, a Great American Opportunities company. Since 1995, Fundraising.com, alongside site company eFundraising.com, has helped thousands of schools, sports teams and non-profit groups raise millions for their causes.

Sports Planning Guide

WEST REGION

rom the Pacific to the Plains, towns big and small attract sports planners with tournament-ready fields, gymnasiums, pools, arenas, stadiums and waterways. Besides offering top-notch accommodations and visitor attractions, each Western destination highlighted in this regional section has a wealth of experience in hosting events and a dedicated staff of experts with all the tools to help make your tournament the best it can be.

Sports Planning Guide

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RENO NEVADA

eno Tahoe USA has the facilities, people and experience to make your next event successful and affordable. This destination has a history of hosting an array of sports events, from USA Fencing Summer Nationals to USAV Boys’ Nationals and US Australian Football, at a number of indoor and outdoor locations. Competitors will find more than 15,000 modern hotel rooms within close proximity to the airport and event facilities. And event producers will enjoy working with a dedicated sports development staff.

FENCING NATIONALS

& TOP FACILITIES Golden Eagle Regional Park The Sports Complex at Golden Eagle is famous for its turf – all 1.4 million square feet of it. This makes it the largest facility of its kind in North America. At 100 acres, there’s room for six softball fields, four baseball fields, four volleyball courts, two youth baseball/softball fields and two bocce courts.

National Bowling Stadium The largest bowling stadium in the world (78 championship-sized lanes) also has the world’s longest (440-foot) video screen. It’s high-tech bowling on a huge scale, but smaller areas are also available for rent.

Reno Sports Complex Four softball fields share the view with a stunning mountain backdrop, plus a disc golf course and hiking trails. Lighting is available for nighttime games.

Reno-Sparks Convention Center This facility covers 500,000 square feet, giving it lots of room to host events of all types. If your event is an indoor sport, consider the convention center as a venue. Past events have included Summer National Fencing Championships, Junior National Volleyball Championships, USA Team Handball Championships and Jam It On, a massive basketball tournament.

Sky Tavern In the winter, it’s the place to ski or snowboard; in the summertime, the Tavern hosts mountain bikers and other outdoorsy types.

Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center The home of the famous Reno Rodeo also hosts events like motocross and monster truck shows. The 43 acres include a 6,200-seat main arena, a pavilion with seating for 1,000 fans, a 20,000-square-foot exhibition hall and a 9,400-seat rodeo space. Among the onsite amenities are 42 fully-fitted RV hookups and 660 animal stalls.

University of Nevada’s Lawlor Events Center Home of the Wolf Pack basketball team, this 12,000seat multi-use arena can be used to host many indoor tournaments and sports. 28

Sports Planning Guide

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Sports Marina Park Two beaches, two volleyball courts, multiple trails, one 77-acre lake. It’s a great place to boat, fish, wind surf, sail, swim or scuba dive.

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS The National Automobile Museum is a great way to see the evolution of transportation in a fun and historicallyappropriate context. Many of the cars, trucks and other vehicles are antiques. Kids, teens, and grownups will enjoy Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum, which takes a hands-on approach to science, art, and history; activities include climbing clouds, building a “green” house and learning about Nevada’s history. See mountain lions, bears, wolves and other rescued creatures at the Animal Ark Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary. The Lake Tahoe area offers everything from water sports and snow skiing to boat cruises, sightseeing gondolas and hot air ballooning. Finding a place to suit your group’s style and budget shouldn’t be a problem in Reno—you can choose from more than 15,000 hotel rooms, most within easy distance of the airport and event venues. And Reno’s prices average about 30% less than other major destinations. And your group won’t go hungry; Reno is home to almost every type of restaurant, from barbeque to bistro. A local favorite is Food Truck Fridays, which capitalizes on the mobile culinary trend of the moment.

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

GOLDEN EAGLE REGIONAL PARK

JAM ON IT

Reno is about 30 miles from Lake Tahoe, and the two destinations share a tourism website and a lot of the same travel conveniences, starting with Reno-Tahoe International Airport. It is served by all major airlines, and some hotel and destination shuttles are free. Reno is the point where US-395 and I-80 converge. It’s about 450 miles north of Las Vegas, 500 miles west of Salt Lake City and 280 miles northeast of San Francisco. Another option is Amtrak’s California Zephyr, which makes a roundtrip from San Francisco to Chicago and stops at the Reno station.

SNOWBOARDING AT LAKE TAHOE

X-FACTORS

The folks at the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority are ready to help make your group travel experience a success, starting with the planning stages. Their services include registration/welcome, airport, marketing/ PR, and social media/micro-webpage assistance. Ask about the free specialized iPhone app (for selected events).

Shelli Fine, Director of Sports Development P.O. Box 837, Reno, NV 89504 800-367-7366 • sfine@renotahoeusa.com www.visitrenotahoe.com

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RENO-SPARKS CONVENTION & VISITORS AUTHORITY

LAKE TAHOE SUNSET

Sports Planning Guide

STOCKTON CALIFORNIA

he Stockton Convention & Visitors Bureau (SCVB) is a 501(c)6 founded in 1979 and is the official destination marketing organization for Stockton, Calif. The bureau’s mission is to promote Stockton by increasing the awareness and enhancing the image of the city’s diverse cultural, historical and recreational assets. Since its founding, the bureau has been integral in bringing hundreds of quality regional, national and international sporting events and tournaments to Stockton.

BANNER ISLAND BALLPARK

& TOP FACILITIES Stockton Arena Opened in 2005, the Stockton Arena is one of the most frequented sports venues in Stockton. It has played host to a wide variety of sports events, including basketball, indoor soccer and hockey. It features an NHL regulation ice sheet, 5,000 square feet of conference space and between 8,600 and 12,000 seats, depending on the configuration for the event.

Stockton Ballpark Adjacent to the Stockton Arena is the Ballpark, better known as Banner Island Ballpark, home of the Stockton Ports, the Oakland A’s Single A affiliate. While spectators go there to watch professional baseball games, the ballpark also serves as a venue for high school, college and travel baseball clubs. It hosted the CCAA Baseball Championships and NCAA West Coast Conference Baseball Championships in the spring of 2013. The park features 5,200 fixed seats and two picnic areas.

considered one of the best baseball facilities in the state, can be used for local, regional and state tournaments. It has fixed seating for 1,200, but additional seats can bring it up to 2,500. The most recent addition to the university’s athletic scene is a new beach volleyball complex that features three courts. There is already a major sports event booked at the new venue for 2014—EVP Beach Volleyball World Finals, which will be televised nationally on Beach Sports Network.

Regional Sports Complex The Regional Sports Complex is a multi-purpose facility that caters to baseball and soccer. It features four softball fields and four soccer fields, as well as concessions and a picnic area. ALEX G. SPANOS CENTER

University of the Pacific Sports facilities at the University of the Pacific are popular venues for tournaments and events. The Alex G. Spanos Center seats 6,150 spectators and is the site of men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball and many other sports. Chris Kjeldsen Pool Complex has been serving the swimming community for almost 40 years and is one of the busiest facilities in Stockton. It recently underwent a small revamp, adding lights that enable practices and competitions to be held at night. Klein Family Field, 30

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When it comes to activities off the court or field, Stockton has it covered. From museums and galleries to theaters and amusement parks, Stockton offers sports teams and their families an overwhelming list of attractions to enjoy during their stay. Cultural enthusiasts can head over to the Haggin Museum for a taste of art and history all in one, while young athletes can venture over to Pixie Woods Amusement Park and let loose in this fantasy land. Families can enjoy a day at Micke Grove Regional Park and Zoo or World of Wonders Science Museum. For parents, Stockton offers a wide range of wineries where guests can spend an afternoon sipping varietals from over 80 vineyards. Since Stockton is centrally located and only a short distance from San Francisco and Yosemite National Park, it is easy for families to spend a day—or more—in these vacation favorites.

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Stockton, located on the San Joaquin Delta, is accessible by air, car, train and even boat. Sports teams can fly into the Sacramento or San Francisco airports and hop into a rental car or onto a shuttle to get into Stockton. Driving times: Sacramento, 50 minutes; San Francisco, one hour and 30 minutes; Yosemite and Lake Tahoe, less

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than three hours; Los Angeles, five hours and 15 minutes. The San Joaquin Regional Transit District provides public transport in the metropolitan area.

X-FACTORS

When sports planners choose Stockton, they know they are getting more than just elite sports venues and wonderful area attractions. They are also getting service. The sports commission in Stockton goes out of its way to exceed expectations, offering a wide variety of special services to make teams feel welcome. Before tournaments even begin, the Stockton team is on the ball, assisting in facility research, hotel space coordination and housing services. The team provides information on dining and activities, so tournament participants and fans know what is going on around the city and where they can go to relax after a long day of competition. Stockton hosted the U.S. Twirling Association U.S. Trials in 2012 and will welcome the group back for the U.S. National in 2014. In 2013, Stockton welcomed the West Coast Conference Baseball Championship and ASA Fast Pitch Girls Softball tournament drew 40 teams to the area.

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Tim Pasisz, Sports Development Director 125 Bridge Place, 2nd Floor, Stockton, CA 95202 877-778-6258 • tim@visitstockton.org www.stocktonsports.org

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TRI-VALLEY CALIFORNIA

isit Tri-Valley is the destination sales and marketing organization for the town of Danville and the cities of Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton, San Ramon and its three valleys (Amador, Livermore and San Ramon). The mission is to increase economic impact by bringing overnight visitors for leisure, meetings and events.

& TOP FACILITIES Alameda Fairgrounds The 267-acre fairgrounds are located in the heart of downtown Pleasanton and welcome dozens of athletic events every year, including horse races, running competitions and golf tournaments. It features 10 buildings with over 131,000 square feet of exhibition space, which can be converted into indoor rinks for wrestling, boxing, gymnastics or cheerleading. The surrounding park-like areas can be used for outdoor sports, such as soccer or football. In the summer, the fairgrounds host the Alameda County Fair, which can be enjoyed by athletes and their families in between matches.

Pleasanton Sports & Recreation Park The multi-sport facility includes 12 soccer fields, four baseball diamonds, numerous Little League and hardball fields, and softball complexes. There are also dedicated areas for football and volleyball, plus a community center next to the park that can be used for tournament headquarters or for trophy ceremonies.

lighted synthetic turf soccer fields, four lighted basketball courts and four lighted tennis courts. It also features a BMX track, plus pathways and trails for walking, running and biking.

Robert Livermore Community Center A top-of-the-line complex with plenty of public space and elite facilities to accommodate all kinds of events. The community center offers 71,000 square feet of indoor space at the Community Building and Recreation Building, with an additional 45,000 square feet at the Aquatics Center. The Recreation Building houses a number of dance studios and a gymnasium for adult and youth sports. The Aquatics Center includes a 33-meter pool for recreation and lap swimming, water polo and kayaking courses.

Robertson Park A 110-acre community park that houses the Livermore Valley Rodeo Stadium. There are also three full-sized soccer fields, two softball fields, equestrian facilities and trails for hiking, biking and running. PLEASANTON SPORTS PARK

Del Valle Lake Located 10 miles southeast of Livermore, the lake is a popular destination for boating, kayaking, swimming, hiking and biking.

Fallon Sports Park Fallon is Dublinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest park and has become a popular location for sports events. It includes two lighted 60-foot baseball diamonds, two lighted softball diamonds, two 32

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Young athletes can let loose at Boomers in Livermore, which offers miniature golf, bumper boats, go-karts, laser tag and an arcade. Or families can visit Super Franks in Pleasanton, which is designed for kids under the age of eight. Livermore’s Umigo Indoor Kart Racing offers thrill seekers 10 and up a ride. The region also boasts a wide array of golf courses, parks and lakes. While in Livermore visit the world’s longest continuously burning light bulb at Fire Station #6 on East Avenue. Parents can visit local museums and art galleries or enjoy an afternoon of wine tasting at one of more than 50 wineries in the Livermore Valley Wine Region. San Francisco, a short drive away, abounds with attractions, including PIER 39, Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown and boat cruises to Alcatraz Island. Many families venture to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, which features animal attractions and thrill rides.

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Tri-Valley is located about 35 miles east of San Francisco and 18 miles southeast of Oakland. It is right at the intersections of Highways 580 and 680 in the East Bay. From two major international airports, athletes, coaches and guests can get there via car, bus or the Bay Area

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Rapid Transit (BART) system. Once in the region, the easiest way to get around is by car or bus. However, there are a few other options to get teams from one place to the next, such as Wheels, the Livermore Amador Valley Transit system that offers public transport for the communities of Dublin, Livermore and Pleasanton.

X-FACTORS

Tri-Valley has a number of large, brand-name hotels, convenient for large tournaments. There are also a lot of smaller properties with 80-120 rooms that can perfectly house smaller events. Visit Tri-Valley recently implemented a new service for group hotel bookings through PassKey. Simply, PassKey makes it easier to book hotels and track room pickup. Among the tournaments this service was offered to was the Little League Intermediate World Series in the summer of 2013. In addition, Pleasanton RAGE and Mustang Soccer bring elite levels of competition to Tri-Valley every year. The city of Dublin recently approved the construction of an aquatic center, with completion expected in 2015.

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Jeffrey Blair, Sales Manager; Geoffrey Sarabia-Mason, V.P. Sales 5075 Hopyard Rd., Suite 240, Pleasanton, CA 94588 925-846-8910 • jeffrey@visittrivalley.com, geoffrey@visittrivalley.com www.visittrivalley.com

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VALLEJO CALIFORNIA

our Bay Area Fun Starts Here in Vallejo, CA. Midway between San Francisco and Napa Valley, Vallejo is home to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom theme park, Mare Island Historic Park, ferry service to/from San Francisco and close to Sonoma Raceway, Jelly Belly factory and worldclass golf. With affordable lodging at 36+ area hotels with 2,900+ rooms, Vallejo offers indoor/outdoor sporting venues for soccer, softball, wrestling and more. Find the best year-round weather in the Bay Area and visit Vallejo!

& TOP FACILITIES Solano County Fairgrounds One of the largest sports facilities in Vallejo features a sports arena that seats 2,750 in the bleachers and 300 on the floor, McCormick Hall seating 3,000, the Exposition Hall with room for 3,000, and the Horse Racetrack that seats 5,000 in the grandstand and 1,000 in the bleachers. It has hosted everything from equestrian and martial arts to archery and dog shows. The city plans to expand the fairgrounds over the next several years, with plans to break ground on the project in the fall of 2013.

Mare Island Sports Center This indoor sports venue plays host to basketball, soccer, volleyball, wrestling, boxing and roller derby. The 61,000square-foot arena includes two indoor soccer fields and seats 1,200 spectators.

North Bay Athletic Association This community service organization operates a large indoor sports facility designed for gymnastics training and competitions. It has also been used for dance and cheerleading events.

Sonoma Raceway The 2.52-mile, 12-turn racetrack has been host to numerous NASCAR and AMA events throughout the years. The 1,600-acre facility is also a year-round motorsports complex, with events scheduled almost everyday.

California Maritime Academy This facility is equipped to handle soccer, rugby, basketball, volleyball, swimming and more. It has a regulation-size, all-weather field, marked for rugby, lacrosse and softball with press box. New PE & Aquatics Center opens in fall 2014 featuring a main gymnasium with 650 seating capacity, one basketball court, three full-size volleyball courts; auxiliary gym with one full-size volleyball court and one half-size basketball court; an outdoor, Olympic-size pool with bleachers.

â&#x20AC;°ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS Vallejo has a lot going on, and teams will find no shortage of activities in which to partake between games or when the tournament is over. The most popular attraction is Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, which plays host to cheerleading competitions every fall. The theme park is a combination WHALEBOAT REGATTA

John F. Cunningham Aquatic Complex This world-class aquatic center features a 50-meter x 25-yard pool with 19 practice lanes and depths that range from 4-13 feet. Used for a variety of swimming and diving competitions, it seats 1,000 spectators.

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GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Vallejo is centrally located along I-80 between Sacramento and San Francisco, making it easily accessible from most areas around California. Driving times: San Francisco, 40 minutes; Sacramento, one hour; San Jose, one hour and 15 minutes; Fresno and Reno, three hours and 15 minutes; Los Angeles, six hours. Vallejo’s proximity to San Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento airports makes it easy for national and international visitors to reach. Once here, the best way to get around the city is by car, shuttle or tour bus. The ferry is also a good means of transportation for those looking to visit surrounding areas.

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X-FACTORS

The team at the Vallejo Convention and Visitors Bureau has all the tools sports planners need to organize their next athletic event. The team will route submission forms to appropriate facilities and hotels, making sure they provide planners with the information they need. The staff will also conduct site inspections to assure that a venue will work for a specific event. On top of that, the Bureau can provide promotional materials for the event, such as brochures, visitor guides, and lodging and restaurant guides. Vallejo offers a number of bonus services, such as name badges, bags and giveaways, civic liaisons, media assistance and information tables. The region has been host to a number of major sporting events throughout the years, including the NASCAR Sprint-Toyota/Save-Mart 350, the JAMZ Cheerleading & Dance Competition and the UCA Cheerleading Competition. Its location along the San Pablo Bay also makes it a prime destination for water sports, such as the Vallejo to San Francisco International Yacht Race or the Whaleboat Regatta. Besides top-notch facilities, Vallejo has some of the best weather around.

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Carrie Baulwin, Sales Manager 289 Mare Island Way, Vallejo, CA 94590 707-642-3653 • carrie@visitvallejo.com www.visitvallejo.com

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animal park, oceanarium and theme park, and features over 35 animal shows and just as many rides. For history buffs there is the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, a vital shipyard that closed in the 1990s. Teams can even become spectators when they watch the new minor league baseball team, the Vallejo Admirals. The Jelly Belly candy company is located nearby, with guided tours of the factory operations and a complimentary sample of the tasty treats. Adults may want to tour Napa Valley Wine Country, a half hour from Vallejo. The city also is close to San Francisco, making it an easy day trip for visitors, who can hop on the ferry. PIER 39 features the Aquarium of the Bay, 110 stores and plenty of entertainment. Also popular are Fisherman’s Wharf and boat tours to Alcatraz Island and around the bay.

BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIA

he Bakersfield Convention & Visitors Bureau welcomes regional, state and national sports events to the 51st largest city in the U.S. With quality venues for a wide range of sports, Bakersfield has continued to attract all types of sports events. Home to the Bakersfield Sports Village—a 16-field complex—four Olympic-size swimming pools and Rabobank Arena, you’re sure to find a venue ready to host your sports event.

Gilbert Vega

BAKERSFIELD SIGN

& TOP FACILITIES Rabobank Arena At 20,000 square feet, Rabobank Arena can be used for almost any type of sporting tournament. With seating for 10,000 and 26 private suites, there’s ample room for a crowd of fans, and the eight locker rooms give players plenty of space. Rabobank Arena connects to the Rabobank Convention Center, making additional space for practice or staging available. Popular events at the arena include hockey, arena football, wrestling, gymnastics, cheerleading competitions and basketball.

Kern County Soccer Park San Joaquin Valley’s largest soccer complex features lit fields and is one of the largest soccer complexes in the state. It offers a total of 24 regulation-sized fields, concessions and eight restrooms throughout the complex. Separate tournament facilities and referee buildings are also onsite.

McMutery Aquatic Center Conveniently located in downtown Bakersfield, McMutery Aquatic Center is the ideal place to host swimming and diving competitions. The facility includes ASA, MESA MARIN SPORTS COMPLEX

Mesa Marin Sports Complex This venue has four lit softball fields, concessions, shaded bleacher seating and a parking lot on its landscaped 15 acres.

Bakersfield Sports Village Although still partially under construction, Bakersfield Sports Village is ready to handle soccer tournaments, thanks to its 12 soccer fields and 4 football fields (with lighting for nighttime play), concessions, ample parking and Wi-Fi. Other phases, currently in the works, will include a championship stadium, an indoor gymnasium, and 10 baseball/softball fields.

