To strengthen our community by driving the sports tourism economy.
Sports Vision
To be the Gulf Coast Capital for Sports.
Sports Strategy
Strategically target direct sales for community-aligned opportunities. Conduct site tours, create competitive group packages with partners. Collaborate on Sports Marketing campaigns, provide logistical event support. Invest in sports community for resident quality of life.
A Look Back
Looking back on the past year, the Sports Commission has made many accomplishments. The foundation of the department was set, processes created and established, and community relationships were built.
Despite being in the middle of creating these processes, we still had to sell. We surpassed all but one of our sales goals and were able to generate significant exposure of the Sports Commission to the industry. Corpus Christi has surpassed its reputation as a non-descript dot on a map and vaulted itself into the discussion with other major players in the sports tourism industry.
A Look Forward
This is just the beginning. We have a good grasp on what Corpus Christi’s sport community values, what we possess to cater to those values, and what we need to work towards. A more refined sales effort will be combined with robust service offerings. A strategy has been created to grow a healthy volunteer network, and efforts will continue to be made towards the advocacy for new and renovated sports facilities that allow Corpus Christi to compete on the National and International stage.
sports commission strategy OBJECTIVES
Cultivate community relationships and advocate to strengthen destination sports offerings.
Market Corpus Christi as a sports destination to sports planners and participants.
Share Corpus Christi with the sports business world through expanded sales efforts.
Create strategic sports tourism initiatives that support community values.
objective 1
Cultivate community relationships and advocate to strengthen destination sports offerings.
Strategy #1
Identify and nurture future Sports Commission partners.
Strategic Goal: Inclusive Community Alignment Initiative: Strengthen collaboration with key industry and community organizations.
Tactics
• Leverage organizations that align with the values and mission of the Corpus Christi Sports Commission.
• Enhance community education and involvement of advocacy initiatives.
• Provide opportunities for relationship building through event hosting and development.
Create sports facility advocacy plan.
Strategic Goal: Collaborative Destination Development Initiative: Promote and support development of new youth sport facilities.
Tactics
• Identify desirable sports facilities in competing and similar markets.
• Gather information and data relevant to the positive return on investment of sports facilities to key stakeholders.
• Gather and galvanize community user groups and private-sector stakeholders.
Strategy #2
Strategy #3
Implement sports facility advocacy plan.
Strategic Goal: Collaborative Destination Development Initiative: Promote and support development of new youth sport facilities.
Tactics
• Plan trips with community stakeholders to visit competing destinations’ facilities.
• Provide and present recommendations for facilities to city officials and community stakeholders.
• Promote positive tourism return on investment by investing in sports facilities.
Fun Facts:
• Avg. length of stay and hotel reservations per team have increased in 2023. Average Daily Rate continues to climb nationally. On average, destinations enjoyed an extra 15 days of event hotel reservation lead time in 2022.
Source: Event Connect
objective 2
Market Corpus Christi as a sports destination to sports planners and participants.
Strategy #1
Build a global brand as the Gulf Coast Capital for sports.
Strategic Goal: Bold SMarketing Initiative: Continue to build a global brand.
Tactics
• Implement a sports marketing campaign to grow business and bookings from strategic markets.
• Secure high-level partnerships with industry tradeshows to increase effectiveness of client messaging.
• Strategically branded external gifting to clients to serve as touch points for relevant destination updates and sales messaging.
• Implement a local marketing campaign to grow Sports Commission awareness and promote initiatives.
objective 3
Share Corpus Christi with the sports business world through expanded sales efforts.
Strategic Goal: Bold SMarketing Initiative: Continue to grow domestic land sports and international water sports.
Strategy #1
Drive hotel room night sales resulting in sustainable growth.
Tactics
• Attend key industry tradeshows to capitalize on our natural and built environments.
• Target sports planners in alignment with primary and secondary target markets.
• Work with community organizations to inspire locally created events and bid on external events.
• Curate highly personalized opportunities for engagement with sports planners.
Strategy #2
Implement bold and cutting-edge amenities, complimentary services, and event support.
Tactics
• Provide industry expertise and resources to community events.
• Evaluate effectiveness of community promotions to sports visitors.
• Build a robust volunteer database.
• Streamline marketing service offerings to clients.
objective 4
Create strategic sports tourism initiatives that support community values.
Strategy #1
Generate a sense of community pride through the celebration of sports.
Strategic Goal: Inclusive Community Alignment
Initiative: Cultivate resident and community support for tourism and Visit Corpus
Tactics
• Create a Coastal Bend Sports Hall of Fame and Awards show.
• Foster a high-functioning Sports Council.
• Develop a local campaign for the celebration of community achievements in sports.
Strategy #2
Champion destination sustainability through active sports engagement.
Strategic Goal: Inclusive Community Alignment
Initiative: Promote regenerative tourism through environmental, socio-cultural, and economic sustainability.
Tactics
• Leverage the Visit Corpus Christi Foundation to create a sports fund that supports environmental, economic, and equitable sustainability.
• Partner with community organizations that support diversity, equity, and inclusiveness.
• Identify and book outside event business that supports sustainability.
Christi.
sports Metrics
Visit Corpus Christi’s experience department focuses on increasing tangible goals through experience Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) which include increasing visitor average spending, visitor length of stay and leisure visitor sentiment.
The sports budget for Visit Corpus Christi is strategically divided to provide the most return on investment through marketing and communications, administration and sports sales initiatives.
sPORTS market structure
Audience:
Local, statewide, regional, national, and international sports planners who wish to host a sports event in Corpus Christi while driving overnight hotel stays. These planners often seek full-service assistance from Sports Commissions to provide direct support in the areas of destination site selection, event planning, vendor referrals, and sponsorship acquisition.
Direct to Planner
• Sports Commission newsletters to keep planners up to date with recent developments and incentives
• Strategically curated white papers and blogs to support post-tradeshow sales efforts and follow-ups
• Sponsorships and booths at tradeshows and conferences
Vertical Content
Market content through leisure outlets in accordance with strategically targeted sports.
Industry Trade Publications
• Sports Destination Management
• Sports Travel Magazine
• Sports Planning Guide
• SportsEvents Media Group
• Sports Business Journal
• SportsETA
key target MARKETS
Tier A Markets:
High Priority, Active Involvement
Sailing
Windsurfing
Fishing
Triathlon
Kiteboarding
Boxing
Beach Volleyball
Tier B Markets:
Secondary Priority, Limited Involvement
Archery
Shooting
Cheer
Dance
Wrestling
Volleyball
Basketball
tradeshows & sales Missions schedule
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
Meeting Planner
S.W.O.T. ANALYSIS
Strengths
• New Sports Commission and leadership throughout Corpus Christi
• Destination appeal
• Year-round destination
• Airport proximity
• World Class winds on the Bay
• Equidistant from East and West Coast
• Only major city situated on the Texas coast
• Water assets
Weaknesses
• Limited tournament quality venues
• Walkability to hotels, restaurants, and nightlife
• Limited air access to major markets; no direct flights
• Cost of venue rental
• Lack of full-service hotels adjacent to the convention center
Opportunites
• Unify community leaders through sport
• Land development and opportunities
• Grow off peak and shoulder business
• Gulf Coast Capital branding initiatives
• Water sports
Threats
• 5 major destination competitors within the state
• 2 destination competitors on the Texas coast
• Lack of public understanding of the benefits of sports tourism
