NASC Special Section in SportsBusiness Journal

Your Resource for the Sports Tourism Industry

NASC celebrates its 25 th anniversary

august 8-14, 2016

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NASC celebrates its 25 th anniversary

Youth and amateur sports are big business. Nationwide, sports commissions reported $9.45 billion total in direct spending in 2015, up from $8.96 in 2014. New events come online every year.

Communities are accommodating the growth with new facilities ranging from skate parks to athletic fields with professional-style fan amenities.

Sports Tourism Grows at Fast Pace

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And yes, it works, Schumacher said, but only if the situation is right. Communities without the right mix of hotel rooms or without attractions for families outside of sports or, most importantly, enough local residents interested in the sport, can find themselves with expensive new fields — and a lot of debt — and nobody to use them.

“Development of sports facilities should be, first and foremost, for local residents and to meet local needs,”

less than scrupulous developers.

“It’s very troubling,” said Schumacher. “A developer may come in saying, we’ll build a 100-room hotel with six indoor courts attached if you give us the land and a good lease so we can operate it. If it isn’t successful, the developer moves on, but the community is left with a failing facility and often, crippling debt. Cities need to look carefully at whether they’re buying into something with legs to last

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The youth and amateur sports industry continues its upward trajectory, seemingly operating outside any other national economic reality. As a result, more and more communities are scrambling to chase what, on the surface, appears to be an unending supply of dollars.

The National Association of Sports Commission’s (NASC) annual survey found its members reporting $9.45 billion in total direct spending in 2015, up from $8.96 billion in 2014, continuing the steady rise in spending since the organization began tracking it in the 1980s.

In fact, sports tourism, in particular youth sports, was one of the few industries that survived the Great Recession with barely a scratch. Parents are dedicated to their kids and most showed a willingness to forgo other wants during the recession to ensure sports travel opportunities for their children.

Ever more communities, developers and event organizers nationwide are determined to share in those dollars, building more facilities and creating more events every year. All of which seems to be cause for celebration. But for Don Schumacher, executive director of the NASC, it is also cause for concern.

“Our industry started in the 1980s with the sense that the way to be successful was to use the facilities that already existed,” said Schumacher. “A tournament only accepted the number of teams that a town’s facilities could support. The ‘use what you have’ philosophy was a great way to bring in tourism dollars and support parks and rec departments. Parks and rec would only add new facilities to meet local demands. Today, the philosophy is a lot different.”

The explosion of interest in the industry is evident based on the NASC membership alone. The association started with 15 members in the 1980s and now has a roster of nearly 800.

Sports complexes are big business.

Massive facilities with multiple fields or enormous gyms are springing up everywhere. Competitive-level skate parks and indoor complexes built strictly to enhance youth athletic training have become the norm. Communities are welcoming developers with open arms for the chance to win their own tournaments with thousands of athletes.

In its 25-year history, the National Association of Sports Commissions has become the go-to resource for sports commissions, destinations, vendors and sports-event owners

said Schumacher. “Someone must be there to use those courts and fields Monday through Friday. Otherwise, you have a situation where the maintenance and other costs are rising and the facilities are going underutilized.

Local residents must always benefit first; tournaments must come second.”

The NASC works with communities to uncover unmet local needs and can objectively advise communities on how best to proceed.

“If, for example, soccer leagues in a community are turning away members because there aren’t enough fields, that’s the perfect time for new soccer fields,” said Schumacher. “And it’s also the time to develop those fields so that they are tournament-friendly.”

But, he said, communities cannot expect taxpayers to fund facilities as a quick fix for a city’s economic woes.

Without a local foundation of support or without a strong tourism base, such as beaches, towns can find themselves at the wrong end of a losing proposition. And sometimes at the hands of special advertising section

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more than a few years. A question a community should ask itself is, ‘If this project is such a great idea, why isn’t the developer doing it himself?’ It’s very much a ‘buyer beware’ marketplace.”

Communities must always start with an in-depth analysis that looks far into the future for management and maintenance.

“The trustworthiness of the management, whether that is the developer or parks and rec, is key to success,” Schumacher said. “For an event organizer, personal relationships can count even more than the quality of the facility. Event owners have to trust that parents, athletes and organizers walk away from a tournament satisfied. Or they won’t be back.”

Which is not to say, Schumacher said, that there is no more room for additional sports facilities or new events. More events are coming online every year, such as the wildly popular Tough Mudder obstacle races or the surging number of youth lacrosse tournaments.

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Cities must first look to their current inventory of facilities. Frequently, Schumacher said, after analysis, cities will see new sports avenues to pursue based on current facilities or tapping into unmet local need.

An NASC analysis for a Midwestern city recently found that after analyzing all the high school, middle school and parks and recreation facilities, the city had the capacity to host sizable fastpitch softball and baseball tournaments on 12 fields within 10 miles.

“Fast-pitch softball and baseball are two of the hottest events in the market,” said Schumacher. “After taking a good look, they could see they already have a basis for 80-team tournaments in a location that’s easily accessible from anywhere in the Midwest. They’ve combined everything they already have and are focusing on those two sports.”