Aera Park Aera Park includes 11 baseball and softball fields with lighting facilities for nighttime games. It also has bleacher seating for spectators, concessions, ample parking and an attractively landscaped setting. 36

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With 300 days of sun each year, dry warm summers, and relatively mild short winters, Bakersfield’s weather is one of the main attractions for visitors – at least, if you put aside the area’s legendary country music stylings, wideranging dining scene, and abundance of spectator sports, including baseball, basketball, hockey, racing, and collegiate sports. It would be tempting to stay inside, watching or playing sports, but that would mean missing the chance to enjoy the natural grandeur of the area. Bakersfield is within easy range of the Greenhorn Mountains, Kern National Wildlife Refuge, Kern River Preserve, the Pacific Coast Hiking Trail, and the big trees at Sequoia National Forest. Restaurants in the Bakersfield area draw on culinary influences from all corners of the planet; you can have anything from Basque dishes to bagel sandwiches without leaving the city limits. With more than 5,000 hotel rooms available – and rates much cheaper than in other areas in the Golden State – finding the right room for your tour group shouldn’t be an issue. Every type of lodging is within

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reach, from national chains with budget prices to sleekly sophisticated local hotels.

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Bakersfield is just 15 minutes east of I-5, midway between Los Angeles and Fresno. It’s on Amtrak’s San Joaquin Route if you choose rail travel; if you prefer to fly in, you can choose from Los Angeles International Airport (118 miles to the south) or Fresno Yosemite International Airport (114 miles to the north). Or minimize your travel time and use Bakersfield’s own Meadows Field Airport, which is served by United and US Airways.

X-FACTORS

The sales and marketing team at Bakersfield Convention and Visitors Bureau will work with you to plan your event. Contact them for assistance in booking and discounts to local attractions and for local PR assistance.

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Matt Billingsley, Sales Manager 515 Truxtun Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93301 661-852-7236 • mbillingsley@visitbakersfield.com www.visitbakersfield.com

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both a recreational pool and a heated Olympic-sized pool that features nine 25-yard lanes and nine 50-yard lanes. In addition, the Olympic pool also boasts a pair of diving boards. The family-friendly recreational pool comes equipped with two water slides, plus areas for diving, water volleyball and interactive play equipment.

SNOHOMISH COUNTY WASHINGTON

ocated in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, Snohomish County, Washington, is 25 miles north of downtown Seattle and about 45 miles north of Sea-Tac International Airport. Bordered on the west by Puget Sound and on the east by the Cascade Mountains, Snohomish County offers the perfect backdrop for any sporting event. It is home to semiprofessional and amateur teams and two community colleges.

MCCOLLUM PARK BMX

& TOP FACILITIES

is Fairfield County Park, which hosts field sports such as soccer, lacrosse and ultimate Frisbee.

Comcast Arena at Everett

Kasch Park

With two sheets of NHL-sized ice (85’x200’), this facility in Everett is home of the Everett Silvertips Hockey Club of the Western Hockey League and hosts a variety of events, including hockey, figure skating, basketball, gymnastics, wrestling, volleyball, rodeo, endurocross and tradeshows. There are 8,300 seats in Comcast Arena, 250 in Comcast Community Ice Rink.

This multi-purpose sports complex in Everett hosts baseball, softball, soccer, ultimate Frisbee and lacrosse. There are four softball fields, two baseball fields and three adult, all-weather turf soccer fields. The venue can accommodate up to 600 spectators in the softball/ baseball complex. All fields are lighted.

Lynnwood Convention Center Evergreen State Fairgrounds Located in Monroe, the fairgrounds has a 60,000square-foot indoor equestrian park with seating for 2,700 spectators and hosts equestrian, BMX, rodeos and motocross. The 33,000-square-foot events center hosts basketball, wrestling, martial arts, gymnastics and cheerleading. Evergreen Speedway has a 3/8 and 5/8 ovals and figure eight track. Inside the ovals are two motocross tracks, one for youth and one for adults.

Lake Stevens Community Park Located in Lake Stevens, the park has three baseball/ softball fields, plus four grass soccer fields that hosts soccer, lacrosse, football, and ultimate Frisbee.

Lake Tye Park Located in Monroe, this multi-purpose sports facility hosts baseball, football, lacrosse, soccer, softball, wakeboarding, skateboarding and triathlons. It features two baseball/softball fields, one soccer field, one outdoor basketball court, two tennis courts and a 41-acre lake. Adjacent to Lake Tye Park 38

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Lynnwood Convention Center has 34,000 square feet to accommodate dance, gymnastics, martial arts, board game competitions, meetings and tradeshows.

‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS Snohomish (sno-HOH-mish) County, Washington is bordered by the cool waters of Puget Sound and close to the Cascade Mountains. Whale watching, bald eagle viewing, river rafting trips, beach-front or forested hiking trails and estuary tours give visitors a glimpse of local wildlife and habitat. See the assembly of the Boeing 747, 777 and 787 at the Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Tour. View rare treasurers of the 20th century aviation at the Flying Heritage Collection and the Historic Flight Restoration Center. Or watch volunteers restore other aviation treasures at the Museum of Flight Restoration Center at Paine Field in Everett. Snohomish County offers shopping galore, from Seattle Premium Outlets to Alderwood Mall and Everett sportsplanningguide.com

Mall, plus boutique shops in Edmonds and Mill Creek. For antiques and collectibles, follow the winding brick paths and flower-lined boardwalks at Bothell Country Village or visit the historic town of Snohomish. Snohomish County has over 5,300 hotel rooms. National brand hotels include Best Western, Marriott, Hilton, La Quinta and Intercontinental Hotels; there also boutique hotels and bed and breakfasts.

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Snohomish County is located 25 miles north of downtown Seattle, 45 miles north of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and 113 miles south of Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Amtrak stations are located in Edmonds and Everett. Washington State ferry terminals are located in Edmonds and Mukilteo. Interstates 5 and 405 provide easy access to any of the Snohomish County sports facilities. All the major airlines fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

X-FACTORS

Snohomish County has event venues for a variety of individual and team sports from basketball to softball, soccer to hockey, golf to volleyball, equestrian events to triathlons. We have 25 softball fields, 15 baseball fields and 20 soccer fields located throughout the county as well

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SNOHOMISH COUNTY SPORTS COMMISSION

Tammy Dunn, CSEE, Sports Marketing Manager 1133 164th St. SW, Suite 204, Lynnwood, WA 98087 425-348-5802, ext.12 • tammy@snohomish.org www.snohomish.org

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as several multi-use sports complexes. Snohomish County Sports Commission provides a variety of opportunities for sports event planners to bring their event here. We will provide assistance with funding opportunities, event organization, hotel accommodations, and venues to make the event successful. Other sports event services are bid preparation assistance and presentations, facility and site tours, visitor information and welcome goodie bags, public relations assistance, volunteer assistance and liaison with civic leaders. Professional sports teams that call Snohomish County home include Everett AquaSox baseball, Everett Silvertips hockey, North Sound Seawolves FC, Everett Reign women’s football and Snohomish County Vikings football. Snohomish County has hosted Skate America, Kellogg’s Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships, USA Triathlon Youth & Junior Elite Race Series, MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour, Ironman 70.3 Lake Stevens, NSA Girls Fastpitch Western World Series and Triple Crown Sports Memorial Baseball Tournament.

OKLAHOMA CITY OKLAHOMA

rom rowing and running to Frisbee golf and softball, Oklahoma City is a sports lover’s paradise. With facilities such as the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, the Boathouse District on the Oklahoma River and the Oklahoma City Community College Aquatics Center, a variety of sporting events can take place in Oklahoma City. With 16,000 hotel rooms city-wide, affordable rates and a friendly atmosphere, Oklahoma City is the ideal destination for your next event.

OKLAHOMA CITY SKYLINE

& TOP FACILITIES Oklahoma River Boathouse District The Oklahoma River acts as a natural sports venue, designated as an official Olympic and Paralympic training site for rowing, canoe and kayak competitions. The City of Oklahoma City has plans to construct a new whitewater center, a state-of-the-art facility that will accommodate athletes of all skill levels.

Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark Considered one of the most popular sports venues in Oklahoma City, Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark is the home of the OKC Redhawks, a Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. However, the stadium is not limited to minor league baseball games, as it frequently welcomes Big 12 baseball championships, among others. The venue is equipped with locker rooms, concessions, dugouts and seating for over 13,000 spectators.

ASA Hall of Fame Stadium The ASA Hall of Fame Stadium is one of the nation’s top softball venues. It features four elite playing fields, as well as the National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum, where sports teams can learn about the influence the game of softball has had on American culture. The facility has hosted the World Cup of Softball, ASA Hall of Fame tournaments and NCAA Women’s College World Series. The complex has a wide range of amenities and seating for 7,300 fans.

‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS Adjacent to downtown is Bricktown, an entertainment district where guests can take a water taxi ride down the canal, catch a flick at the theater, visit the American Banjo Museum or dine at one of many restaurants or clubs. Along OKLAHOMA CITY BOATHOUSE DISTRICT

Oklahoma City Community College Aquatics Center The Oklahoma City Community College Aquatics Center first gained recognition when it served as the main pool for competitions during the 1989 U.S. Olympic Festival. Now, the pool plays host to regional and national aquatic events, such as the NAIA S&D championships and youth tournaments. The complex features a 50-by-25-meter, eight-lane pool, with a moveable bulkhead to accommodate different race lengths. It also has a separate diving well with two one-meter springboards, two three-meter boards, and five-meter, seven-meter and 10-meter platforms. The stadium can fit at least 1,000 spectators in the bleachers. 40

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of Fame Tournaments, World Cup of Softball and NCAA Women’s College World Series. In 2012 Oklahoma City welcomed the NAIA National Swimming and Diving Championships, Special Olympics Softball Tournament, USTA National Regional Girls Tournament, and USA Canoe/Kayak US Olympic Team Trials for Sprint Canoe and Kayak.

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the Oklahoma River, visitors can enjoy the scenery and get a workout by walking on the trails, renting a bike or kayak, or taking rowing lessons at the first propulsion dynamic rowing tank. The brand new SandRidge SkyTrail in the Boathouse District is an 80-foot adventure course with various levels of challenges on a 200-foot zip line. Oklahoma City offers one of the top zoos in the country, a children’s science museum and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Big downtown draws are Myriad Botanical Gardens & Tropical Conservatory, Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum and the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder. Learn about the Sooner State’s rough-andtumble past and Native American heritage at the Oklahoma History Center, located near the State Capitol. And check out the Western wear shops and famous Cattleman’s Steakhouse in the Stockyards City district. In downtown and beyond, OKC has hotel facilities in every style, offering more than 16,000 rooms.

Sue Hollenbeck, Assistant Director, Sports Business Development 123 Park Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73102 405-297-8909 • shollenbeck@visitokc.com www.visitokc.com

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Oklahoma City is located at the heart of the country, making it easily accessible from all regions. Driving into the city is simplified by three interstates—I-35, I-40 and I-44. OKC is one hour and 30 minutes from Tulsa, three hours from Wichita, three hours from Dallas, and five hours and 35 minutes from Kansas City. With more than 2,400 miles of four-lane roads, Oklahoma City ranked as the country’s sixth most drivable city in a recent MSN.com survey. Will Rogers World Airport offers nonstop air service to 22 airports in 19 cities. Amtrak’s Heartland flyer makes daily runs to Oklahoma City from Fort Worth. For easy travel in downtown OKC, there’s the Downtown Discovery bus.

X-FACTORS

The OKC Convention and Visitors Bureau staff offers marketing services such as press releases and microwebsites to create buzz around an event. They will hang banners in hotels, airports and entertainment districts to boost awareness for sports tournaments around town. The CVB will also offer VIP gifts and help with visitor information. This year, OKC and Edmond, a northern suburb, hosted the Region III Championships, bringing in more than 20,000 soccer players for six days. In addition, the NCAA Division 1 Women’s Regional Basketball Tournament came to OKC, on top of the ASA Hall sportsplanningguide.com

Sports Planning Guide

ROUND ROCK TEXAS

elcome to The Sports Capital of Texas! Here in Round Rock, we host virtually every sporting event you can imagine, from football and baseball to inline skating marathons and ultimate Frisbee championships. Our facilities are capable of handling events of all sizes, and our beautiful Texas weather means that we can play outside all year long. We’re expanding our world-class facilities with the addition of a $12-million indoor sports center, which is expected to be opening in 2013.

ROUND ROCK INDOOR SPORTS CENTER

& TOP FACILITIES Old Settlers Park This 570-acre park is the main attraction for rights holders that commit to Round Rock. With 20 lit baseball fields, five lit softball fields, two lit football fields, 19 soccer fields, 12 lit tennis courts, two sand volleyball courts, a cricket field and a disc golf course, there are always sports going on at Old Settlers Park. Unlike many large complexes, Old Settlers feels like a park and is complete with pavilions, picnic tables and grills to go along with the standard concession stands and restrooms.

Dell Diamond Right next door to Old Settlers Park is Dell Diamond, home to Texas Rangers’ AAA affiliate, Round Rock Express. The park’s proximity to Old Settlers makes it an ideal championship or main field for any larger baseball tournament. Dell Diamond has 8,722 fixed seats and can seat another 3,000 in the outfield lawn area. Fans enjoy the pool and hot tub over the right field fence, and kids love the adjacent basketball court and climbing wall for in-game entertainment.

ball, darts, horseshoe pitching, fencing, rock climbing, martial arts, wrestling, table tennis, weightlifting, powerlifting, archery and bocce ball.

Dragon Stadium In a state known for its high school football, Round Rock has one of the best high school stadiums around. On the campus of Round Rock High School, Dragon Stadium features a full-size track and AstroPlay turf field with a drainage system to allow play in any weather. For events that require a lot of administration and may draw media, Dragon Stadium’s two press boxes are sure to impress. The home side press box is two stories and features a refreshment area to go along with its radio, TV and coaches booths.

Round Rock ISD Athletic Complex The Round Rock Independent School District went a step further when putting together its athletic complex, building a stadium that rivals many Division I college football arenas. With parking for 2,750, total seating for DELL DIAMOND

Round Rock Indoor Sports Center Coming in late 2013, Round Rock will be home to a brand new $12-million indoor sports center. The main area of the 81,500-square-foot facility will have six basketball courts and 12 volleyball courts. Nine additional multipurpose rooms will have seating for 1,700 total people and will be able to accommodate badminton, gymnastics, cheer, dodge 42

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11,000, 950 stadium seats and a beautiful oval-shaped campus, this complex makes a great championship locale for football, soccer or lacrosse events. Televisions are fixed at concession areas so that fans won’t miss any of the action while away from their seat.

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS Rights holders that commit to Round Rock are pleasantly surprised with the wide range of attractions, restaurants and accommodations the area has to offer. Seven top-quality golf courses can provide a morning of fun on a tournament off day, and the Rock’n River Family Aquatic Center is a good way to cool off. Shoppers love the Round Rock Premium Outlets and Ikea while dog owners are treated to Dog Depot, which is much more than just a dog park. Also, make sure your tournament knows to check out Historic Downtown Round Rock, where they can see the actual rock after which the city is named. Round Rock’s restaurants love seeing dirty jerseys come in their door and are flexible with meeting each team’s needs. The city contains all the standard fast food and sit-down chains, but be sure to check out some of the local cuisine as well. Cotton Patch Cafe serves up great old-fashioned comfort food while Johnny T’s BBQ is a local favorite for Texas-style barbeque. With 25 hotels within city limits, Round Rock is well prepared to handle multiple tournaments at a time, as it often does. From Red Roof Inn to an RV park to the Marriott, there are many lodging options.

DRAGON STADIUM

DELL DIAMOND

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Over 90 percent of Texas’ population is within 300 miles of Round Rock, so tournament planners can expect that the Lone Star State’s top talent is within reach of their chosen venue. Dallas and Houston are a three-hour drive. I-35 passes right by downtown Round Rock, making it easy to come in from Georgetown to the north and Austin to the south. From downtown, each of Round Rock’s main facilities is within a 20-minute drive. The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is just a half hour from Round Rock.

OLD SETTLERS PARK

X-FACTORS

The Round Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau knows that every event is different, so it strives to customize its package and services to best fit each event that comes its way. To learn more about what the bureau can do to help make your event a success, contact Nancy Yawn (contact information below).

Nancy Yawn 231 E. Main St., Suite 150, Round Rock, TX 78664 512-218-7023 • nyawn@roundrocktexas.gov www.sportscapitaloftexas.com

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ROUND ROCK CVB

CHAMPION FIELDS

Sports Planning Guide

BRYAN COLLEGE STATION TEXAS

e are Bryan-College Station, right in the middle of it all. We make a very desirable destination for your next sports event. We are within a 3.5-hour drive of 80% of the Texas population, so traveling here is the least of the hurdles to overcome. We have a variety of sports facilities to choose from between our cities, counties and Texas A&M University. We have everything you want in a big city, with a small-town feel, and hospitality that cannot be beat.

BRAZOS VALLEY BOMBERS-TEXAS COLLEGIATE LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

& TOP FACILITIES Blue Bell Park It’s tough to find another college baseball venue as beautiful as Texas A&M’s Blue Bell Park. Built in 1979 as Olsen Field, the park received a $24-million renovation and a new name (thanks to a donation by Blue Bell Creameries) in 2011. The park holds 6,100 and has a two-tier grandstand, state-of-the-art scoreboard, LED video board and an indoor hitting facility down the left field line. The infield and outfield are Tifway Bermuda Grass. When the college baseball season is over, Blue Bell Park is a dream championship locale for any baseball tournament.

Brazos County Expo The 70,000-square-foot covered North Arena is the action-packed heart of the complex. A perfect venue for equestrian and other livestock competitions including horse shows, rodeos, clinics, livestock shows and other dirt events. The 75,000-square-foot covered South Arena is located directly south of the North Arena. It is ideal for cutting, dressage, barrel races, polo events, ropings and more. The west side of the South Arena boasts high quality shade cloths to allow fresh air in while keeping out the glare and heat from the sun.

sports clubs. The complex features four artificial turf fields approximately the size of a soccer/softball field and can also be set up for Ultimate, rugby, or men’s or women’s lacrosse. There are also nine natural turf fields. The complex also has a central building with an outdoor pavilion with seating available for 200, a meeting room with seating for approximately 60, restrooms with shower/changing areas and control room.

Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium This gorgeous indoor track facility is highlighted by its six-lane, 200-meter hydraulically banked track. Different events can adjust the bank of the track to any interval, depending on the age of participants and how fast they want the track to be. Crowds of up to 5,000 can also view events on the eight-line sprinting track, two long and triple jump pits, two throwing rings and four runways for pole vaulting.

Penberthy Rec Sports Complex The newly renovated Penberthy Rec Sports Complex is the Texas A&M athletic department’s outdoor facility. The complex has artificial turf and natural grass playing areas dedicated to drop-in recreation, intramural sports and 44

Sports Planning Guide

INAUGURAL BRAZOS VALLEY BOWL

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Veterans Athletic Complex This regional 150-acre park, intended for athletic purposes, is enhanced with a pavilion (500 capacity), parking for 400 cars, five softball fields and nine soccer fields (four lighted). There is also a playground and an American History Mile Trail. Open and fairly flat, the site is surrounded by wooded areas on the southeast and west.

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS Grand Station Entertainment is a hotpot for families after a day of competition. The 73,000-square-foot facility includes 40 bowling lanes, black-light mini golf, laser tag, an arcade, a sports bar and a food court. Zoomz Paintball is just a 10-minute drive from downtown, or take a 45-minute drive south and get a guided tour of Blue Bell Creameries’ production facility. On the Texas A&M campus, The George Bush Presidential Library and Museum spotlights the life of America’s 41st president. With over 30 hotels, 3,000 rooms and more being built, Bryan-College Station has no shortage of space for your participants. The area is used to thousands of people flocking for Aggie football games each fall, so housing tournaments isn’t a problem. In addition to hotels, the area has 19 bed and breakfasts, 16 RV parks and two campgrounds to fit any family’s preference. As for restaurants, Gattitown has become a favorite stop after wins or losses, with a huge arcade to go along with its pizza menu. For good old-fashioned Texas barbeque, try Buppy’s BBQ, C&J Bar-B-Q, Fargo’s Pit BBQ, J Cody’s, Dickey’s BBQ Pit or Junek’s Barbeque Grill.

