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AMANDA HEIDECKER

AMANDA HEIDECKER

”Even if legal restrictions to meet were lifted, we wanted to respect the situation our members were experiencing and offer real solutions.”

Like most organizations, Sports Events & Tourism Association found itself exploring options to hold their annual Symposium, planned for Kansas City originally in April, and then postponed to August. The Symposium typically draws over 1,000 attendees and is a highlight for members. However, as COVID-19 restrictions expanded, it became rapidly apparent to organizers than even the August postponed dates were not going to be feasible.

“Not only were we dealing with very real legal restrictions on holding large events,” shared Sports ETA CEO Al Kidd, “but we also knew that many of our member organizations were dealing with budget cuts and travel restrictions. Even if legal restrictions to meet were lifted, we wanted to respect the situation our members were experiencing and offer real solutions.”

Sports ETA reviewed various options for moving forward. Post-Symposium surveys conducted every year emphasize that the most critically valuable element of the Symposium are the business-to-business marketplace appointments. Event owners, faced with postponing or

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REGISTRATION

COMPLIMENTARY FOR SPORTS RIGHTS HOLDERS AND EVENT OWNERS

$395 FOR SPORTS DESTINATIONS$595 FOR INDUSTRY PARTNERS/VENDORS

Important Deadlines:

June 17 - Registration openedJuly 6 - Registration closesJuly 10 - Appointment portal opensJuly 22 - Appointment portal closesJuly 29 - Appointment schedules distributedAugust 3 - Event kicks off

For more information and to register: SportsBIZXChange.org

canceling a season’s worth of events, need an efficient means to rebook. DMOs need to lay a foundation for future event bookings. Getting back to business and confirming future events is a top priority. Ultimately, rather than move the entire Symposium to a virtual format over three days, Sports ETA created a three-week virtual marketplace called SportsBIZ XChange, spread over three afternoons per week, focusing on getting the business of sports tourism moving again. The format allows for easy integration around regular business hours, longer appointment times, and platforms for sharing information.

SportsBIZ XChange includes both one-on-one appointments and one-to-many group presentations by event owners to introduce their sport to destinations interested in hosting. Virtual networking will take place before and after appointment blocks. Interactive networking activities, speakers, and small group discussion tables round out the offerings.

Technology Platform

Sports ETA is partnering with CSS (Conference

Scheduling Solutions) as the technology partner for SportsBIZ XChange. A central appointment platform provides links to the variety of digital communication channels for each type of appointment.

One-on-one appointment times are expanded to 20 minutes, allowing for more in-depth conversations between sports destinations and event owners. Appointment links can be shared with destination partners such as sports venues and headquarter hotel representatives to increase these appointments’ value.

Thirty-minute group presentations offer a oneto-many platform, in which sports event owners have the opportunity to introduce their sport to destinations. By sharing video and other assets, event owners can provide a clear picture of the requirements to host.

The platform provides Event Owner “locker rooms” where RFPs, images, video, and other assets are stored. These assets will be accessible to all registered attendees, whether or not they have an appointment with that event owner.

EXPERIENCE. COMMUNITY. PERSPECTIVE.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

August 3-21

Mondays:

1:00 - 2:00PM ET

Welcome, Announcements and Networking

2:00 - 4:00PM ET

One-on-one appointments

4:00 - 5:00PM ET

Keynote Speaker

Wednesdays:

1:00 - 2:00PM ET

Welcome, Announcements and Networking

2:00 - 4:00PM ET

Group Presentations by Sports Event Owners

4:00 - 5:00PM ET

Interactive Networking

Fridays:

1:00 - 2:00PM ET

Welcome, Announcements and Networking

2:00 - 4:00PM ET

One-on-one appointments

4:00 - 5:00PM ET

Interactive Networking, Virtual Happy Hours

Additional schedule offerings will include:

Sports ETA Board of Directors Town Hall An opportunity to hear the Board of Directors’ vision for the future with Q&A

Facilitated Table Topic Discussions Participate in a variety of table topics critical to the sports tourism industry, such as online learning; servicing sports events; diversity, equity and inclusion; event development; and the bid process - to name a few.

Technology Demos and Sponsor Presentations Sponsored Lounges and Group Presentations will provide attendees with the opportunity to connect with vendors and test drive technologies.

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