Cities are wise to bring school facilities into their inventory mix, which has the secondary benefit of bringing needed windfall to the schools. Schumacher recently advised a city to repackage itself as destination for volleyball and gymnastics.

“This city has a high school gym large enough and nice enough to host a men or women’s national team in an international volleyball exhibition,” said Schumacher. “That’s something no one would normally think of hosting in a high school gym, but they could.”

The Southeastern states have been a natural draw for tournaments for decades because of great year-round weather, but Schumacher approaches the Southeast now with caution.

“The Southeast has more fields than anywhere in the nation, so those states must be careful about adding more,” said Schumacher. “They, in particular, need to test their feasibility and marketplace and, above all, they must use a consultant that doesn’t stand to benefit from a project being built.”

In some oversaturated areas, the only way for a community or developer to succeed is to take business away from the rest of the market.

However, there is still room in the Southeast, particularly in destination cities, such as Myrtle Beach, S.C., Panama City Beach, Fla., or Gulf Shores, Ala., all See nasc, page 7A august 8-14, 2016

NASC celebrates its 25 th anniversary

The Florida Sports Foundation brings together 20,000 athletes, ages 50 and older, to participate in 26 sports for the Florida Senior Games.

Tour makes its home in Ponte Vedra Beach and the World Golf Hall of Fame is in St. Augustine.

Though the Sunshine State is not typically known as a hockey hub, the state boasts 31 sheets of ice, enthusiastic leagues of youth and amateur players and hosts major events, such as the NHL All-Star Game and NCAA Frozen Four Championships.

The Florida Sports Foundation also promotes Florida spring training baseball as a tourist destination for MLB fans that come to watch 15 MLB teams begin their preseason tune up. In 2015,

round golf, tennis, fishing and boating.

“Sports tourism is an economic driver for Florida, bringing billions of dollars in direct spending every year. Florida is a premier destination,” said Webb. “We have 1,100 golf courses, not to mention 8,400 miles of shore line and 7,800 lakes for fishing and boating sports.”

Fishing and boating, two of the state’s most popular water sports, together are a $7 billion industry in Florida. The International Game Fish Association is headquartered in Dania Beach.

The U.S. Tennis Association is currently building its state-of-the-art National Campus in Orlando to house the association’s Community Tennis and Player Development divisions. The innovative new facility, featuring 102 hard and clay courts, will enhance the sport at every level and create an unparalleled playing, training and education experience for players, coaches and spectators. The facility is expected to come online by the end of the year.

“Florida hosts more professional tournaments than any other state in the nation,” said Webb. “Golf, by itself, is an $8.2 billion industry for the state.”

The PGA is headquartered in West Palm Beach, while the LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach. The PGA

is a tremendously successful partnership.”

The foundation produces a Florida Sports Directory and Facilities Guide, breaking down the state by sports commissions and available facilities, providing a wealth of information for event organizers.

The Florida Sports Foundation is also charged with producing and promoting the Sunshine State Games and the Florida Senior Games.

The Sunshine State Games is an Olympic-style festival program held throughout the state for amateur athletes of all skill and age levels, and provides athletes with the incentive to train and the opportunity to compete.

“The Sunshine State Games give us a chance to introduce Florida youth to new sports and to assist sports that need help with growth and expenses.

Last year, we had 11,000 kids across the state participate,” said Webb. “We have seen a new wave of participation in a variety of sports, such as lacrosse, which is one of the fastest growing youth sports in Florida.”

The Florida Senior Games attract more than 20,000 athletes, ages 50 and up, in 20 regional competitions. The 2016 Florida Senior Games serve as the qualifying event for the 2017 National Senior Games. The 26 sports offered include archery, table tennis, badminton, track and field, basketball, bowling, cycling, powerlifting, swimming and pickleball.

florida sports foundation

Sports tourism is one of the biggest industries in the state of Florida, bringing in an estimated $44 billion in economic impact, 13 million visitors and 400,000 local jobs every year.

The Florida Sports Foundation has been instrumental in the growth and development of Florida’s sports industry for the past 20 years.

“One goal is to promote Florida so we can bring in national and international events, such as the Super Bowl or NCAA championships,” said John Webb, president of the foundation.

“Another core goal is to promote all of our regional markets for seniors, youth and amateur championships, as well as national and international sports. In addition, the Florida Sports Foundation helps John Webb, NASC develop small-market sports events for our rural areas that will have a significant positive economic impact for them.”

Over the last 10 years, the Florida sports industry has exploded, hosting more than 3,100 events across the state in 2015. The state now boasts 28 sports commissions, compared with nine a decade ago.

“I credit the professionalism of our 28 sports commissions for the success of sports development and tourism in Florida,” said Webb. “Florida is a natural match for sports – the weather is great year round; we have easy airport access; and our venues are second to none. More importantly, our cities and commissions have deep experience in servicing visitors, from an event organizer’s first contact with a community to ensuring families and athletes leave with great memories of their tournament and visit.”