GRAND STATION ENTERTAINMENT

BRAZOS COUNTY EXPO NORTH ARENA

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Bryan-College Station is located right in the middle of the Dallas-Houston-San Antonio triangle, and is just 180 miles from 80 percent of Texas’ population. Easterwood Airport is located in College Station, and both Houston and Austin have airports less than a two-hour drive away. For those flying in, Hertz, Enterprise, Avis and Xpress all rent out of College Station.

X-FACTORS

TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY KYLE FIELD SOUTH END ZONE

Whether you are hoping to get coupons for local attractions, blocks of hotel rooms booked, officiating set up or help with marketing your event, the Bryan-College Station Convention and Visitors Bureau does it all. Contact Dominique Powell at the information below to see what the Bryan-College Station Convention and Visitors Bureau can do for your event, and make sure to ask about their hotel tax grant package.

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BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION CVB

Dominique Powell, Sports Sales Executive 715 University Drive East, College Station, TX 77840 979-595-2684 • dominique@bcscvb.org www.visitaggieland.com

ASA SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT AT VETERANS PARK-THE EAGLE

Sports Planning Guide

LUBBOCK TEXAS

& TOP FACILITIES Lubbock Youth Sports Complex One of Lubbock’s largest sports complexes with 16 fields, 250 seats per field. This complex, used mainly for youth softball and baseball events, is home to the Lubbock Youth Softball League and South Plains Girls Fastpitch League.

Jones AT&T Stadium Located at Texas Tech University and home to the Red Raiders, this football stadium has a capacity of 60,454. The field has a new 1,500-square-foot video screen in the north end zone.

United Spirit Arena The arena at Texas Tech University is a multipurpose facility

used for men and women’s basketball and volleyball. It can seat up to 15,098 spectators.

‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS Lubbock’s Buddy Holly Center pays tribute to the pioneer of rock and roll. The National Ranching Heritage Center at Texas Tech University is a free, 16-acre exhibit highlighting the story of ranching in North America. The Museum of Texas Tech University has a planetarium with daily laser and star shows. End the day at Stars & Stripes Drive-in Theater showing double features on three different screens. With more than 4,800 hotel rooms and more than 1,000 restaurants in the area, guests are sure to find the perfect place to stay and eat.

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Lubbock is located in western Texas near five major highways – US 87, 84, 62/82, State Road 114 and Interstate 27. Lubbock is five hours from Dallas, six hours from Austin and five hours from Albuquerque. Airlines serving Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport include American Eagle, United and Southwest, with flights from Houston, Dallas, Las Vegas, Memphis and other cities.

X-FACTORS

The Lubbock Sports Sales Team offers eventplanning assistance and will create proposals that include bids from hotels and meeting facilities. The staff will work with vendors and hotels to establish the best rates for sports planners. Once teams arrive, our team ensures they will receive custom serving options fit for their event. The number of sports in the area attracts lots of willing volunteers, especially with the proximity of Texas Tech University.

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Sports Planning Guide

LUBBOCK SPORTS

Scott Harrison, Sports Director 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor, Lubbock, TX 79401 800-692-4035 • scott@visitlubbock.com www.lubbocksports.org

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ubbock, Texas is the place to host your next sporting event, and if you’re searching for unrivaled hospitality, look no further than Lubbock Sports. The Lubbock Sports Team works with each group from beginning to end to assure everything runs smoothly for each event. From locating a facility that meets your needs to requesting room blocks and rates from hotels, the Lubbock Sports Team offers an array of professional planning services.

TEXAS

& TOP FACILITIES

Plano Sports Authority The PSA consists of two buildings housing 22 courts and two turf arenas that host soccer, football and other sports. It plans to open a third indoor basketball and volleyball facility in 2014, giving it three multi-court venues and a total of 300,000 square feet of space.

Collin College Cougar Hall is home to the school’s basketball teams but can be transformed to host volleyball, wrestling and boxing tournaments. The Maureen Connolly Brinker Center, one of the state’s best tennis facilities, features 12 lighted courts and hosts collegiate tournaments.

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Plano is located 20 minutes north of downtown Dallas and about 40 minutes from both DFW International Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport.

X-FACTORS

The Plano CVB provides a housing service if tournaments requests it, and PLANO CVB for room counts Cissy Aberg, Sport Sales Manager of more than 50, P.O. Box 860358, Plano, TX 75086-0358 offers guest 972-941-5840 • cissya@plano.gov welcome bags. www.visitplano.com

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Dr Pepper StarCenter-Plano Fresh from a recent renovation, the center was equipped with new sheets of ice for its two rinks used for hockey and other skating competitions. It plays host to a variety of high school matches and leagues.

Plano Parks & Recreation Russell Creek Park is home to one of the largest soccer programs in the country, Plano Youth Soccer Association. As a result, outside events are limited, so sports planners must act fast to book it. A perfectly acceptable back-up is Carpenter Park, with 10-12 grass fields ideal for soccer, lacrosse, football and field hockey. High Point Park serves soccer, football and lacrosse tournaments year round.

‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS Sample early Texas life at Heritage Farmstead. There is an abundance of shopping and dining districts, such as Historic Downtown Plano and Legacy Town Center. Family-friendly area attractions include Six Flags theme park, Hurricane Harbor water park, SpeedZone racing park or Zero Gravity Thrill Ride Adventure Park. Plano has more than 30 hotels with over 4,000 rooms. sportsplanningguide.com

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PLANO

ust minutes north of downtown Dallas lies a suburban jewel with huge tournament sport field parks which were actually built into the master plan for the community. The City of Plano is 75 square miles of meticulously planned sport fields and facilities maintained by experienced and dedicated park professionals who work seamlessly with Plano’s award-winning convention and visitors bureau. Our forte is matching your sport event to our consistently high-quality venues and providing access to the reliable hotels, restaurants and attractions that your participants and their families enjoy.

CAMPBELL COUNTY WYOMING

illette and Wright are located in Campbell County, northeast Wyoming, between the Bighorn Mountains and the Black Hills. We are known as the “Energy Capital of the Nation,” as the Powder River Basin is rich in coal, oil and gas production. This richness in natural resources has allowed Campbell County to prosper, and the community enjoys fabulous state-of-the-art facilities as a result, perfect for hosting nearly any sporting event!

& TOP FACILITIES Aquatic Center The area’s top facility for hosting state, regional, and national swim meets and diving competitions is home to the only 50-meter pool in Wyoming.

1,560 horse stalls. The 42,000-square-foot space in the Central Pavilion is ideal for wrestling tournaments. Equestrian and rodeo events are held at East Pavilion, thanks to its earthen floor, portable arena panels, chutes and gates, and top-notch sound system. Other facilities include an 18-hole disc golf course, Gillette Thunder Speedway and Powder Basin Motocross.

Campbell County Recreation Center Cam-Plex Cam-Plex is the largest multi-use event facility west of the Mississippi. Its size is truly majestic—over 227,000 square feet and 1,100 acres. The following are located within the Cam-Plex site: Energy Hall offers 21,000 square feet of event space. The Wyoming Center’s Spirit Hall Ice Arena is perfect for ice hockey, wrestling and ice skating. Morningside Park has seating for 3,000 under its covered grandstand, concession stands and

The center offers three regulation gymnasiums – ideal for basketball and volleyball – plus a six-lane indoor running track, five tennis/indoor soccer courts, a walking track, a 42-foot climbing wall, a six-lane lap pool, a diving platform, four racquetball courts and three basketball courts.

‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS Hunting, weekly rodeos, and three golf courses compete for attention in the summer and fall, while skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling are popular in winter. An hour east is Devils Tower National Monument, a unique rock formation. Accommodations include chain hotels, campgrounds and RV parks.

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

The sister towns of Gillette and Wright are located along I-90 and Highway 59. Gillette Campbell County Airport is served by United and Delta, with direct flights daily to and from Denver, Salt Lake City and Rock Springs, Wyoming.

X-FACTORS

The Campbell CVB can provide hotel room block and booking assistance, distribute information packets, and help with registration and information desk duties at your event.

Sports Planning Guide

Mary Silvernell, Executive Director 1810 S. Douglas Hwy., Gillette, WY 82718 800-544-6136 • cccvb.director@orbitcom.biz www.visitgillette-wrightwyo.org

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CAMPBELL COUNTY AREA CVB

MIDWEST REGION

he experienced pros at the Midwestern cities highlighted in this regional section guarantee smooth sailing for your next event. Offering top-notch venues and plenty of fun things to do between games, they are eager to host your group, no matter the size. Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re planning a cross country meet, basketball tournament or swim competition, check out what these welcoming communities have to offer sports planners.

Sports Planning Guide

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BRANSON MISSOURI

ocated in the beautiful Ozark Mountains, Branson, Missouri offers abundant outdoor recreation with three pristine lakes (known for bass & trout fishing), championship golf courses and a 42-acre state-of-the-art sports & recreation complex. During free time, enjoy a wide range of world-class entertainers performing in 50 theaters, award-winning theme parks, fabulous shopping, dining and more. Fly in to the NEW Branson Airport via Southwest or Frontier Airlines and host your next sporting event in one-of-a-kind, family-friendly Branson, Missouri.

SILVER DOLLAR CITY - OUTLAW RUN

& TOP FACILITIES Branson RecPlex This 42-acre complex includes a 7,500-square-foot fitness center, a three-lane running/walking track, and a gymnasium capable of two full-size basketball/volleyball courts with bleacher seating, concessions and locker rooms. Outside, there are four baseball/softball fields, two lighted soccer fields, a one-mile paved walking trail, and bleacher seating for 200 people per field. The AquaPlex offers a zero-depth-entry leisure pool, six lanes for lap swimming and an area designated for competition diving.

Branson Area Lakes Branson has three major lakes—Table Rock, Taneycomo, and Bull Shoals—that can be enjoyed while fishing, boating and participating in numerous other water sports.

Branson Convention Center Located right downtown, close to a new shopping district that runs along Lake Taneycomo, this 220,000square-foot facility can accommodate 4,500 athletes and spectators. The first level offers a 47,000-square-foot exhibit hall that can be divided into two sections, as well as a 23,000-square-foot ballroom.

Clay Cooper Theatre Offer your athletes an experience of a lifetime at the Clay Cooper Theatre, with seating for more than 1,200. 52

Sports Planning Guide

The theatre specializes in customizing performance opportunities, backstage tours and clinics and addressing the needs and interests of your particular group. They have several veteran entertainers that will be happy to meet with your attendees. Three separate stages add more variety and opportunity to expand the ability of your creative tactics and to perform in front of a live audience.

Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater Complex This unique venue seats nearly 1,000 spectators and is great for all kinds of events, from dancing to gymnastics. There is also an outdoor venue that can be used for motorcycle and car rallies.

‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS Branson has no shortage of family-friendly attractions and activities. The “Live Music Show Capital of the World” boasts more than 50 theaters, with everything from comedy and magic to country music and Acrobats of China. Silver Dollar City, an Ozarks-themed fun park, offers roller coasters, water rides, live shows and tours of Marvel Cave. Teams also enjoy go-kart racing tracks, miniature golf courses and laser tag venues. White Water is one of the Midwest’s best waterparks. The hilly region features rock climbing, spelunking, camping, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding and miles of hiking and biking trails. Branson’s lakes are the perfect setting for a day of bass or trout fishing or other water sports. sportsplanningguide.com

Table Rock Lake and Bull Shoals Lake were recognized among the Top 50 Best Bass Lakes by Bassmaster Magazine. Branson also has been recognized by Golf Magazine and Golf.com as one of the best summer golf destinations in the Midwest. Top public courses include Payne Stewart, Branson Creek, Ledgestone and Murder Rock. In Branson you’ll find more than 200 lodging properties with over 19,000 guest rooms. Accommodations— in town, on the golf course or lakefront settings—range from rustic to luxurious.

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Getting your group to Branson is easy because it’s located less than a day’s drive of one-third of the United States. Located in southwestern Missouri, Branson is 3½ hours from Kansas City, four hours from St. Louis, five hours from Oklahoma City, seven hours from Dallas. There are two airports that offer affordable fares—the new Branson Airport and Springfield-Branson National Airport (43 miles away).

ACROBATS OF CHINA

X-FACTORS

Once sports planners book with Branson, the CVB team will help provide access to all the resources necessary to put on a great event. The team offers welcome letters from the mayor of Branson customized for each event, as well as save-the-date postcards; e-offers with discounts and coupons to shows and attractions; and a welcome bag with an up-to-date show guide, shopping coupon book, a map and vacation guide. Sports teams can also get promotional material and media support, group recognition at shows, city-wide shuttle services and help with housing. The support of the local community makes coming to Branson even more enjoyable because teams and their families feel welcome and comfortable. Branson welcomes thousands of athletes to its sports venues, and its RecPlex hosts over 20 national, state and regional tournaments each year. The area is no stranger to major sports events, including the USSSA Girls and Boys Baseball World Series Championships, the Ironman 70.3 and the NAIA Men’s Division II Basketball Championship. Branson’s lakes have catered to the FLW and Bass Master Opens, as well as the King of Wake, the world’s most elite pro-wakeboarding series that brought over 80 athletes to Table Rock Lake. Revolution 3 brings its acclaimed race series to Branson in 2013, with Half and Olympic distance races, including a Pro race with a $60,000 prize purse.

BRANSON/LAKES AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & CVB

Terra Alphonso Assistant Director, Sports & Convention Sales P.O. Box 1897, Branson, MO 65615 800-315-8601 • talphonso@bransoncvb.com www.explorebransonsports.com

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

KING OF WAKE

BRANSON RECPLEX

CONVENTION CENTER & HILTON HOTEL

Sports Planning Guide

SAINT CHARLES MISSOURI

ou’ll find first-class facilities, big-city amenities and small-town charm in Saint Charles, MO. Whether your sporting event features 10 or 1,000 participants, you’ll find our setting and price just right for your group. Saint Charles has a venue to host almost any competition, accommodations and restaurants affordable for families. Our staff is eager to assist you with your next sporting event. See you in Saint Charles!

DOWNTOWN SAINT CHARLES

& TOP FACILITIES Family Arena This 10,000-seat arena is used for football, hockey, soccer, and basketball, including college and high school tournaments. The Saint Charles Chill brings professional hockey back to the area starting in October 2013.

Ozzie Smith Sports Complex Located in O’Fallon, MO, this 76-acre sports facility, named for the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer, features seven lighted softball/baseball diamonds and houses the T.R. Hughes Ballpark, home of the Frontier League minor league baseball team, the River City Rascals. The ballpark also includes the Saint Charles County Amateur Sports Hall of Fame, which honors local athletes.

St. Peters Rec-Plex This 236,000-square-foot athletic complex features a world-class natatorium, which includes a diving pool with a 10-meter tower and one- and three-meter springboards, and a 50-meter competition pool. The Rec-Plex also has three NHL-size ice rinks, with seating for 600 spectators at the original rink and 1,200 at the second, and 300 portable seats at the third. The gymnasiums are equipped to host basketball and volleyball competitions, as well as other sports events like wrestling or martial arts.

Sports Planning Guide

Saint Charles Convention Center Located a few minutes from the Missouri River, the 154,000-square-foot facility can accommodate events like gymnastics, cheerleading, volleyball and basketball.

National Equestrian Center The 24-acre center features two indoor arenas for equestrian tournaments and dog shows. The outdoor arena is conducive to motorcycle speedway races. All the arenas have bleacher seating. There are over 650 stalls.

National Horseshoe Pitching Association Hall of Fame Opened in 2007, the Wentzville facility at Quail Ridge Park has 16 indoor and 16 outdoor courts for year-round tournaments for players of all skill levels.

‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS Saint Charles is known for its history and tradition, especially considering it is the oldest city on the Missouri River. The Historic Main Street District is a 10-block nationally registered historic site, with over 100 shops and 25 restaurants. Within the district are the First State Capitol Building, Lewis and Clark Boathouse and Nature Center, and the Foundry Art Centre. Grand Prix Karting is one of the Midwest’s largest go-kart tracks. Demolition Ball/Adrenaline Zone offers an action packed game played in bumper cars on one side and one of the largest multi-level laser tag arenas in the state on the other. sportsplanningguide.com

Lindenwood University hosts touring plays and concerts as well as its own student productions. For a look a back at pioneer days, visit the Historic Daniel Boone Home & Heritage Center in Defiance, MO. In St. Louis, a 25-minute drive away, guests can enjoy a ballpark tour or game at the Cardinals’ Busch Stadium, take a tram car up the famous Gateway Arch or visit Missouri Botanical Gardens. Forest Park, one of the largest city parks in the country, abounds with attractions, including the Missouri History Museum, St. Louis Science Center, St. Louis Art Museum and St. Louis Zoo.

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Located just 15 minutes from Lambert-St. Louis International Airport along I-70, Saint Charles’ central location makes it simple to reach from nearly everywhere in the country. Driving times: Chicago, five hours; Kansas City and Louisville, 3½ hours; Indianapolis, 4½ hours; Oklahoma City, seven hours. Once here, teams and their guests will find Saint Charles easy to get around, as most major venues and accommodations are relatively close to each other.

CONVENTION CENTER

X-FACTORS

The Greater Saint Charles CVB gets involved from the very beginning, providing site visits to sports facilities and housing assistance. The team also offers public relations assistance with DVDs and/or images for event publicity, and press releases to area media contacts, ensuring sports tournaments get the attention they deserve. On-site, the staff helps with event registration and has a group of volunteers on hand at a local information area to talk about attractions that families will find in Saint Charles. Teams are greeted by a CVB representative or city official, and receive welcome bags and welcome letters for event packets. Saint Charles has been hard at work building up its repertoire of annual tournaments. In 2012 it welcomed the State Wars Roller Hockey Championships, a 12-day tournament that brought around 275 teams and 2,500 participants to the city, and accounted for nearly 5,000 hotel room nights. The St. Louis Ambush of the Major Indoor Soccer League will begin their inaugural season in St. Charles in November 2013 and the St. Louis Attack of the Xtreme Indoor Football League will take the field in March 2014. Both teams will play their home games at the Family Arena.

GREATER SAINT CHARLES, MISSOURI CVB

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FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Greg Maxon, Group Travel & Sports Sales Manager 230 S. Main St., Saint Charles, MO 63301 636-946-7776 or 800-366-2427 • gmaxon@historicstcharles.com www.historicstcharles.com

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FAMILY ARENA

RECPLEX

T.R. HUGHES BALLPARK

Sports Planning Guide

COLUMBIA MISSOURI

olumbia is conveniently located between Kansas City and St. Louis at Interstate 70 and Highway 63. Just 30 minutes away from state capital Jefferson City and an hour from the Lake of the Ozarks, Columbia’s central location makes for easy access from all areas of the region. Combine that convenience with fantastic facilities and a supportive community and you’ll find that Columbia is an ideal place to host your sporting event!

& TOP FACILITIES Green Tennis Center Green Tennis Center is the only indoor/outdoor tennis club within 100 miles of Columbia. The center has eight tennis courts and hosts tournaments, ladders, socials/mixers and USTA tournaments. Green Tennis Center is scheduled to host the 2014 SEC tennis championships.

Mizzou Athletics Training Complex This more than 101,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility, home for the Tiger football program, offers one of the nation’s most comprehensive training programs. It includes the Yeckel Training Center, which has a Sports Nutrition Oasis, a 13,000-square-foot workout area with state-of-the-art training equipment.

Mizzou Arena Hearnes Center The University of Missouri’s Hearnes Center, which was voted the toughest place to play volleyball in the Big 12, is a multi-purpose arena that seats almost 14,000 people. In addition to hosting the school’s nationallyranked wrestling and volleyball teams, the center is also home to Mizzou’s gymnastics and indoor track and field teams. The Hearnes Fieldhouse continuously hosts the Missouri Open and has also hosted Big Eight and Big 12 wrestling championships. Hearnes Fieldhouse is also a site for concerts, conventions, trade shows and sports festivals.

Seating more than 15,000, this is the University of Missouri’s main indoor facility. Mizzou Arena hosts the school’s men’s and women’s basketball teams, as well as wrestling and basketball championships for the Missouri State High School Activities Association.

Columbia Parks and Recreation The Parks and Recreation department offers various sporting venues. It also can set your group up with park pavilions and meeting rooms. Woodland Park and Fairview Park have tennis courts, volleyball courts, basketball courts, shelters and picnic areas.

Mizzou Aquatic Center

Columbia College

Mizzou Aquatic Center is a state-of-the-art facility that offers a heated 50-meter by 25-yard pool, a 25-yard diving pool, and several spring boards and platforms. Spectators can take advantage of the center’s digital record board and full-color video boards, one of which is for divers. The Mizzou Aquatic Center hosts both diving and swimming championships, as well as USA Swimming events such as the Missouri Grand Prix.

Columbia College, a NAIA school, has excellent sporting facilities for basketball, soccer, softball and volleyball. The Southwell Complex comprises the Arena of Southwell Complex and the Courts of Southwell Complex, both of which host the school’s volleyball, basketball and tennis. Recently renovated and carpeted locker rooms include flat-screen TVs and a high-tech sound system. Also part of the Southwell Complex is the

Sports Planning Guide

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‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS If the family needs time away from the field, they’ll find plenty to do at the Columbia Mall, a premier shopping mall comprising 140 stores and a food court. Other points of interest include the Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts, Jesse Auditorium, the University of Missouri’s Museum of Art and Archaeology, and the Ragtag Cinema. There are more than 30 hotels in Columbia, ranging from small, affordable units offering simple amenities to large four-star hotel chains. With well over 100 restaurants, you’ll never have to disappoint a family member or your own palate. Room 38 has affordable prices for delicious cuisine. Also check out Sparky’s, which has the best ice cream in the area, and Shakespeare’s Pizza. Whether it’s pub grub, sushi, Asian food, Mexican tacos or seafood, Columbia has it all.

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Columbia is located about 70 miles from Greater St. Louis and 100 miles from metropolitan Kansas City. The

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Columbia Regional Airport offers daily, non-stop flights to and from major cities like Chicago and Dallas.

X-FACTORS

The Columbia Parks and Recreation department is an excellent source of information on various activities in the community, including sporting events, classes, rentals, programs and community recreation. Columbia’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, a participant in the Tourism Ambassador Institute’s Certified Tourism Ambassador program, is currently certifying hundreds of individuals, including emergency service personnel, hospitality workers and volunteers. This is intended to ensure that visitors are welcomed and provided with updated information while they’re in the community for their event. The CVB sports development team provides funding for events; funding is contingent on filling out an application and meeting specific criteria. Columbia also has excellent medical facilities and athletic trainers.

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COLUMBIA CVB

Gina Damico Landeck 300 S. Providence Rd., Columbia, MO 65203 573-875-1231 • gdlandec@gocolumbiamo.com www.visitcolumbiamo.com

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Southy Building, which offers a fitness center, turf room and a 1,000-square-foot athletic training room. The college also has the R. Marvin Owens Soccer Stadium and Antimi Softball Complex.

OVERLAND PARK KANSAS

ocated in the Kansas City area, Overland Park provides visitors the perfect blend of metropolitan amenities and suburban hospitality along with the nation’s finest amateur athletic facilities. Overland Park is within a day’s drive for more than 60 million people and is located just 30 minutes from Kansas City International Airport. With several premier facilities and 36 hotels (5,200 rooms), Overland Park has played host to hundreds of national and regional events for over 20 different sports.

OVERLAND PARK SOCCER COMPLEX

& TOP FACILITIES Overland Park Soccer Complex The 96-acre complex was named the top soccer facility in the nation by Livability.com because it's considered the only complex of its kind in the United States. There are 12 state-of-the-art, synthetic turf soccer fields with lighting and scoreboards. All fields are equipped with a cooling system. In addition, there is a 16,000-square-foot field house with offices, a referees lounge with showers and lockers, and meeting room. The complex includes a skate park and multiple playgrounds.

warm up. The fields also play host to adult slow pitch tournaments. Covered bleachers, concession stands, picnic shelters, playgrounds and climbing rocks keep families happy and entertained between contests.

Overland Park Convention Center The convention center is a 237,000-square-foot complex that features a 60,000-square-foot exhibit hall, a 15,000square-foot meeting room space and a 20,000-square-foot ballroom. The venue can host events such as wrestling, gymnastics, cheerleading and volleyball.

Mid-America Sports Complex The Fieldhouse of Kansas City Opened in 2012, this new 82,000-square-foot multisport facility can accommodate basketball, volleyball, wrestling, cheer, tae kwondo and other sports.

This sports facility houses 12 outdoor youth softball fields and the Okun Fieldhouse, a 56,500-square-foot indoor sports facility with four basketball and eight volleyball courts.

The Athletic Club

Johnson County Community College

This sports facility features 15 racquetball/handball courts, a full-size gymnasium for basketball and volleyball, squash courts, an outdoor sand volleyball court, an indoor track with a low-impact surface and a year-round swimming pool.

School facilities may be used for amateur athletic competitions, including softball/baseball, track & field, volleyball and basketball.

Blue Valley Recreation Complex The complex features 24 irrigated baseball/softball fields on four separate clovers. Multiple youth tournaments can easily function at the same time, while multi-purpose fields and machine-fed batting cages give teams ample space to 58

Sports Planning Guide

Deer Creek Golf Club The area’s premier tournament and special-event facility, designed by world renowned architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr., is an 18-hole, 72-par course covering 6, 811 yards. Stretching through densely wooded areas and bringing winding creeks into play, Deer Creek is recognized for its beauty and challenge. sportsplanningguide.com

‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS Sports teams and their families can venture over to the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens or Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead, a turn-of-the-20th century farm that has almost 200 animals and birds of prey. The New Theatre Restaurant puts on Broadway-style musicals and plays. In fall of 2013 Overland Park welcomes a brand new entertainment and dining district, Prairiefire. The Museum of Prairiefire (to open in spring of 2014) will offer rotating exhibitions from the American Museum of Natural History, a truly unique collaboration. The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art is the largest contemporary art museum in the four-state region. Overland Park offers 36 hotels.

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

FUTSAL TOURNAMENT INSIDE CONVENTION CENTER

Located in the center of the country with easy access to interstate highways I-70 and I-35, Overland Park is within a day’s drive for more than 60 million people. Driving times: Chicago, eight hours and 40 minutes; Omaha, three hours; Des Moines, three hours and 15 minutes; St. Louis, four hours.

X-FACTORS

Once teams decide to host their sports tournament in Overland Park, the Overland Park Sports Alliance will be there every step of the way, providing a variety of complimentary services. The Overland Park CVB offers a special sports tournament housing service, which includes a customized tournament registration website, rate negotiation for teams, rebate collection assistance and 24/7 customer service support. On top of all that, the alliance helps create promotional and informational material for tournament attendees; develops a personal microsite for tournaments and teams; provides publicity for sports events; sets up a welcome booth where ambassadors greet guests; and offers a mobile application with maps, visitor guides, weather, helpful links and a dedicated area for a team’s event. Overland Park has hosted hundreds of national and regional events for over 20 sports. The city recently has welcomed a wide range of athletic tournaments, including the 2013 US Youth Soccer National Championship, USSSA 16A/18A Girls Fast Pitch World Series, Midwest Golf Classic, KC Classic Hardwood Basketball Tournament and Korean American National Sports Festival. Other recent events: US Youth Soccer Region II Presidents Cup, Free State Classic Ultimate Tournament for frisbee, Ghost of Georgetown International Racquetball Tournament, US Youth Futsal National Championship and the USSSA Regional Basketball Series.

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OVERLAND PARK CVB

Justin Stine, Director of Sports Alliance 9001 W. 110th St., Suite 100, Overland Park, KS 66210 913-491-0123, ext. 324 • jstine@overlandparksportsalliance.com www.overlandparksportsalliance.com

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OVERLAND PARK SOCCER COMPLEX

THE FIELDHOUSE OF KANSAS CITY

USSSA FASTPITCH WORLD SERIES

Sports Planning Guide

TOPEKA KANSAS

isit Topeka and the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Council are a one-stop shop for bid proposals, site inspections, centralized housing and more. Uniting businesses, sport organizations, area venues and sports fanatics, Visit Topeka staff are experts at facilitating successful events. Whether you need a multi-sport state-ofthe-art facility like Hummer Sports Park, Bettis Family Sports Complex and Sunflower Soccer, or a versatile event venue like the Kansas Expocentre for thousands of fans, Topeka’s central location and exceptional service will bring you back.

HUMMER SPORTS PARK

Lake Shawnee and Bettis Family Sports Complex

TOP FACILITIES

Kansas Expocentre Five venues are routinely transformed from concrete shells into just about anything. The Expocentre hosts ice skating, hockey, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, rodeo and more. It is home to the Topeka RoadRunners NAHL hockey team and Kansas Koyotes APFL football team and was the host of the 2011 Robertson Cup National Championship Tournament.

The recently completed Bettis complex at Lake Shawnee features six synthetic turf fields and a multipurpose field, all lit for nighttime games. Rueger Park is a four-diamond softball complex with 300-foot fences, concession stands, restrooms and a second-floor USA WOMEN’S OLYMPIC SOFTBALL

Hummer Sports Park Celebrating its 10th birthday in 2013, field sports of all types are emphasized at this park. This state-of-the-art facility is home to a 6,000-seat AstroPlay turf football stadium and 2,000-seat AstroPlay soccer stadium, plus two baseball and two softball fields with covered dugouts, fenced bullpens and batting cages. Also an eight-lane track and 1,000-seat natatorium with a 50-meter Olympic-size pool, warm-up and warm-down pool, swimmer crash area and meeting space.

Sunflower Soccer Complex Boasting the “best grass in Northeast Kansas,” the Sunflower Soccer Complex hosts the Governor’s Cup Soccer Invitational on its 11 full-size fields each spring and fall. And the grass isn't the only thing growing: there are plans to upgrade the 108-acre facility to include 16 full-size soccer fields, spacious paved parking and a permanent multipurpose building.

Sports Planning Guide

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observation deck. Lake Shawnee offers space for rowing, sailing, biking, trail walking, tennis and disc golf. There’s also the 18-hole Lake Shawnee Golf Course.

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Firekeeper Golf Course at Prairie Band Casino and Resort Just north of Topeka, this course is the first signature course of PGA Tour winner Notah Begay III. Opened in 2011, Firekeeper was named No. 14 Best Casino Course, No. 9 Best New Courses in America, and No. 1 Best Place to Play in Kansas by Golfweek magazine. From the golf course to the casino, Prairie Band Resort is a fine addition to Topeka's facilities and attractions.

‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS As Kansas’ capital city, Topeka offers guests a mixture of interesting activities and lively events. Tour the Kansas State Capitol and experience civil rights history at the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site. Explore Old Prairie Town, an authentic pioneer village with a cabin, mansion, general store and working soda fountain. The Kansas Museum of History has displays on pioneer, African-American and Native American heritage. Gage Park offers a zoo, conservatory, gardens and recreational facilities like the Blaisdell Family Aquatic Center. Finding the right accommodations for your group in the Topeka area shouldn’t present too much of an issue; you can pick from every type of lodging, from luxe hotels to budget-priced chains. There are RV parks and campgrounds available as well.

HUMMER SPORTS PARK

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Kansas City is 60 miles from Topeka, Omaha 160 miles, Wichita 140 miles, Des Moines 250 miles, Oklahoma City 300 miles. Topeka is convenient to two expressways, I-70 and I-335. Kansas City International Airport, the area’s main air travel hub, is only an hour to the east and served by Air Canada, Delta, American, Frontier, SeaPort Airlines, AirTran, United, Southwest and US Airways. Another choice, Manhattan Regional Airport, offers American Eagle flights to and from Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth and Phoenix-Mesa. Amtrak also serves Topeka.

BETTIS FAMILY SPORTS COMPLEX

KANSAS EXPOCENTRE

X-FACTORS

Visit Topeka and the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Council are a one-stop shop for bid proposals, site inspections, centralized housing and more. Request the free Sports Facilities Guide.

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VISIT TOPEKA

Jennifer Muse, Sports Sales Manager 618 S Kansas Ave., Topeka, KS 66603 800-235-1030, 785-234-1030 • jennifer@visittopeka.com www.visittopeka.com

SUNFLOWER SOCCER COMPLEX

Sports Planning Guide

LINCOLN NEBRASKA

incoln, a city with a rich tradition of sports and excellence, offers versatile sporting venues and accommodations for events of all sizes and needs. Centrally located, Lincoln is a day’s drive from many cities around the country, making it easy and affordable for the entire family to attend the sporting event. With 62 hotels and distinct entertainment districts, Lincoln meets various price-points and has attractions to meet everyone’s enjoyment.

& TOP FACILITIES Pinnacle Bank Arena Opened in fall 2013, the brand new arena is the cornerstone of the city’s downtown entertainment center development. The venue encompasses 470,400 square feet and seats 16,000 spectators. It is home to the University of Nebraska men’s and women’s basketball teams, but is also available for other events like wrestling and volleyball.

Abbott Sports Complex One of the finest sports complexes in the state, the 100-acre facility offers 20 soccer fields with seating for 2,500 fans, 11 indoor volleyball courts, four basketball courts and one indoor turf field. There is a tennis center with six indoor courts and many outdoor courts. It recently introduced a new motocross course.

Devaney Center A sports complex on the University of Nebraska campus that includes a 7,907-seat multi-purpose arena, a 1,000-seat covered 25-yard swimming and diving facility, and a 5,000-seat covered track and field facility, which has a 200-meter hydraulic-banked track. This facility hosts gymnastics events, indoor track and field races, and swimming and diving competitions.

‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS During down time, there is a lot for athletes and spectators to do around Lincoln. There are plenty of amateur sports

Haymarket Park This baseball and softball complex is shared by the Lincoln Saltdogs of the Northern League and the University of Nebraska’s baseball team. There are 4,400 chairback seats and plenty of space on the greenery along the baselines and outfield fence.

Ice Box The Ice Box is a 5,010-seat multi-purpose arena that serves as the home of the Lincoln Stars Junior Hockey Team, which competes in the United States Hockey League. It is also available for other ice-skating events and tournaments. 62

Sports Planning Guide

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LINCOLN CVB

Derek Bombeck, Sales Development Manager P.O. Box 83737, Lincoln, NE 68501 402-436-2354 • dbombeck@lincoln.org www.lincoln.org

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Thanks to its central location in the heart of the country, Lincoln is easily accessible from most areas of the U.S. Lincoln’s airport, located 5-10 minutes from downtown, is served by United and Delta airlines. The Omaha Airport, about 40 miles away, is home to seven major airlines that provide nonstop flights to more than 22 cities. A shuttle service from Omaha’s airport to Lincoln’s hotels makes it super convenient for visitors. Lincoln is easy to navigate by car, and you can get almost anywhere you need to go in about 20 minutes or less.

hands-on approach to ensure that everything goes smoothly. The city recently hosted the NAIA Women’s Golf National Championships and NCAA Division III Men’s Golf National Championship. In addition, Lincoln has been working with a few adaptive sports groups and landed events like the National Amputee Golf Association’s National Championships. In 2015 Lincoln will welcome the 2015 State Games of America, a national event that is expected to draw 18,000 participants.

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that teams enjoy watching, such as the USHL hockey’s Lincoln Stars, who compete at the Ice Box; or Lincoln Saltdogs, the amateur baseball team. The Lincoln CVB will even work with the Saltdogs to arrange special viewing areas for attendees in town for sports events. Young visitors will really like Champion Fun Center. It features go karts, batting cages, a four-story free fall, mini golf, bowling, over 70 arcade games and food. Kids and teens can check out the Lincoln Children’s Museum, offering three floors of hands-on exhibits and programs that will keep them entertained for hours. Lincoln’s Children’s Zoo is also a great attraction for the whole family. Adult participants will appreciate Lincoln’s wide variety of vineyards and craft breweries, such as James Arthur Vineyards or ZipLine Brewing. They can also check out the entertainment district downtown, called the Haymarket, and the newest addition to the area, the Railyard, which features new bars and restaurants, retail shops and an open plaza where guests can mingle. Lincoln has over 60 hotels that help to accommodate the flood of Cornhusker fans who come in for football games, meaning there are enough rooms to house nearly any size event.

It takes drive. The kind of desire and dedication that keeps you moving.

No matter what.

X-FACTORS

The team at the Lincoln CVB makes it easy to plan a sports event in Lincoln. During the planning process, the team helps organizers locate facilities that fit their needs and will arrange site visits so planners know exactly what they are getting. The team will work with the facility to make sure all needs are met and help find lodging that is near the event space and within budget for tournament participants. Once teams arrive, the CVB takes a

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And we’re with you all the way. Plan your next sporting event in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Lincoln.org

Sports Planning Guide

IOWA

& TOP FACILITIES Prairie Ridge Youth Sports Complex A 20-minute drive north of downtown Des Moines, this complex is the area’s largest for baseball and tennis events. Prairie Ridge features 15 baseball fields complete with scoreboards, covered dugouts, permanent seating and an onsite meeting room.

Raccoon River Park For soccer tournaments, you won’t find many facilities better equipped than Raccoon River Park in nearby West Des Moines. The park sprawls over 631 acres and has a public beach, lakeside nature trail and several picnic shelters to go along with its 24 fullsize soccer fields and five lit softball fields.

CATCH MARATHON HEADERS

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Sports Planning Guide

Iowa Event Center This massive indoor facility is connected to the 16,980-seat Wells Fargo Arena and is a great place for larger scale basketball, volleyball and wrestling tournaments. The event center’s Hy-Vee Hall has four basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts and room for 40 wrestling mats in addition to the main arena.

‰ ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS Popular year-round attractions include the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park at the Des Moines Art Center, Blank Park Zoo, the State Historical Museum and the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. For accommodations, Des Moines offers everything from quaint bed and breakfasts to beautiful downtown hotels. Whatever your tournament-goers prefer, there are over 10,000 rooms in the area to choose from.

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Des Moines International Airport is just three miles from the city’s business district and serves over two million passengers annually. For drivers, I-35 and I-80 intersect right outside of Des Moines, making the trip right into the city uncomplicated. Des Moines is just over two hours from both Omaha and Kansas City, four hours from Minneapolis and about a five- to six-hour trip from St. Louis, Milwaukee and Chicago.

X-FACTORS

The Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau and the sports commission are committed to hosting great events at a great price, and offer a wide range of money-saving options for local attractions and hotels. The CVB will work with you to get sport-specific room rates, coupons for the metro area and even gifts for your tournament’s participants.

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DES MOINES AREA SPORTS COMMISSION

Scott Koch, CSEE, Director of Sports Sales 400 Locust St., Suite 265 Des Moines, IA 50309 800-451-2625 • scott@catchdesmoines.com www.catchdesmoines.com sportsplanningguide.com

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DES MOINES

atch Des Moines. Catch welcoming hospitality. The "suite" spot for sports planners. First-rate facilities. Catch a 31,000square-foot arena in the heart of the city. The famous blue oval. 90 soccer fields. Indoor and outdoor options. Greater Des Moines is sports country. Catch the Des Moines Area Sports Commission to ensure your event’s a home run. Catch housing assistance. Sport-specific room rates. Gifts for participants. We’re here to assist you plan the best sports event to date. And the most remembered.

ILLINOIS

& TOP FACILITIES Lippold Park

Lippold Park in Crystal Lake is a 310-acre, multi-purpose facility with 41⁄2 miles of limestone paved hiking trails; an 18hole disc golf course; eight irrigated baseball fields – two lighted; four irrigated synthetic infield softball/baseball fields – all lighted; 10 irrigated soccer fields; three irrigated football fields – all lighted; a certified 5K course; two sand volleyball courts. There are an additional four non-irrigated soccer fields and a skate park.

Park Districts McHenry County consists of various regions and cities, all of which operate their own park districts. These public parks range in size and amenities, and a majority of them are used for sports events throughout the year. So no matter where sports planners decide to go in McHenry County, the whole region has the potential to be a venue for sports competitions.

Visitors Bureau team can assist in selecting a venue for your tournament, provide volunteer and sponsorship support and local media promotion. Event rights holders are drawn not only by outstanding facilities but also the family-friendly environment, affordability and ease of doing business in McHenry County. McHenry County is home to the Tour de Crystal Lake—a cycling criterium associated with the Intelligentsia Cup Prairie State Cycling Series, recently was host to the first ever televised obstacle mission, Hard Charge and the Woodstock KTM Stadium Motocross Series.

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McHENRY COUNTY

ust 50 miles northwest of Chicago, McHenry County, Illinois offers a convenient location, top-rated facilities and easy accessibility from Chicago, Milwaukee and Rockford. The area has built a reputation for hosting first-class events in baseball, soccer, lacrosse, volleyball and cycling, among others. In addition, McHenry County is known for its abundance of outdoor recreation, family-friendly attractions and events with a cordial small-town welcome. One call to the McHenry County Convention and Visitors Bureau does it all!

MCHENRY COUNTY CVB

Laura Witlox Middaugh, Manager-Group Sales 600 Dakota St., Suite F, Crystal Lake, IL 60012 815-893-6280 • laura@mchenrycountycvb.com www.visitmchenrycounty.com

‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS McHenry County offers endless outdoor recreation, with miles of hiking and biking trails, numerous water activities on the Fox River and even a unique winter attraction—the Norge Ski Jump. Museums and landmark buildings include the Historic Woodstock Opera House, McHenry County Historical Society and Museum, Dole Mansion, Illinois Railway Museum, Volo Auto Museum and the Sanfilippo Place de la Musique.

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Located just northwest of Chicago, McHenry County is easily accessible from most of the Midwest. Its proximity to airports in Chicago and Milwaukee allows teams from across the country to visit, too. Most major sites and venues are within a few miles of each other.

X-FACTORS

The McHenry County Convention and sportsplanningguide.com

Sports Planning Guide

CHICAGO SOUTHLAND ILLINOIS

ith reasonable prices, convenient transportation options, exciting extracurricular activities and a wide variety of easily accessible venues for over 45 sports, the Chicago Southland provides unlimited potential for your next sporting event Just Beyond the City Limits. The Chicago Southland is an ideal sporting event and tournament location, conveniently accessible via Interstates 80, 94, 294, 355, 55 and 57, making getting to and from your event a breeze. This region is also just minutes from downtown Chicago and Midway and O’Hare International Airports.

TOYOTA PARK

& TOP FACILITIES Toyota Park Host of the Chicago Fire professional soccer team, Toyota Park in Bridgeview is a 469,000-square-foot venue with 20,000 seats and a regulation-size soccer field. There are also regulation-size natural grass and turf fields. Last year, the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau coordinated the United States Adult Soccer Association’s National Cups Tournament at Toyota Park and on its practice fields.

Midlothian Baseball Fields Newly installed, the five softball diamonds in Midlothian are lighted and offer skinned softball fields and up to 80-foot bases. The fields are unique because of their offset configuration. There are picnic tables, bleachers, ample parking and concessions.

Chicago Gaelic Park Set on 65 acres, Chicago Gaelic Park in Oak Forest offers six fields of play with a championship stadium that seats 2,000 and can host rugby, Gaelic sports, soccer, lacrosse and other events.

‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS Catch Windy City Thunderbolts minor league baseball at Standard Bank Stadium in Crestwood. The Chicago Southland is known as having the best golf in the region, offering 35 public golf courses, from beginner to championship. The region also features fun parks like Haunted Trails Family Entertainment Center in Burbank, Hollywood Park Family Entertainment Center in CHICAGOLAND LACROSSE GETAWAY FESTIVAL

Ho-Chunk Sports Complex The Ho-Chunk Sports Complex in Lynwood offers more than 100,000 square feet of indoor space, plus outdoor fields. The complex has three soccer fields, five new softball diamonds and over 1,200 parking spots.

Matteson Community Center The Matteson Community Center is a new 73,000square-foot facility with a variety of venues including six basketball courts, two baseball diamonds, two soccer fields and a football field with seating.

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GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Easily accessible, Chicago Southland has six interstates that crisscross the region—I-55, I-57, I-80, I-94, I-294 and I-355. The area encompasses Midway International Airport, and O’Hare International Airport is nearby. Commuter trains connect the suburbs with downtown Chicago.

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X-FACTORS

The Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau can bring the event together by locating hotels, providing a match marketing grant up to $7,500 for non-profit organizations, assisting with pre/post PR, creating welcome banners, providing signs and kits (visitors guides and local coupons), as well as creating a promotional video before or after the event. During the Nike Spring Showdown AAU/ NCAA Sanctioned Basketball Event, Chicago Southland worked with coordinators for marketing and finding hotels for 200-400 teams, and with park and school districts to provide basketball courts. Chicago Southland also coordinated news coverage and video production. The area has hosted many sports events including: IMG Academy 7v7 Midwest Regional Championship, Chicagoland Lacrosse Getaway Festival, United States Adult Soccer Association National Cups Finals, U.S. Open Pro Mini Golf Tournament, Southland Regatta & Cochrane and Jablonic Cups collegiate rowing events. Chicago Southland counts 250 soccer fields, 172 baseball/softball fields, 160 basketball courts, 65 holes of disc golf, eight ice hockey rinks and over 600 holes of golf.

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CHICAGO SOUTHLAND CVB

Joel Koester, Sales Executive 2304 173rd St., Lansing, IL 60438 888-895-8233 • joel@visitchicagosouthland.com playchicagosouthland.com

Sports Planning Guide

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Crestwood, Dave & Buster’s in Orland Park and Odyssey Fun World in Tinley Park. Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery is a kid-friendly brewpub that is housed in a 1906 Illinois Central rail station. Featuring original brickwork and archival photos, this restaurant is a place to enjoy heartland-style food and discover history. It was named the best small brewery in 2006. The Old Caboose Ice Cream Shoppe, housed on the back patio in a restored Illinois Central caboose, serves gelato from spring to fall. Attractions in Chicago, a short drive away, include boat cruises on Lake Michigan and the Chicago River, Shedd Aquarium, The Field Museum, Museum of Science and Industry, Adler Planetarium and Lincoln Park Zoo. The city’s most popular attraction, Navy Pier, features a Ferris wheel and other amusements, plus the Chicago Children’s Museum and a variety of shops and restaurants on a peninsula jutting into Lake Michigan. It’s no challenge to find somewhere to stay in Chicago Southland. There are over 6,000 hotel rooms in nearly 70 hotels, including major chains like Hilton and Holiday Inn.

MACOMB ILLINOIS

ocated in Western Illinois, not far from the state lines of Iowa and Missouri, Macomb is only about an hour from the Mississippi River. A lively college town, it is home to Western Illinois University and the satellite campus of Spoon River College. Besides WIU facilities, planners can look to the Macomb Park District for venues. The Macomb Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is eager to help coordinate your next event in Western Illinois. For sports, make it Macomb.

& TOP FACILITIES

MCDONOUGH COUNTY COURTHOUSE

Macomb Park District Combined, the 12 parks of Macomb offer playgrounds, mini-golf, disc golf, baseball, softball, hiking, tennis, volleyball, canoeing and much more. Ball Fore Family Entertainment Center has an 18-hole mini-golf course, a driving range, a sand volleyball court, an archery range, a playground, basketball facilities and concessions. Spring Lake Park and neighboring Lakeview Nature Area are ideal when it’s time to unwind. View unspoiled Illinois scenery at the nature area, or camp, fish or golf at the park.

Horn Field Campus Run by Western Illinois University’s Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration, this rustic retreat covers 92 acres of woodlands and prairie. It’s set on a former summer home property and contains a brick lodge and three cabins. Strolling the trails is encouraged, but more vigorous pastimes are permitted as well. Horn Field Campus has hosted several events, most notably a Challenge Course that tests the climbing and endurance skills of its participants. The facilities include a teams course, high-low ropes course, a climbing tower, and – seasonally – a corn maze.

Aquatics Center at Western Illinois University A 25-yard pool is the centerpiece of the Aquatics Center. Additional amenities include a sauna, a hot tub and locker rooms.

Sports Planning Guide

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Set along the banks of the Lamoine River, this Western Illinois University golf course is divided into two 9-hole courses, the Oscar Champ Nine and Eric Gleacher Nine. There’s also additional space set aside for practice.

Argyle State Park With a 93-acre lake and five miles of foot trails, this park will keep the those who love the outdoors happy. Hike, fish, boat, or bring a horse and explore the horse trails.

‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS If you’re looking for big-name attractions, theme parks or megawatt resorts, Macomb isn’t your style. But if you’re looking for a small-town feel and access to the great outdoors, then Macomb will fit the bill. Popular activities include disc golf (two courses, one on campus at Western Illinois University), camping, hiking, fishing, boating and canoeing. Spring Lake Park has more than five miles of bike trails. And then there’s golf – no fewer than three golf courses are available in Macomb. Check out the Western Illinois University’s Art Gallery, West Central Illinois Arts Center and the Historic Barn Tour, which features more than 20 barns of different styles. But for sheer impact, it’s hard to beat Macomb Balloon Rally, a September spectacle since 1987. Simply seeing the 30 majestic multi-hued balloon float up into the sky is an event

in its own. Staying in Macomb gets you a choice of budget and mid-range national chain hotels.

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Macomb, located between I-74 and I-72, is approximately 1½ hours from Davenport, three hours from St. Louis, 3½ hours from Des Moines, four hours from Chicago and five hours from Indianapolis. Macomb is equidistant from Quad City International Airport in Moline (75 miles) and Peoria International Airport (72 miles). Both airports are served by Delta, Allegiant, American Eagle and United. Flight destinations include Las Vegas, Dallas, Phoenix, Tampa, Chicago, Atlanta, Detroit and Minneapolis. Both airports have car rental facilities either onsite or nearby.

X-FACTORS

Contact the Macomb Area CVB directly for more information on group travel assistance. It can provide event registration and coordination assistance, plus visitor guides and maps.

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MACOMB AREA CVB

Jan Armstrong 201 S. Lafayette, Macomb, IL 61455 309-833-1315 • macvb@macomb.com www.makeitmacomb.com

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Harry Mussatto Golf Course

Tamara Parker, Executive Director Macomb Area Convention and Visitors Bureau www.makeitmacomb.com sportsplanningguide.com

Sports Planning Guide

PEORIA ILLINOIS

elcome to the Peoria Area...where there are so many ways to play... where an easily accessible, metropolitan lifestyle meets stunning natural beauty. Discover the heart of the city and its endless stretches of wooded riverbanks while exploring unique options for shopping, dining and adventure. Peoria is home to numerous national sporting events year-round with a wide array of premier sporting venues. Stay an extra day or two because you don’t want to miss the newly opened Peoria Riverfront Museum and Caterpillar Visitors Center!

EASTSIDE CENTRE

& TOP FACILITIES Peoria Civic Center The central hub of Peoria-area sports, the Peoria Civic Center is home to both NCAA Division I basketball and professional hockey. Bradley University’s Braves men’s basketball team calls the Peoria Civic Center home. The Southern Hockey League’s Peoria Rivermen professional team skates on the ice below the basketball court. The arena, named Carver Arena, seats 12,000 for basketball games and 9,000 when the ice is open. The concourse includes four locker rooms and four dressing rooms, so teams can shuffle in and out during a tournament. The arena comes with full concession and plenty of meeting space is available. The Civic Center is located downtown just a block or two away from major Peoria hotels.

and local levels in softball, baseball, volleyball, soccer and track. EastSide has five baseball fields, five softballs fields, a football stadium, track and field area, multiple soccer fields, and an indoor facility for volleyball. EastSide is also the home field for East Peoria youth baseball, softball and soccer; East Peoria Community High School baseball, softball, soccer, football and track; NSA tournaments and the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) softball championships.

Peoria Riverplex Located in downtown on the Illinois River, the Riverplex is the premier recreation center for Peoria residents. The 118,000-square-foot facility boasts an indoor and outdoor water playground, indoor and outdoor pool, aerobic/dance studios, a one-eighth-mile running/walking track and locker rooms, outdoor sand volleyball courts, three indoor basketball and volleyball courts, and seating for up to 300 people.

Detweiller Park A few miles from downtown Peoria, you’ll find the gem of the Peoria Park District. Detweiller Park is a 760-acre forest reservation that has played host to hundreds of cross country meets. Every fall, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) convenes in Detweiller as the host site of the state cross country meet. More than a thousand runners come for the state competition each year. There is a three-mile trail mapped out for the race each year through the beautiful fall foliage.

EastSide Centre Just across the Illinois River you will find the EastSide Centre, one of the premier indoor-outdoor athletic facilities in the Midwest, hosting tournaments on the national, regional 70

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CougarPlex Illinois Central College’s 10,000-square-foot basketball complex also features an 8,700-square-foot fitness center, two team meeting/workout rooms, a collegiate regulation volleyball and basketball court, and an 18-hole disc golf course.

Avanti’s Dome The climate-controlled “Dome” has been host to baseball, softball, soccer, football and lacrosse tournaments. It sits on a 33-acre complex that includes four fields. The 76,000square-foot dome has hosted ASA and NSA fastpitch tournaments, youth soccer leagues and is the indoor practice facility for the Bradley Braves baseball team. The Dome can accommodate up to 2,000 people. sportsplanningguide.com

The riverfront has gotten a complete makeover in the past five years. The new Riverfront Museum, a fully interactive museum about Central Illinois life, is next door to the Caterpillar Visitor Center, which offers a unique look into the famous yellow-and-black company. After a long day of play at the Peoria Civic Center, shower and head right back to catch a Bradley basketball or Peoria Rivermen game. The Civic Center has featured Broadway shows like Wicked, The Book of Mormon and Jersey Boys as well. In the heart of downtown, the newly renovated Peoria Marriott Pere Marquette has more than 18,000 square feet of meeting space and can accommodate groups up to 850 people. Five minutes down I-74, you can find almost a dozen hotels near Northwoods Mall or Shoppes at Grand Prairie, on War Memorial Drive, a main artery.

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Peoria is 2½ hours from both Chicago and St. Louis, 30 minutes from I-55 off I-74. The Peoria International Airport is just 15 minutes from downtown. Peoria’s CityLink provides bus service through residential and

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downtown Peoria. Peoria Charter offers a shuttle service from the airport as well as charter service to most major Illinois cities.

X-FACTORS

The Peoria CVB and Sports Commission have worked together to build a one-of-a-kind social media program, promoting local tournaments weeks in advance, getting the attention of the local news outlets as well as the community. They work with entities like the IHSA and other sports organizations to make sure the most eyes find tournament promotions on Facebook and Twitter. Each year the Peoria area hosts four of the state’s major high school tournaments, as well as nearly a dozen state football games. Boys and girls cross country teams from all over Illinois travel to Peoria for the state meets in the fall. In March, high school basketball teams travel to downtown Peoria’s Civic Center for the boys’ championship tournament.

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PEORIA AREA CVB

Kailey Love, Sports Sales Manager 456 Fulton St., Suite 300, Peoria, IL 61602 309-282-3284 • klove@peoria.org www.peoria.org

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ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS

ROCKFORD ILLINOIS

eferred to as “The Forest City,” Rockford is a large city situated on both banks of the Rock River in Northern Illinois. It’s the third most populous city in Illinois, making it an ideal location to host your sports events. Rockford boasts several state-of-the-art sporting venues, suitable for whatever type of sporting event you have in mind.

PRAIRIE STREET BREWHOUSE

& TOP FACILITIES

store, restaurant, sports bar and accommodations to host a variety of events. ISC is completely wheelchair-accessible and hosts various adaptive wheelchair sports.

Sportscore One If soccer is your game, you can’t go wrong with the Sportscore One, a 179-acre facility that has eight premier soccer fields, as well as nine regulation soccer fields. However, it’s not just for soccer. It also includes eight lighted softball diamonds complete with concession stands, restrooms, locker facilities and boat ramps. The two playgrounds can almost guarantee that young children will never be bored spending a day (or even a weekend) at Sportscore One. Other recreational activities that have taken place at Sportscore One include softball, ultimate Frisbee, boating, fishing, running and biking.

Sportscore Two Located on 124 acres in nearby Loves Park, Sportscore Two has 19 regulation soccer fields, four sand volleyball courts and 14 outdoor practice fields. Sportscore Two hosts soccer, volleyball, pickleball, Frisbee, football, basketball and even adapted/wheelchair sports. Also part of Sportscore Two is Wedgbury Stadium, which hosts National Rubgy Finals, high school and professional soccer games, professional football games and more. The venue includes a playground, restaurant (offering both indoor and outdoor dining) and ample parking.

Downtown Sports Complex Scheduled to open in summer of 2015, this 85,000square-foot indoor amateur sports complex will be used for a variety of tournaments. Located in downtown Rockford by the Rock River, this facility is expected to be one of the largest indoor sports complexes in the Midwest. The complex will have eight basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts, and will be able to accommodate other sports such as wrestling, dance and cheer.

Rockford Public Schools Field Houses Construction is beginning soon on a 100,000-square-foot field house at Rockford Auburn High School. The field house will include physical education stations, four volleyball/ basketball courts and a 200-meter track with additional space included for other athletic and academic activities. The

Wedgbury Indoor Sports Center Considered part of Sportscore Two, the Wedgbury Indoor Sports Center (ISC) includes a 60,000-square-foot indoor sports center with three indoor multi-sport soccer fields, five volleyball/basketball courts, a sports equipment 72

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Searls Park If BMX racing is your cup of tea, you’ve definitely come to the right place at the BMX Race Course at Searls Park, which just happened to be ranked the nation’s #8 BMX track by Transworld BMX magazine. The course offers practice schedules, a racing clinic and is the site of the Midwest Nationals.

‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS If the sporting addicts want to watch non-stop sports, the rest of the family can go off and do their own thing… and Rockford has many things to offer, including amusement parks, mini golf, botanical gardens and museums like Midway Village Museum, the Burpee Museum of Natural History and the hands-on Discovery Center Museum. For shopping, you have craft shops, antique shops and large malls such as the CherryVale Mall or Forest Plaza. With more than 40 lodging establishments, finding a place to stay in the Rockford region will be a breeze. Whether you want a campsite, a bed & breakfast or the luxury of a four-star hotel, you’ll find it all in Rockford. With so many hotel rooms available, you’ll be sure to find one with a price that suits your family or group. Many of the hotels offer gym equipment and indoor swimming pools.

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GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Located 60 miles west of O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, 60 miles south of Madison and 80 miles southwest of Milwaukee, Rockford is easy to reach, regardless of the direction you’re coming from. Driving here will most likely have you coming in on either I-90 or I-39. If you’re flying, you can arrive at O’Hare, or choose convenient Chicago Rockford International Airport.

X-FACTORS

The Rockford region has a top-notch customer service group to help plan your tournament and sporting events. Regardless of what you’re planning, a servicing manager and her associates can ensure you have a smooth and carefree event, complete with information and assistance in every area. Be it restaurants, hotels, shopping, transportation, sightseeing or activities for children, you mention it and the Rockford CVB will provide you with as much assistance as you may need.

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ROCKFORD CVB

Lindsay Arellano, Director of Sales & Service 102 N. Main St., Rockford, IL 61101 800-971-1653, 815-963-8111 • larellano@gorockford.com www.gorockford.com

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facility will be used to host premier meets. Field houses will also be built at East High School and Guilford High School.

HOLLAND MICHIGAN

ocated in Southwest Michigan, just three hours from Chicago and Detroit, Holland is a favorite vacation destination. Famous for its warm sandy beaches, historic downtown and unique Dutch attractions, Holland plays host to sporting events from regional baseball, hockey, basketball, tennis, swimming and volleyball tournaments to NCAA swimming and basketball finals. Tell us your game, and the visitors bureau will help you plan a great event that everyone will want to attend!

DOWNTOWN HOLLAND

& TOP FACILITIES

youth soccer field, as well as open play fields for practice and training.

Hope College’s DeVos Fieldhouse DeVos Fieldhouse at Hope College is home to men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball. It serves the community for local events, as well as state and national tournaments. It is designed to seat approximately 3,400 fans. Hope College has several other sports facilities that host Holland sports tournaments, such as Ekdal J. Buys Athletics Complex, DeWitt Tennis Center, Boeve Baseball Stadium and Wolters Softball Stadium.

Holland Charter Township Holland Charter Township is just outside the city of Holland and has several parks, each equipped with sports fields. Quincy Park has four Little League fields,

Holland Aquatic Center The 50-meter pool includes a moveable bulkhead that can be changed to create different configurations depending on the needs of each event. The Olympic-size pool has been used for regional, state and national swimming competitions, but can also be used for fitness classes and recreational activities.

Matt Urban Sports Complex The 23-acre park has four lighted softball fields, a soccer field, two basketball courts, and two sand volleyball courts. It also features three playgrounds, picnic shelters and concession stands. It is one of the most popular spots for baseball and softball tournaments, as well as soccer and flag football matches and sand volleyball competitions.

Maplewood Youth Complex Maplewood mostly caters to youth sports. It has a Little League baseball field, youth softball fields and a 74

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HOLLAND AQUATIC CENTER

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two soccer fields and two softball fields. Helder Park has two softball fields and five soccer fields.

‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS In the summer, the beaches along Lake Michigan offer a relaxing escape where families can sit back and enjoy a lazy afternoon by the water. The lake offers plenty of recreational activities, such as kayaking, boating, swimming and fishing. Visitors interested in culture and history can check out historic downtown Holland, which is extremely popular with over 120 little shops and galleries and restaurants. A key attraction is Windmill Island Gardens, an oasis at the edge of the city with a 250-year-old working Dutch windmill called “De Zwaan.” The area boasts thousands of tulips that bloom in the spring, an antique Dutch carousel and a miniature Little Netherlands Village. The town has more than 1,500 hotel rooms.

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

DEVOS FIELDHOUSE

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Holland is centrally located and easy to get to from much of the country. It is 140 miles from Chicago and 170 from Detroit. Gerald Ford International Airport is about 40 minutes away in Grand Rapids and is served by major airlines. Once in town, the best way to get to each event is by car or rented van. Luckily, Holland is small and easy to navigate.

X-FACTORS

HOLLAND CHANNEL

When sports planners are putting together an event in Holland, the visitors bureau makes it a priority to help in any way it can. The staff will help find the perfect venue for the event, as well as lodging and the best hotel rates. They will put together information for the tournament web page or for each of its participants, which will include rates and places to stay in town. Once teams arrive, the bureau will greet them with welcome bags complete with maps, information on local businesses and coupon booklets. For really big events, local businesses will put signs welcoming the tournament or organization, helping to promote the event and make teams feel appreciated. In addition to services provided by the visitors bureau, sports organizers and teams will find support from the community. Many people will come out and volunteer to help with all kinds of events. As a sports destination, Holland has a lot going for it. The area has hosted the Michigan High School State swim meets and Division 3 NCAA swim finals at its Aquatic Center, Division 3 NCAA women’s final four basketball, NCAA women’s volleyball and the Tulip Tip Off basketball event that brings in nearly 40 teams.

Wendy Link 78 E. 8th St., Holland, MI 49423 800-506-1299 • wendy@holland.org www.holland.org

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HOLLAND AREA VISITORS BUREAU

QUINCY PARK

HOPE COLLEGE, SPORTS FIELD

Sports Planning Guide

AKRON OHIO

trategically located in the heart of northeast Ohio, the contiguous communities of Akron, Canton, Kent and Medina offer planners accessibility, affordability and flexibility, making the four-county region the perfect destination for your next sporting event. Our area plays host to a myriad of teams and individual athletes striving for peak performance. The diversity of our venues will offer the options you need to maximize attendance.

& TOP FACILITIES Canal Park This beautiful downtown ballpark is home of the Cleveland Indians’ AA affiliate the Akron Aeros. Designed by the same architecture firm that did Cleveland’s Progressive Field and Camden Yards in Baltimore, the park’s classic setup features some of the best views of Akron’s skyline. The field has fine Kentucky bluegrass and the type of drainage system you would expect at a professional venue. With seating for over 9,000, Canal Park makes a great championship venue for high school baseball tournaments in the Akron area.

James A. Rhodes Arena Known by students as the JAR, James A. Rhodes Arena is home to the University of Akron’s men’s and women’s basketball teams and its women’s volleyball squad. The 125,538-square-foot building seats 5,000 and can be arranged to accommodate basketball, volleyball, cheerleading and wrestling competitions. The arena’s ground level features locker rooms and meeting rooms, while the second floor has a 2,600-square-foot lounge and several multi-purpose rooms that can be used for archery, badminton or dancing.

Akron Sports Center This 40,000-square-foot facility has 28-foot ceilings and is great for indoor basketball, volleyball and soccer tournaments. Four regulation basketball courts, eight volleyball courts and four indoor soccer courts all play on a state-of-the-art sport court flooring system. To really get creative when it’s cold outside, try hosting an indoor 76

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lacrosse event, which the facility can accommodate by taking out its volleyball nets and basketball hoops. The venue has also hosted karate and roller derby events.

Ocasek Natatorium Home to the University of Akron’s swimming and diving programs, the Ocasek Natatorium is just seven years old and cost $6.5 million to build. The 64,000-square-foot facility’s Olympic-size pool has eight lanes and seating for 1,000. Events can choose whether they want to use three- or five-meter starting platforms, or one- or threemeter springboards. Diving events take place in the same 835,000-gallon pool, and the venue has the added plus of nine handball and racquetball courts in addition to two weight rooms.

Tallmadge Recreation Center and North Avenue Soccer Complex The recreation center is a 100,000-square-foot facility with four full-size basketball courts and an indoor soccer court. The venue is flexible and can be made to fit your event—from badminton to kickboxing. Five minutes down the road the soccer complex has three full-size fields, three junior fields, restrooms, a concession building and parking for 180 cars. These facilities are located just 15 minutes from downtown Akron in the town of Tallmadge.

Canton Memorial Civic Center This 24,000-square-foot facility with seating for 4,200 spectators can accommodate basketball, indoor football and wrestling. sportsplanningguide.com

This facility, with two full-size softball fields, is home to the Akron Racers, 2005 national champions.

Kent State University Venues include Dix Stadium, Schooner Stadium, Convocation Center and soccer/football fields.

‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS Top attractions include the Akron Zoo and Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, the historic estate of the Goodyear Rubber co-founder. At the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, a 30-minute drive away, guests can follow the game of football through the years and see the greats of the game enshrined in the hall. Cleveland, just 45 minutes north, is home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and pro teams like the Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Browns. Proclaimed by many as the best amusement park in the world, Cedar Point is about an hour and a half from Akron and can serve as a great trip on days off in longer tournaments. With over 60 motels, chain hotels and suite options in Akron, there are more than enough rooms to go around.

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

The communities of Akron, Canton, Kent and Medina

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are located within less than a one-hour radius of each other. The Akron-Canton Airport is 20 minutes south of downtown, and for teams coming from farther away the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is just 45 minutes north of Akron. Drivers from Pittsburgh and Columbus can expect the trip to take about two hours, while Detroit is three hours away and Cincinnati and Buffalo are both about a 3½-hour trip.

X-FACTORS

Whether it’s acquiring coupons, blocking off hotel rooms or trying to coordinate your event between multiple venues in the four-county region, the Akron-Summit CVB is known for its ability to customize event packages. Complimentary services include solicitation and compilation of venue rates/ availability, accommodation request for proposal, ancillary vendor/service information, area maps and guides, and marketing and promotional assistance. Signature area spectator sporting events include All American Soap Box Derby, Pro Football Hall of Fame Weekend & Inductions, Road Runner Akron Marathon and World Championships Bridgestone Invitational.

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AKRON/SUMMIT CVB

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Firestone Stadium

Mary Tricaso, Director of Sales 77 E. Mill St., Akron, OH 44308 800-245-4254 • mtricaso@visitakron-summit.org www.visitakron-summit.org • www.sportsohio.travel

Sports Planning Guide

CLINTON OHIO

he Clinton County Convention & Visitors Bureau stands ready to assist sports event planners with their plans from beginning to end, representing a destination located in the middle of Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus, Ohio. This central location helps to fill your rosters. We provide facility site visits, routing directions and maps, assistance with securing room blocks at special rates, provide welcome packets for attendees and more.

& TOP FACILITIES Wilmington College The campus features four regulation soccer fields, a 3,500-seat football stadium, and an arboretum used for cross country. Hermann Court, the college’s athletics complex, includes the 3,500-seat Fred Raizk Arena for volleyball, wrestling and men’s and women’s basketball. There are also six lighted tennis courts with 200 seats; the all-weather, eight-lane Beckett Track; the Tewksbury-Delany Field used for baseball and softball matches; and an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

Roberts Arena Two outdoor and two indoor arenas host a variety of elite horse shows. The arena has 514 stalls, 91 camper spaces, a party hall and a restaurant.

Wilmington City Parks The park system in Clinton County is also another great resource for sports facilities. The parks feature seven baseball/ softball fields that can accommodate 200 fans each; four lighted tennis courts; eight regulation horseshoe lighted pits; and three grass soccer fields.

‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS King’s Island Amusement Park, one of the largest theme and water park in the Midwest, is a short drive away and offers athletes and their families a thrilling escape from the tournament. Teams can drive a mere 15 minutes to shop at Tanger Outlet Mall at Jeffersonville, which features 140 stores; or stay more local and check out the Caesar Creek Markets or the Shoppes at the Old Mill.

There are advantages to being a big fish in a little pond.

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Clinton County is within an hour or two major international airports, within 30 minutes of another large airport, and seven miles from a major interstate, meaning it is pretty accessible from most areas of the country either by plane or car.

Let us show you how you should be treated. Call today. Clinton County Convention & Visitors Bureau 877-4-A-VISIT www.clintoncountyohio.com 78

Sports Planning Guide

In Clinton County, sports planners and teams will find not only some of the best facilities, but also some of the best people. Clinton’s team at the convention and visitors bureau is ready and willing to offer help at every turn. The dedicated staff acts as the conduit between facilities and organizers, helping to link planners up with the people and places that will make their event a success. They organize site visits and offer welcome packets for tournament participants and their guests.

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CLINTON COUNTY CVB

Debbie Stamper 13 N. South St., Wilmington, OH 45177 937-382-1965 • dstamper@clintoncountyohio.com www.clintoncountyohio.com

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Smaller cities really appreciate a sporting event coming to their community. You can expect to receive top-notch personal service and affordable destinations. Wilmington, Ohio, is such a place. Located in the middle of Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton, we’ve hosted events to include tennis, softball, baseball, gymnastics, equine, soccer, football and wrestling.

X-FACTORS

SOUTH REGION

hether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for a place to hold a rowing competition, an equestrian event or a softball tournament, sports-minded cities across the South are eager to host your group. Thanks to superior facilities and a wide range of accommodations and attractions, planners can take heart in knowing the folks at each destination in this regional section are old hands at coordinating events of all sizes. They make it look easy.

COUNTY SPORTS COMMISSION

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Sports Planning Guide

PALM BEACH FLORIDA

alm Beach County is a sports paradise with incomparable world-class playing and training facilities. With an extraordinary yearround climate, the county offers 47 miles of breathtaking beaches, over 160 golf courses, a 30,000-seat stadium with world-class amenities, Major League Baseball spring training complex with 7,000-seat stadium, 1,200 tennis courts and an 8,000-seat tennis stadium and over 45 parks with vast multi-purpose playing fields, plus 346 acres of polo and equestrian facilities. “Just Bring Your Game” to Palm Beach County.

& TOP FACILITIES The Beach The 47 miles of coastline in Palm Beach County offers tournament-ready sand volleyball courts and beach tennis courts. The beach has also hosted USA National Wrestling tournaments, the Jupiter Fall Surfing Classic and the Offshore Powerboat Association World Championships.

Roger Dean Stadium Spring training home to the Miami Marlins and the St. Louis Cardinals, this complex is the only baseball facility outside of Arizona that consists of one primary baseball diamond and 12 supplementary practice fields, with professional dimensions. The stadium features luxury sky-box seating, permanent seating, parking and concessions, making the complex a one-stop baseball or softball tournament destination.

class field space that can host up to 50 soccer- or field hockey-sized fields in one location outside of polo season. The Club will host for the second consecutive year the National Field Hockey Festival.

Florida Atlantic University Stadium FAU stadium is a 30,000-seat, multi-purpose stadium equipped with a press level and two suite levels consisting of 24 suites. The stadium is furnished with four complete locker rooms for teams. The facility was the recent host to the Olympic Gold Medal-winning women’s soccer team as well as the 2012 Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game.

Delray Beach Tennis Center This grand tennis facility consists of 14 clay courts, 7 hard courts and an 8,000-seat stadium. It hosts the ATP Tour International Tennis Championships each February.

International Polo Club This world-class facility is the must-see polo facility in the USA. The club hosts all of the top polo players in the world during the January-April season on its pristine surfaces in events, culminating in the US Open each April. With eight polo fields operational, the club offers 60 acres of world80

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Palm Beach County Convention Center This 350,000-square-foot center boasts a huge Exhibition Hall, perfect for floor sports like cheer, gymnastics, wrestling and fencing. The upper level offers a ballroom, great for an after-tournament banquet. The state-of-the-art center is located right in the heart of downtown West Palm Beach and has plenty of parking adjacent to the complex.

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Okeeheelee Park Boasting the premier site in the United States for water skiing on purpose-built lakes, Okeeheelee Park has hosted the sport’s world championships, and regularly hosts the USA Water Ski National Championships. The park also consists of a nationally-classified BMX track, which has hosted an Olympic-qualifying series, and numerous baseball, softball, soccer, golf and tennis facilities.

‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS

USA BASEBALL NATIONAL TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

Between games, there is plenty to keep your group busy. Of course, you can always take them to the beach for a day of fun in the sun. There also are several golf courses and great museums. Lion Country Safari African Adventure offers a real live safari experience without needing a passport. You can also encounter exotic animals at the Palm Beach Zoo or South Florida Science Center and Aquarium. For another wildlife adventure, consider a trip to the Everglades. With over 16,000 hotel rooms in the county, there is no shortage of accommodation space for any size tournament.

ROGER DEAN STADIUM COMPLEX

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Located 70 miles north of Miami and 152 miles south of Orlando on the Atlantic coastline, Palm Beach County affords visitors the transportation convenience of an international airport, an Amtrak station, Interstate 95 and the Florida Turnpike for travel efficiency.

X-FACTORS

Palm Beach County Sports Commission’s website has been recognized as one of the best in the industry, and in 2009 the National Association of Sports Commissions named it No. 1. On the website you can find their Facebook page and locate accommodations and facilities. Sports planners can book everything they need right on the home page of the website. The average annual temperature is 78 degrees, making Palm Beach a premier location for winter tournaments.

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PALM BEACH COUNTY SPORTS COMMISSION

Kayla French, Director of Marketing and Business Development 1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., Suite 930, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 561-233-3122 • kfrench@palmbeachsports.com www.palmbeachsports.com

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PGA NATIONAL RESORT AND SPA − CHAMPIONS COURSE

OKEEHEELEE BMX TRACK

Sports Planning Guide

SARASOTA FLORIDA

arasota County, located on Florida’s Gulf Coast between Tampa and Fort Myers, is the perfect place to play. No matter what your sport, you will find great year-round weather and some of the region’s best sporting venues. With more than 15,000 rooms, including everything from campgrounds to luxury resort hotels, there is always a place to stay. Participants will have plenty to see and do with our awardwinning beaches, dining, arts and attractions.

COUNTY SPORTS COMMISSION

& TOP FACILITIES Nathan Benderson Park The park is home to an internationally acclaimed, 2,000meter sprint course, plus all the facilities your group needs to row, canoe, kayak, paddleboard, wakeboard, and dragon boat. This premier aquatic center can also be used for triathlons, adaptive sports and 5-10k runs.

YMCA Selby Aquatic Center It’s the place to go for diving, swimming, synchronized swimming and water polo. This outdoor facility’s highlights include a 50-meter pool, a scorer’s observation deck, an electronic scoreboard, covered bleachers, two moveable bulkheads and two diving boards.

a pavilion, five tennis courts and 10 full-sized beach volleyball courts – plus space for up to 30 more. Its sandy shores are a great place to host beach volleyball or beach soccer, and the ocean’s waves are there for canoeing, paddleboarding, fishing, windsurfing and adventure racing.

The Resort at Longboat Key Club Tennis Gardens Where else can you get 20 USTA tennis courts in a facility that overlooks the bay and seats 2,500? This complex also offers a clubhouse, an on-site restaurant and locker rooms.

Youth Athletic Complex Need a place where you can host a multi-sport event? The Youth Athletic Complex is set up to cater to BMX biking, baseball, youth and flag football, lacrosse and tennis.

Ed Smith Stadium Also known as the “home away from home” of the Baltimore Orioles, this stadium offers five major league training fields, one practice field, a covered batting tunnel, a clubhouse and seating for 8,000 spectators.

Fox Lea Farms Room for seven outdoor rings and one indoor ring – plus 250 permanent stalls – makes this Sarasota’s finest equestrian event center.

Sarasota Polo Grounds It’s the perfect place to host polo, and so much more. At 130 acres, there’s room for soccer, rugby, flag football, lacrosse, field hockey and ultimate competitions. Other amenities include a clubhouse, a covered open-air pavilion and a playground for younger guests.

Siesta Key Beach More than just a pretty beach, it’s got enough acreage for 82

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This facility features 10 softball fields, an archery range and four soccer/multipurpose fields. Use it to host an event dedicated to archery, softball, lacrosse, soccer or any combination thereof.

‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS Besides the beaches in Sarasota and its offshore islands, visitor attractions include Mote Aquarium, GWIZ—The Science Museum, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota Jungle Gardens, and John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art on the estate of the famed owner of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Staying in the area gives your group a wide choice of lodging options. Whether you need a parcel of suites in a beachfront hotel, a cozy vacation rental or a luxury-filled weekend at a resort, you’ll find them here. There is also a good mix of familiar mid- and budget-priced chain hotels and upscale boutique lodgings.

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Getting to Sarasota isn’t a problem, whether you are coming by car or by plane. If your group is driving down,

Sarasota is right off I-75, 60 miles south of Tampa and 75 miles north of Fort Myers. Sarasota shares an airport with nearby Bradenton, aptly named the SarasotaBradenton International Airport. At the time of this writing, Delta, AirTran, JetBlue and US Airways operated flights out of this airport. Nearby air travel options include Tampa International Airport (about 50 miles north) and Orlando International Airport (about 130 miles to the northeast).

X-FACTORS

Contact the Sarasota County Sports Commission to receive information about assistance with planning and marketing your event. Major events hosted by Sarasota include the 2013 F18 International Sailing Regatta, 2013 USRowing Masters National Championships, 2013 Pan-American Masters Swimming Championship, 2012-2013 Rev3Triathlon Florida and 2000-2012 USA Ultimate Club Championships. Sarasota’s Nathan Benderson Park is a candidate for the 2017 World Rowing Championships.

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SARASOTA COUNTY SPORTS COMMISSION

Nicole Rissler, Director of Sports 1777 Main St., Suite 302, Sarasota, FL 34236 941-955-0991, ext. 105 • nrissler@visitsarasota.org visitsarasota.org/playsports

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Miss Sarasota Softball/17th Street Park

NO MATTER WHAT YOUR SPORT … PLAY HERE! Sarasota County is a destination filled with color, and our sports are no exception. Partake in soccer, lacrosse, rugby or polo on our vibrant green grasses. Surround yourself with vivid orange during Baltimore Orioles spring training or book your own ballgame in our major league facilities. Enjoy the brilliant blue waters of our championship swimming venues and new 2,000-meter, world-class rowing facility. Bask in the glow of our competitive white sand beach volleyball courts — or try your hand at fishing, tennis or golf. Our excellent weather keeps you playing all year long. Whatever the sport, you’re bound to find the perfect venue in Sarasota County. History of Success: s

2013 F18 International Sailing Regatta

2013 USRowing Masters National Championships

2013 Pan-American Masters Swimming Championship

2012 – 2013 Rev3 Triathlon Florida

2000 – 2012 USA Ultimate Club Championships

VisitSarasota.org/playsports or call 1.800.276.1170

COUNTY SPORTS COMMISSION

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Sports Planning Guide

OCALA /MARION COUNTY FLORIDA

reat sporting events require great venues. Only Ocala/Marion County offers award-winning facilities for golf tournaments and other team sports in the international epicenter of equestrian competition. We’ve hosted a variety of prestigious competitions from the National Golf Association’s Professional Tour and NCAA events to the Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail and Hero Rush. When the games are done, the fun has just begun and you can enjoy hiking, biking, kayaking, swimming, zip-lining and more.

& TOP FACILITIES

Association Professional Tour. American Junior Golf Association, Florida State Golf Association and Florida High School Athletic Association State Finals.

Florida Horse Park The 500-acre facility is a celebrated venue for equestrian events, including international-level equine competitions as well as adventure racing. It hosts competitions in virtually every equine discipline, from dressage to polo to versatility challenges and is an official training site for the U.S. Olympic equestrian team.

Ocala Equestrian Complex This premier complex features include three outdoor arenas, including a 250’ x 140’ covered main arena, 225’ x 90’ covered warm-up arena, electronic scoreboard and 400 stalls for short- or long-term stabling.

Ocala Rotary Sportplex The 80-acre facility includes 11 lit baseball fields, two lit and three unlit soccer fields, one multi-use field and 13 batting cages. In 2010 and 2013 it hosted the 10 & Under Cal Ripkin World Series and each year hosts district, state and regional baseball and soccer tournaments.

Ocala Aquatics Thius venue boasts an Olympic-size pool hosts yearround outdoor swimming events.

Big Sun Youth Soccer Complex The complex features all grass fields including two full-size championship fields, five youth pitches, and two small fields and two mini fields for pee-wee or warm-ups.

Belleview Sports Complex The 87-acre complex includes seven baseball fields/ seven softball fields, three soccer fields and two football fields.

Ft. King Tennis Center Perfect for year-round outdoor tennis, there are eight lit clay courts and four lighted hard courts. A ball machine is available for rent.

Wrigley Fields

Pine Oaks of Ocala Golf Course

The 72-acre facility is well equipped for events, and includes two lit softball fields, three lit baseball fields and one soccer field field.

The 27-hole, tournament-friendly course, for nine-hole and 18-hole competition, has a full driving range and fouracre short game practice area.

Ocala National Golf Club

Central Florida Community College

This Rees Jones designed course, with a route that bends through century-old oak trees, has hosted the US Women’s Mid- Amateur Championship, National Golf

Facilities include indoor basketball and volleyball courts, a college-sized baseball field and softball field, and six hard-court tennis courts.

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Kayakers and canoeists enjoy paddling fresh-water springs, lakes and the Silver, Rainbow, Ocklawaha and Withlacoochee Rivers. Hiking trails abound in the Ocala National Forest and the area’s many parks. Driving through Ocala’s horse country is another popular pastime, and tours of working Thoroughbred farms are available. For high-flying fun, The Canyons Zip Line and Canopy Tours takes guests through an old growth of oaks and pines. Silver Springs, considered Florida’s original tourist attraction, draws guests from near and far with its iconic glass-bottom boats that provide views of fish, turtles and alligators as they glide over springs that are 99.8 percent pure and up to 80 feet deep. Fans of motorsports will enjoy exploring the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing or experiencing the competition at Bubba Raceway Park, which claims one of the largest clay tracks in America. Only an hour or so away are Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando and other themed attractions. Beaches on Florida’s west and east coasts are just an hour away from Marion County.

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Ocala/Marion County, located in Central Florida north of Orlando, is an easy reach from anywhere along I-75. Driving times: Orlando and Tampa, 1½ hours; Jacksonville, two

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hours; Tallahassee, three hours; Miami, five hours; Mobile and Atlanta, six hours.

X-FACTORS

The Ocala/Marion Visitors and Convention Bureau works with rights holders from the beginning of the process to the end, whether it’s securing referees, tents and porta-potties or helping with advertising and budgeting. The staff can assist in designing banners, e-blasts and other materials. The weather also cooperates—the county’s inland location shields it from bad weather coming off the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, and the area gets more sunny days during the year than many of the Sunshine State’s coastal resorts. Sports events held in Marion County have included the 23rd Annual U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Golf Championship, Florida High School Athletic Association District Bowling, Florida State Golf Association, Crappie USA Fishing, AAU Golf, as well as various regional soccer, baseball, softball, golf and other events. Plus, the county has received international acclaim as a preeminent location for equestrian events.

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OCALA/MARION VISITORS AND CONVENTION BUREAU

112 N. Magnolia Ave., Ocala, FL 34475 352-438-2800 • visitocalamarion@marioncountyfl.org www.ocalamarion.com

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ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS

KISSIMMEE FLORIDA

issimmee is where champions are made. Athletes and sports organizers alike choose Kissimmee for its versatile facilities and an industry that appreciates the time, work and effort that goes into planning a premier event and competing at a high level. The strong services team at Kissimmee Sports works in partnership with organizers, participants and attendees to make every event a success. Kissimmee is located south of Orlando and the famous theme parks; just 25 minutes from the Orlando International Airport.

& TOP FACILITIES ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World Resort This nine-venue monster of a facility hosts 350 events each year. Its Championship Stadium is the spring training base of the Atlanta Braves. It also offers two multiple-use arenas, seven fields, 10 tennis courts, a track and field complex, and a cross country course.

Osceola County Stadium The Houston Astros’ spring training stomping grounds is also the home of the USSSA (United States Specialty Sports Association). The complex features a 5,300-seat main stadium, five satellite fields, two half fields, a newly-redone practice field and an official Major League Baseball clubhouse. All of the playing fields are lit and have covered dugouts.

Osceola Heritage Park This popular sports complex is divided into three regularly-rented venues: Kissimmee Valley Livestock Show Pavilion is perfect for hosting equestrian and livestock-oriented events. There is permanent seating for 760, a 6,000-foot ring, and an assortment of pens and barns. The Exhibition Building is the ultimate in flexibility; its 47,000-square-foot floor space can be divided into two separate areas, as can its two 5,000-square-foot meeting rooms. It’s an ideal setting for basketball, volleyball, gymnastics and other indoor sports. Silver Spurs Arena boasts 8,300 seats, and its generously-sized event space can be used to host everything from BMX biking to basketball. A 43-foot ceiling and a flexible curtaining system add even more adaptability.

Kissimmee Civic Center Osceola County Softball Complex This is the official East Coast training center of the Olympic gold-winning US women’s softball team. It features five lit and fence-ready fields, each with two dugouts, bleacher seating for 500 fans and electronic scoreboards. There’s also a three-story clubhouse, and the facility is within miles of Orlando International Airport.

Austin-Tindall Regional Park Ideal for football, rugby, soccer and lacrosse, the park has eight fields and three practice fields. Bleacher seating accommodates up to 1,500 fans. 86

Sports Planning Guide

Located in the heart of the downtown business district, the Civic Center is a convenient place to host many indoor sports. Past events have included basketball, table tennis and volleyball. Seating is available for up to 3,000 spectators.

Fortune Road Athletic Complex Covering 40 acres, this facility regularly hosts USSSA Gold Cup games. It has four regulation-sized softball fields and one lit multipurpose field. There also are concessions and an observation tower.

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Although this isn’t a facility in itself, the Chain of Lakes does host some serious fishing events, including the Bassmaster Classic and the FLW Tour. The eight lakes that make up the chain are especially prized for their bass and crappie.

‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS Thanks to Kissimmee’s proximity to Orlando and both of Florida’s coasts, you can do a whole lot more than just play sports. Famous theme attractions in Orlando include Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld and LEGOLAND. The Atlantic Coast’s Kennedy Space Center is an hour’s drive away. For the adventurous, Zip Orlando offers a once-in-a-lifetime event: zipping high above Central Florida’s scenery on a cable-and-bridge course that extends nearly a mile. At Kissimmee’s Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament, which comes complete with a castle and a replica medieval village, guests eat as knights joust and hurl things. Arabian Knights is another Kissimmee dinner attraction. Kissimmee’s Old Town has fun restaurants, shopping and a weekly car show. In the Kissimmee-Orlando area, everything from posh resort hotels to campgrounds and RV parks is ready to host your group. For smaller groups who require more privacy and freedom than a hotel affords, vacation rentals are an attractive option.

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GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Kissimmee is served by both Amtrak and can be reached by three major interstates: I-95, I-75 and I-4. Kissimmee is convenient to both of Florida’s coasts—the Atlantic Coast is about an hour away, the Gulf Coast a 90-minute drive. Kissimmee is 20 miles south of Orlando, 215 miles north of Miami, 70 miles east of Tampa and 165 miles south of Jacksonville. Orlando International Airport is 25 minutes away, Orlando Sanford International Airport 50 minutes away.

X-FACTORS

Contact the event-hosting experts at the Kissimmee CVB directly for assistance in planning your group sports trip. They can offer you help in almost every facet of your experience, including site selection assistance, media contacts, local PR and marketing, social media assistance, group dining and hotel booking assistance, event coordination and staffing assistance, including local volunteers.

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EXPERIENCE KISSIMMEE

John Poole, Sports Sales Manager Osceola County Department of Tourism 215 Celebration Place, #200, Celebration, FL 34747 407-742-8238 • jpoole@experiencekissimmee.com www.kissimmeesports.com

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Kissimmee Chain of Lakes

CONWAY ARKANSAS

onway is one of the fastestgrowing cities in Arkansas, boasting a current population of more than 55,000; located 30 miles from Little Rock and known primarily as a college town. Conway is the northwestern entryway to Arkansas’ metro region, and is constantly attracting new business and relocating families who appreciate the quality of life it offers, including 34 parks and athletic facilities. Although the population has more than doubled since 1990, the city still retains its small-town charm and community spirit.

MCGEE CENTER

& TOP FACILITIES Buzz Bolding Arena This arena plays host to events like basketball, volleyball, cheerleading and gymnastics. It has seating for 1,800 spectators.

Conway Station Park A recent addition to the city—built in 2011—Conway Station Park features nine fields, and is home to USSSA’s U-Trip softball events, which has been held in Conway the last two years.

Don Owen Complex City of Colleges Park Built in 2010, this state-of-the-art softball facility has five lighted fields. It is where one of the city colleges hosts its baseball and softball games.

A multi-sport complex that features three basketball courts, three lighted baseball fields, six volleyball courts and a walking track. CITY OF COLLEGES FIELD

Centennial Soccer Complex The soccer complex features four lighted fields and eight non-lighted fields.

Conway Expo Center & Fairgrounds This multipurpose facility features an Event Center with 6,222 square feet of meeting space, an Expo Center with 40, 779 square feet of covered space and an open-air pavilion with 55,000 square feet. These can be converted into various floor plans to accommodate a wide range of sports events.

Hendrix College Facilities Hendrix College offers a range of sports venues for organizers to use. There are three basketball courts, one baseball field, one lacrosse field, a soccer field, a softball field, four volleyball courts, an Olympic-size swimming pool and a track.

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Four basketball courts, a baseball field (new turf), three soccer fields, four softball fields, five volleyball courts, heated swimming pool, and the Pepsi Center (an indoor turf facility that is half the size of a football field).

â&#x20AC;°ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS When teams are not competing, there is a lot to keep them busy. Conway has a great downtown area with lots of shopping, boutique stores, hip restaurants and various attractions. The University of Central Arkansas has a lot for guests to do. Athletes and their families can peruse collections at one of the largest academic galleries in the state at the Baum Gallery of Fine Art, or catch a show at the Arkansas Shakespeare Theater. Teams can spend an afternoon bowling at Conway Family Bowl, or catch a film at the new movie theater. Visitors will have a great time wandering the streets of Pickles Gap Village, a tiny town with gift, souvenir, antique and craft shops, as well as the Pickle Barrel Fudge Factory with homemade fudge and pies.

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Nearly every weekend during the summer of 2012 and 2013 has been booked with tournaments and athletic events.There were about 50 USSSA U-Trip tournaments in Conway in 2013, bringing people from all over the state to the city. Conway was also awarded a contract for the High School All-Star Games, put on by the State Activities Association. Conway partnered with the University of Central Arkansas to bring in the top athletes from the state for a week, where they competed in all kinds of sports. This event is slated to be held in Conway for the next five years. HoopPlay USA, a basketball tournament, has also been in town the last three years, using all city facilities, college campuses and high schools.

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CONWAY CVB Rachel Earls, Director of Destination Marketing 900 Oak St., Conway, AR 72032 501-932-5409 â&#x20AC;˘ rachel@conwayarkansas.org www.conwayark.com

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University of Central Arkansas Facilities

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Conveniently located 30 miles from Little Rock, Conway is easily accessible from most regions of the country. It is located right off I-40, so most teams can get there by shuttle, rented van or car. Most attractions, hotels and venues are within a short distance of one another, making it easy to navigate.

X-FACTORS

Sports organizers looking to bring their event to Conway will receive exceptional help from the team at the Convention & Visitors Bureau. The staff can help secure hotel blocks for athletes, work out deals with accommodations, send out alerts to facilities to let them know what planners are looking for and ensure the event gets what it needs. The team can also help book venues and recruit volunteers to help with the event. Basically anything sports planners need, Conwayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team is there to help.

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2010 Arkansas Sports Facility of the Year* 2011 Arkansas Sports Facility of the Year* Home of the 2013-2017 Arkansas High School All-Star Games and coaches clinic *SV Â˝VWX GPEWW JEGMPMXMIW E GSRZIRMIRX PSGEXMSR SR -RXIVWXEXI ERH E GPIER ERH WEJI GSQQYRMX] XS IRNS] E[E] JVSQ XLI Â˝IPH 'SR[E] %VOERWEW MW XLI TIVJIGX PSGEXMSR JSV ]SYV SVKERM^EXMSRÂ´W IZIRX -R 'SR[E] LSWXIH ZSPPI]FEPP XSYVREQIRXW [MXL XIEQW E ]SYXL FEWOIXFEPP XSYVREQIRX [MXL QSVI XLER TEVXMGMTERXW ERH QYPXMTPI WSGGIV GLIIV HERGI ERH K]QREWXMG IZIRXW

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Sports Planning Guide

KNOXVILLE TENNESSEE

noxville is a great location for all kinds of athletic competitions and is the most centrally located city in the Eastern United States. Adding to this convenience are the top-level facilities available to planners that include the University of Tennessee, Knoxville Convention Center, Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum and U.S. Cellular Soccer Complex, plus dozens of local parks, ball fields and gymnasiums.

& TOP FACILITIES Allan Jones Aquatic Center This University of Tennessee facility features a 50-meter, competition-ready pool, a professional diving well and seating for 2,000 spectators. It has an aquatic sports-specific strength-training center, a sports medicine facility and state-of-the-art coaching rooms.

Neyland Stadium The stadium of the Volunteer football program has roots in the community all the way to 1919. Seating over 100,000 spectators, it is the fourth largest stadium in the country and is capable of hosting a football, lacrosse, soccer or rugby tournament of any size.

Knoxville Convention Center The downtown center offers a 120,000-square-foot Exhibition Hall, which has hosted gymnastics and fencing tournaments. The center has seating for 2,200 in the bleachers and is available for hundreds more with floor seating.

Thompson-Boling Arena The home of Volunteer basketball since 1987, the 21,000seat arena is the second largest collegiate basketball stadium.

‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame boasts the largest basketball in the world. During the hockey season, teams can catch the Knoxville Ice Bears of the Southern Professional League. Or watch the Hard Knox Roller Girls, Knoxville’s women’s roller derby team. The kids can also blow off steam at one of the two gocart and mini golf centers. Sir Gooney’s also offers waterslides, paintball and an RC track. At Putt Putt Golf & Games, kids can play on three championship mini golf courses, hit the arcade, and use baseball and softball batting cages.

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Knoxville is located where I-75 from Cincinnati meets I-40 from Raleigh. Knoxville is a day’s drive from cities like Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis and Pittsburgh. McGhee Tyson Airport is 20 minutes from downtown Knoxville.

X-FACTORS

Proud of its extensive list of facilities, the sales team at Visit Knoxville enjoys working with groups of all sizes to plan the perfect sports event. See the website for more facilities.

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VISIT KNOXVILLE Jennifer Morris, Director of Sports Sales 301 S. Gay St., Knoxville, TN 37902 800-727-8045 • jmorris@knoxville.org www.knoxville.org

LOUISIANA

ring your next sporting event to Monroe-West Monroe, with a convenient location on I-20, over 2,000 hotel rooms and a variety of facilities to accommodate virtually any group. Tournaments hosted in Monroe-West Monroe show continued success in the area of participation. Teams from across the region and the United States travel to this area to participate in such tournament sports as softball, baseball, basketball, tennis, archery, BMX racing fishing, and track & field, as well as equestrian and livestock events.

& TOP FACILITIES Monroe Civic Center

There are two venues specifically designed for sports—a 46,000-square-foot arena that seats up to 7,600 people and a 30,000-square-foot equestrian pavilion.

University of Louisiana at Monroe ULM offers top-notch facilities, including the 8,000-seat Fant-Ewing Coliseum, ideal for basketball; Warhawk Field, a lit baseball field that seats 2,000; Malone Stadium for football; and Oxford Natatorium.

‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS

Pecanland Mall has 100 stores, plus a handful of retailers in nearby Pecanland Plaza. There’s also Antique Alley, a collection of eclectic shops, and Downtown Rivermarket. Attractions include Biedenharn Museum and Gardens, Black Bayou Lake National

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ULM MALONE STADIUM

Wildlife Refuge and Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo.

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Conveniently located on I-20 and US-165, Monroe is easy to reach. The Twin Cities of North Louisiana are approximately 270 miles northwest of New Orleans and 290 miles east of Dallas. Nearer metro areas include Jackson (120 miles), Shreveport (100 miles) and Little Rock (180 miles). Monroe Regional Airport is served by American Airlines, Delta and United.

X-FACTORS

The Monroe-West Monroe CVB can help with hotel leads, site visits, registration, MONROE-WEST MONROE CVB local PR, email/postScott Bruscato, Dir. of Convention Sales & Sports Marketing card marketing assis601 Constitution Drive, West Monroe, LA 71292 800-843-1872 • sbruscato@monroe-westmonroe.org tance, and welcome www.monroe-westmonroe.org packets and badges.

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MONROE – WEST MONROE

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Sports Planning Guide

LOUISIANA

& TOP FACILITIES CenturyLink Center This 270,000-square-foot stadium, seating 14,000, hosts ice hockey, bull riding, monster trucks and arena football.

Independence Stadium With seating for 50,000 and a state-of-the-art synthetic turf surface, Independence Stadium is home to annual Independence Bowl game and Battle on the Border, a regional high school football tournament.

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ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS

The Shreveport-Bossier area offers six riverboat casinos, horse track racing and a multitude of golf courses. Shreveport hosts a number of festivals, including the Barksdale Air Show on the local Air Force base. The area has over 10,000 rooms in 70 properties. There are vacation cabins, RV rental spots

Sports Planning Guide

INDEPENDENCE STADIUM

and campgrounds handy as well.

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Shreveport is accessible via I-20, I-49 and I-220. It is 200 miles east of Dallas and 200 miles south of Little Rock. Shreveport Regional Airport is served by Delta, United, Allegiant and American. Cities with direct flights to Shreveport include Las Vegas, Orlando, Denver, Houston, Dallas, and Atlanta. You are virtually one stop away from anywhere in the world!

X-FACTORS

The Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission offers bid assistance, help SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER SPORTS COMMISSION with promotion, venue Kelly Wells, Vice President of Sports 629 Spring St., Shreveport, LA 71101 tours, and contact 318-429-0632 • kwells@sbsports.org info for local vendors www.shreveportbossiersports.com and media.

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SHREVEPORT– BOSSIER

he Shreveport-Bossier area is home to numerous sports venues suitable to fit any sporting event. Amateur or professional, the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission has the resources you need to make your event a success. We can help in securing facilities and accommodations, bid development, event management to include operations assistance and volunteers, promotion and advertisement, venue inspections and familiarization tours. There are over 10,000 hotel rooms and 70 hotels throughout the area.

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LOUISIANA

& TOP FACILITIES Val Riess Park Sports Complex Thanks to a $20-million budget, Val Riess Park is building towards excellence, in four phases. The plan is to make this the premier recreational facility in the region. Currently occupying 33 acres, the complex offers a total of eight fields, with outdoor facilities for softball and baseball, complete with batting cages, and shaded, fan-cooled bleacher seating. Amenities include concessions and ample parking. Indoors, there are four basketball and volleyball courts.

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ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS

Chalmette’s famous Louisiana Crawfish Festival is held in March, but if your group prefers actual fish to crawfish, St. Bernard Parish offers great inshore fishing. Check out Hopedale, Delacroix and Shell Beach for a chance to lure in some redfish, speckled trout and flounder. Chalmette has a few national chain

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AERIAL OF VAL RIESS PARK

hotels and there’s plenty of lodging in nearby New Orleans.

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Located next door to New Orleans, Chalmette and St. Bernard Parish are about 90 miles southeast of Baton Rouge and 190 miles south of Jackson, MS. To the east is Mobile, AL (140 miles) and to the west, Lafayette, LA (142 miles). You can reach Chalmette by car from Interstate 10. New Orleans’ Louis Armstrong International Airport is 20 miles away.

X-FACTORS

For assistance in planning your trip, contact the St. Bernard Department ST. BERNARD DEPT. OF RECREATION of Recreation. Exclusive Rachel Turnage group tours are available. 8201 W. Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette, LA 70043 504-278-4296 • rturnage@sbpg.net Contact today for booking www.valriess.com information.

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ST. BERNARD PARISH

al Riess Park is Louisiana’s premier baseball & softball complex. This 33-acre facility is located in Chalmette, only minutes away from New Orleans’ French Quarter. Val Riess Park showcases eight fields, large concession stands, clean bathrooms, shaded, fan-cooled bleachers for spectators, covered team benches, batting cages and travel trailer parking. The pride of St. Bernard Parish, Val Riess Complex is nestled within a community of unique local restaurants, shops and services and is exciting for guests of all ages!

EAST REGION

he sports-friendly communities in this regional section cater to all types of events, with experienced staff members offering the dedication and expertise to make your tournament shine. Conveniently located within range of a good chunk of the U.S. population, these cities take pride in their sports facilities as well as amenities and attractions off the field. Let them take care of the logistics for your next event.

Sports Planning Guide

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PENNSYLVANIA

& TOP FACILITIES Slippery Rock University This NCAA Division II school’s facilities rival some Division I venues. The school supports 17 different varsity sports, with facilities available for baseball, softball, football, basketball, soccer, volleyball, field hockey, lacrosse, volleyball and indoor and outdoor track. The crown jewel is the 10,000-seat Thompson Stadium, which is home to DiSpirito Field. The field is surrounded by a 400-meter track and has an AstroPlay artificial surface, lighting and can support football, soccer or lacrosse events.

Butler School District The school district makes available its football stadium, baseball field, two soccer fields, two basketball courts, six tennis courts, three gymnasiums, two sixlane pools and two 400-meter tracks.

Pittsburgh International Airport is just a half-hour drive from the county line.

X-FACTORS

The local school system’s partnership in making great events happen is one of the region’s major advantages, but the Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau tops the list. Contact Amy Pack to see what the CVB can do for your event.

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BUTLER COUNTY TOURISM & CONVENTION BUREAU

Amy Pack 310 E. Grandview Ave., Zelienople, PA 16063 866-856-8444 • amy@butlercounty.com www.visitbutlercounty.com

Pullman Park This intimate minor league stadium is home to the Butler Blue Sox of the Prospect League. It has concession stands, box seats and bleacher seating.

‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS Fun Fore All has mini-golf, go-karts, bumper boats, rides, batting cages, a climbing wall and an arcade. Family Bowlaway Fun Center offers bowling and laser tag just minutes from Thompson Stadium. Four alpaca farms, a dairy farm and other farms provide agritourism experiences. Choose from 15 hotels and 13 bed and breakfasts right in Butler County.

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

With roughly two-thirds of the U.S. population within a four-hour drive of Butler County, it’s hard to find a more central location. Take I-80 if you are coming from east or west, or jump on I-79 if coming from north or south. Butler County is 130 miles from Cleveland, 210 miles from Columbus, 270 miles from Baltimore. sportsplanningguide.com

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BUTLER COUNTY

ust 20 minutes north of Pittsburgh, Butler County is easily accessible from I-79, I-80, Route 19, Route 8, Route 422, the PA Turnpike and Pittsburgh International Airport. Once you’re here, we have over 790 square miles waiting to be explored. From minor league ballparks to world-class courses, the possibilities are endless in Butler County! Find the ideal location for your next sporting event in the rolling hills of Western Pennsylvania.

MARYLAND SPORTS MARYLAND

ur mission is to enhance Maryland’s economy, image and quality of life through the attraction, promotion, retention and development of regional, national and international sporting events. To help achieve this mission we created TEAM Maryland, a statewide initiative designed to collectively market Maryland to the entire sports industry by creating a synergistic approach to the way we market ALL of Maryland as a sports destination.

& TOP FACILITIES Baltimore Convention Center The Convention Center is conveniently located in the heart of downtown and close to public transportation. The premier, 1.2-million-square-foot venue is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and can accommodate any number of sports events.

UMBC − Retriever Activities Center and Arena Home of the UMBC men’s and women’s basketball and women’s volleyball, the RAC Arena is a top-of-theline sports facility in Baltimore County. It has played host to numerous basketball and volleyball events, and is also equipped with a 1/10-mile indoor track. It seats 4,024.

DEW TOUR BEACH CHAMPIONSHIP

Adventure Sports Center International Home of the 2014 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships, ASCI was built in 1998 and is situated at the top of Wisp Resort. Its man-made river channel is the world’s only mountaintop whitewater course.

Chesapeake BMX at Severn/Danza Park Ideally located in Central Maryland, this highly accredited BMX race track is perfect for any BMX competition. Past events include the USA BMX 2013 East Coast Nationals.

Bryantown Sports Complex This elite sports venue is made up of 15 soccer fields that can accommodate all age divisions and large-scale tournaments such as the Southern Maryland Classic held each June.

Cedar Lane Regional Park

Mount St. Mary’s −Knott Arena Located in Emmitsburg, Knott Arena serves as the home of Mount St. Mary’s University’s men’s and women’s basketball teams. Seating is available for 3,5005,000 fans depending on the event.

Ocean City Inlet The Ocean City Inlet has always been a great fishing destination. In early August, it plays host to one of the biggest fishing tournaments in the world, the White Marlin Open. It is also the perfect area for commercial and recreational fishing, as well as sailing, kayaking and boating. The Inlet has also served as the backdrop for three record-setting Dew Tour Beach stops since 2011.

Sports Planning Guide

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center Located in National Harbor along the shores of the Potomac River, the 470,000-square-foot convention center serves as a multi-sport venue. It can accommodate a wide variety of sports, from cheerleading and gymnastics to basketball and wrestling.

Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex A premier sports facility in Salisbury, the complex features four softball fields (three lighted), a lighted baseball diamond, four lighted Bermuda Turf utility fields and free parking for 720 cars. It has hosted events like the ASA Women’s Major Modified, USSSA Girls’ Fast Pitch, USSSA Baseball and NSA Men’s Fast Pitch.

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MARYLAND OFFICE OF SPORTS

Terry Hasseltine, Executive Director, CSEE 323 W. Camden St., Baltimore, MD 21201 410-223-4158 • thasseltine@marylandsports.us www.marylandsports.us

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Located in Harford County, Cedar Lane Regional Park is a premier 110-acre, multi-sport complex used for local, regional and national events, like the 2014 US Lacrosse Women’s National Tournament

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VIRGINIA BEACH VIRGINIA

ith mild year-round weather, 35 miles of beaches and a 2.5-mile Boardwalk, Virginia Beach offers 10,000 hotel rooms and over a dozen multi-use sports facilities. From hotel reservations to mid-race hydration, you can expect a high level of commitment from our dedicated Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau Sports Marketing team as the community rallies behind your event.

GYMNASTICS AT VIRGINIA BEACH CONVENTION CENTER

& TOP FACILITIES Virginia Beach Convention Center The convention center features a 150,000-square-foot, column-free exhibit hall. It has hosted the National High School Coaches Association Wrestling Championships and the USA Field Hockey National Indoor Championships.

Virginia Beach Tennis and Country Club The largest tennis facility in the region, the Virginia Beach Tennis and Country Club has been newly renovated and features 90,000 square feet of indoor tennis and fitness facilities. It has 10 deco turf indoor courts, 30 outdoor courts, a health club and fitness center, a junior Olympic pool, restaurant, lounge and pro shop.

Hampton Roads Soccer Complex Virginia Beach Sportsplex This state-of-the-art complex can accommodate a number of field events, and plays host to the Virginia Rush Soccer Club and Virginia Beach Piranhas W-League Soccer Team. The venue has bleacher and berm seating for 6,000 spectators.

This soccer venue features 75 acres of green fields and goalposts and accommodates more than 50,000 players each year. It has 19 grass turf fields of varying sizes to cater to a mixture of youth and adult soccer leagues.

Owl Creek Municipal Tennis Center Virginia Beach Field House A recent addition to the city, the new 175,000-squarefoot Field House features eight regulation volleyball/ basketball courts, four indoor soccer fields, an arcade and an indoor Fun Zone.

USA Field Hockey National Training Center at Virginia Beach The facility includes two artificial, competition-quality turf fields, each with its own irrigation system. It regularly hosts national and international tournaments featuring the USA National Field Hockey Team. In June 2012, it held the finals of the U.S./Argentina Field Hockey Series.

Sports Planning Guide

This sports venue features 14 practice courts, including indoor ones, and is the headquarters for all park-sponsored tennis tournaments.

Virginia Beach Oceanfront The oceanfront includes 13 miles of public access beach and a three-mile boardwalk. Annual events held here include the North American Sand Soccer Championships, East Coast Surfing Championships, Sandman Triathlon and the Shamrock Marathon. It is also a great place for a game of beach volleyball or to catch a few waves.

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ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS

When teams aren’t competing and they have a little downtime, Virginia Beach provides a plethora of attractions they can experience. With its sprawling beachfront, Virginia Beach is an aquatic paradise with relaxing beaches, boat tours, parasailing, jet skiing, paddle boarding and surfing. Virginia Beach has over 4,000 acres of parks and national refuges, giving visitors plenty of natural beauty to explore, either on foot, bike or kayak. Virginia Beach also has a colonial history that any history buff can appreciate. Visitors can check out the lighthouses of Cape Henry or see where settlers first stepped at First Landing State Park. The cultural vibe can be felt in the many visual arts, comedy shows, musical concerts and performing arts that take place in Virginia Beach year-round. For shopping, dining and entertainment, be sure to visit the Town Center of Virginia Beach, which covers 17 blocks.

X-FACTORS

The sports marketing staff at the Virginia Beach CVB offers a high level of service that lets sports planners focus on their goals and create a successful event. The sales and service team provides personalized site inspections, coordinates proposals and hotel room blocks, and assists with housing needs. They also recruit and coordinate volunteers for all aspects of the event, from registration to welcome crews to clean-up. The marketing team will also create attendance-building materials such as dining guides, destination information, welcome signage and collateral pieces. Each event will have a full-time manager to help with all the little details of the tournament, so planners, coaches, teams and visitors can thoroughly enjoy their time in Virginia Beach. Check out the Virginia Beach Sports Planner Guide online.

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Virginia Beach is within a day’s drive for more than half of the U.S. population and can easily be reached by car or plane and even train. It is just 15 minutes from Norfolk International Airport, which is served by all the major airlines. Newport News/Williamsburg International

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VIRGINIA BEACH CVB

Nancy Helman, Director of Sports Marketing 2101 Parks Ave. Ste. 500, Virginia Beach, VA 23451 757-385-6649 • nhelman@visitvirginiabeach.com www.visitvirginiabeach.com/sports

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Airport is located just 45 minutes away. Also located 15 minutes from the region’s Amtrak station.

GREATER BINGHAMTON NEW YORK

reater Binghamton is a sports-friendly community waiting to host you. Facilities here are top notch! The Greater Binghamton Sports Complex is the largest indoor dome in the nation. The Binghamton University campus offers a 6,000-seat Events Center, two Turf fields with seating, and numerous other fields and gyms. Five area high schools also have Turf fields. The Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena can host ice hockey, basketball, gymnastics, boxing, wrestling and more.

& TOP FACILITIES Binghamton University Event Center This 53,000-square-foot venue, with a seating capacity of 6,000, is the university’s premier Division I Athletics and multipurpose facility. It has a six-lane, 200-meter indoor track, two pole vault and long jump areas, and four tennis and basketball courts. Located in the west area of the campus are two outdoor Turf fields that seat 3,500, plus recently renovated baseball and softball fields and tennis court complex.

Greater Binghamton Sports Complex The largest dome in the nation, measuring about 125,000 square feet, is known for its full-size soccer field. It can house multiple sporting events at once, including soccer, rugby, lacrosse, baseball and softball.

Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena The 4,200-seat facility hosts hockey, wrestling, gymnastics, basketball and more.

‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS Roberson Museum and Science Center offers historical exhibitions and a planetarium. Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park just welcomed Zhin-Li, a red panda, to the family. At Cutler Botanical Garden learn about horticulture and environmental issues while enjoying three-and-a-half acres of plants and flower gardens. Chucksters is home of the world’s largest mini-golf hole; it also has a climbing wall and, coming soon, a go-kart course. The Binghamton area has 2,500 hotels and 175 restaurants.

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Binghamton is located near the border of New York and Pennsylvania, giving it easy access to Interstates 81 and 88. Binghamton is a one-hour-and-10-minute drive from Syracuse, three hours from New York City. Airlines serving the Greater Binghamton Airport include Delta Connection, United Express, and USAirways Express.

X-FACTORS

Greater Binghamton CVB boasts that their warm hospitality, terrific venues and affordable hotels are what put our sports-loving community above any other. The staff will assist with finding venues and reserving lodging at the best rates. The bureau can arrange site inspections, put together information for tournament web pages and send out press releases to help promote the event. Once teams arrive, they will receive free name badges. The community has a volunteer pool ready and willing to help!

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GREATER BINGHAMTON CVB Judi Hess, Manager of Tourism & Special Events P.O. Box 995, Binghamton, NY 13902-0995 800-836-6740, 607-722-8863, ext. 329 judi@visitbinghamton.org www.visitbinghamton.org

MASSACHUSETTS

& TOP FACILITIES Tsongas Center This multi-use entertainment, convention and sports complex is home to the 2013 Frozen Four Finalists, Division 1 UMass Lowell River Hawks hockey team. It has hosted tournaments like the MIAA Championships in hockey, wrestling and basketball and national cheer and dance competitions. In addition, The Tsongas Center is home to the annual Colonial Classic Synchronized Skating Competition. The arena floor is 17,000 square feet and can seat up to 7,800.

Lowell Costello Athletic Center Home to the UMass Lowell Division 1 basketball and volleyball programs, the Costello Athletic Center has recently undergone renovations with a new hardwood surface, collapsible bleachers, scoreboard and a sound system. The three-floor center also holds a 25-meter swimming pool.

on the border of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, just minutes from Boston. The Manchester-Boston Regional Airport and Boston Logan International Airport are about 30 minutes away from most of the Greater Merrimack Valley’s cities.

X-FACTORS

The CVB has formatted a mobile website accessible on smartphones: m.merrimack.org.

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GREATER MERRIMACK VALLEY CVB

Deb Belanger, Executive Director 40 French St., Second Floor, Lowell, MA 01852 978-459-6150, ext. 115 • dbelanger@merrimackvalley.org www.merrimackvalley.org

Lowell Cushing Field Complex Recently renovated with new lighting, turf and seating, the field is home to UMass Lowell Division 1 soccer, football and track teams. It is tournament-ready for those sports, plus lacrosse, field hockey and rugby. Seating is ample and there is parking adjacent to the facilities.

‰ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS Merrimack Valley’s great outdoor scenery is some of the best in New England. Lowell National Historical Park preserves the city’s industrial heritage with exhibits and tours relating to the cotton mills that thrived here in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Minute Man National Historical Park located in Concord, MA preserves the landscape of legendary battlefields and lets visitors actually walk along the Battle Road and the path of Paul Revere’s famous midnight ride.

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

Accessible from I-93 and I-495, the area is sportsplanningguide.com

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MERRIMACK VALLEY

he Greater Merrimack Valley CVB partners with sport venues, city officials and recreation departments, hotels, restaurants and attractions to ensure successful sporting event experiences. They assist the sporting event rights holder with site inspections, bid proposals, transportation options, publicity and volunteer ambassadors to greet your guests. Working closely with the Massachusetts Sports Partnership and Massachusetts Sports Marketing Office, they are proud to offer their complimentary services in order to make your sporting event the best that it can be.

JON SCHMIEDER

Bridge Building To Generate Influence In Sports

uthor Bob Burg once said, “Posi-

(DMOs) and event rights holders will join

or for a rights holder to leverage when

tion yourself as a center of influ-

the sports tourism space. In the chase to

choosing a host site. Having great rela-

ence - the one who knows the movers

capture more economic impact dollars,

tionships is a critical tool for continued

and shakers. People will respond to that,

competition among host communities

success in the industry. Those who take

and you’ll soon become what you proj-

will surge, creating a need for differenti-

time to build these relationships will be

ect.” This commentary is relevant in the

ation between markets.

on the inside when meaningful discus-

sports tourism and events industry more today than ever before. In an era of

shrinking budgets and increasing ex-

shall our need for increased formal ed-

Sports event professionals must

pectations, industry professionals seek-

ucation. Hundreds of institutions have

make sure that there is time dedicated

ing an edge should look no further than

sports management programs, offering

to building bridges with industry influ-

their personal rolodex.

everything from basic certifications to

encers. Identify what your long-term

Our industry has seen significant

doctoral degrees. The top sports organ-

goals are, who you need to reach them

growth over the past decade. The num-

izations employ the most educated

and start engaging them. Write thank

Professionalism will continue

sions take place, those who do not will

to rise – As the industry grows, so

miss opportunity.

you notes, e-mail them a link to an arti-

Be consistent, be honest and build the relationship brick-by-brick

cle of interest, schedule time in your outlook calendar to call and talk about the industry, connect them to someone else in your rolodex that can help with a

ber of destinations that are putting re-

sports event professionals they can find.

project. However you decide to engage

sources into hosting sporting events,

Organizations that don’t allocate the

them, be consistent, be honest and

and the number of rights holders that

proper level of human capital to their ef-

build the relationship brick-by-brick.

hold them, are both at an all-time high.

forts will suffer.

When the time comes to do business

Accountability to ROI will in-

with these people, the foundation for

faced, such as the obstacle course

crease – In a period where budg-

your work will already be set, and suc-

races and specialty running events, and

ets are being challenged at every turn,

cess will be the most likely result of your

more are likely to come. Many small con-

we must be more vigilant in the finan-

efforts together. ■

vention bureaus have dedicated sports

cial planning process to ensure maxi-

sales and event staff members, and

mum return on our organization’s

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

statewide tourism conglomerates have

resources. Our superiors, boards and

been created. Sports tourism is hot, and

our stakeholders will be measuring how

people are voting to participate with their

we utilize the assets they provide. The

time and their budgets.

top leaders will map a plan, measure

Jon Schmieder is the founder of the Huddle Up Group LLC, a consulting consortium made up of experienced, award winning executives. Schmieder has more than 16 years of experience in leading non-profits and sports tourism organizations through strategic growth and increased community collaboration. Clients include USA BMX, Detroit Sports Commission, Eugene Cascades & Coast Sports, Arizona Football Coaches Association, the BIG Tournament, Travel Medford and the Association of Chief Executives of Sport (ACES). Jon can be reached at jon@huddleupgroup.com or 602-369-6955.

Entirely new niche events have sur-

We believe there is still opportunity for expansion of the sports tourism mar-

the results and course correct when needed. Relationships will rule – Per-

mind, here are four key trends to look for

in 2014 and beyond:

most every industry. In the sports tourism

ketplace. With this continued growth in

sonal networks are important in

New players will enter the mar-

marketplace relationships are one of the

ket – More mid- and small-market

most valuable assets a DMO or sports

destination marketing organizations

commission has to sell their destination,

1 102

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