Communities across the state play host to 10 college bowl games annually. Florida has hosted the Super Bowl 15 times and 69 NCAA championships since 2000. Florida has professional sports franchises in every league and is a major destination for fans of NASCAR and the Daytona 500, as well as year-

florida sports foundation

Florida Sports Fuels $44b Impact

florida sports foundation

Florida boasts more than 1,100 golf courses statewide, including The Ocean Course at Hammock Beach Resort, a Jack Nicklaus signature course.

Florida’s great weather, dedicated sports commissions, easy access and state-of-the-art venues are a natural draw for outdoor amateur and youth sports.

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more than 1.5 million fans flocked to watch the Florida Grapefruit League, breaking per-game attendance records at the 14 facilities across the state. The tradition dates back more than a century.

In addition to hosting a Florida sports summit for the state’s sports commissions, bringing together bidding cities with event organizers and promoters from across the nation, the Florida Sports Foundation assists the state’s communities with securing, hosting and bringing back sports events and sportsrelated businesses. The foundation uses grant programs, legislative initiatives and industry partner development.

“Our grant program is supported primarily by our 10 major league, professional teams across the state to create team-specific Florida license plates,” said Webb. “Our license plate program

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“Seniors are our fastest-growing age group and Florida continues to be an attractive retirement destination,” said Webb. “The goal of the Senior Games is to promote a healthy lifestyle and to provide an opportunity for seniors to compete at local, state and national levels in an affordable environment.”

Amateur sports, in particular travel teams and tournaments, are a resilient business for Florida, said Webb.

“We’ve all seen that in economically difficult times, like our recent recession, parents will forgo a lot of things for themselves, but they will do whatever they can to keep their children in sports and to travel to tournaments,” said Webb. “And Florida is a perfect choice for parents. They can combine the best in tournament experiences with a family vacation at the nation’s best possible destination.” august 8-14, 2016

Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau (4)

NASC celebrates its 25 th anniversary

The launch of the RIVERSPORT Rapids whitewater center in May with the 2016 Olympic canoe and kayak trials, brings yet another impressive sports venue to Oklahoma City.

Okc New Venue a Draw for USOC Water Sports Oklahoma City solidified its standing as a hub for Olympic trials and water sports in May when it christened its new RIVERSPORT Rapids whitewater center with the 2016 USA Canoe/Kayak Whitewater Slalom Olympic Trials.

Oklahoma City is one of six stops this summer for the U.S. Olympic Committee’s 2016 Road to Rio tour.

“We estimate we had more than 50,000 visitors for the three days of trials,” said Sue Hollenbeck, director of sports business for the Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau. “From this point, we know interest in our new whitewater center and its Boathouse District will explode. Oklahoma City is at the crossroads of America — we will be a top draw for our region.”

Built on 11 acres along the Oklahoma River near downtown, the Boathouse District and RIVERSPORT serve as headquarters for USA Canoe/Kayak and is a training site for USRowing.

Oklahoma City has a strong history with the USOC. In 2014, the city hosted all of the governing bodies for a best practices meeting. In 2015, it hosted the Athlete Advisory Council.

Oklahoma City has an impressive number of other achievements under its sports tourism belt.

The U.S. Tennis Association named the Oklahoma City Tennis Center as one of the top dozen best facilities in the nation, which Hollenbeck attributes to the last seven years of continual upgrading. The tennis center boasts 24 lighted hard courts and six new indoor courts. Hollenbeck said the improvements have increased Oklahoma City’s abilities to support premium college and high school tournaments.

Oklahoma City is also home to the Amateur Softball Association/USA Softball. The ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, the organization’s world-class facility, is undergoing a multiyear renovation.

The final phase, scheduled for completion in 2018, will include 4,000 upper deck seats, nearly doubling capacity.

The stadium developers recently collaborated with ESPN to improve the press and television coverage areas.

In July, the city hosted the 2016 World Cup of Softball XI with two weeks of play with teams such as Japan,

Canada, Mexico, Italy, China, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Venezuela participating.

The city has hosted the Division I Women’s College World Series every summer since 1990 and posted the highest attendance record in softball history in 2015.

Oklahoma City is making its mark in the soccer world as well. The OKC Energy, a USL pro soccer team, welcomed the legendary Chivas de Guadalajara in June. The Energy is the only non-MLS team to host the celebrated Mexican club. The event was a sell out.

The city’s room inventory is expanding alongside the growth in sports tourism.

The OKC Energy hosted the legendary Mexican soccer club, Chivas de Guadalajara.

“Our downtown and Bricktown entertainment district have grown tremendously and have more than 2,000 rooms now,” said Hollenbeck. “We also have three new hotels in the works. The 21C, which opened in June, is a beautiful boutique hotel with a museum and is housed in a 100-year-old former Ford factory.”

In addition to great venues and world-class sports, Oklahoma City offers a hidden gem of a downtown.

The city’s Bricktown Canal pedestrian pathway connects downtown to many venues, including the Boathouse District less than a mile away.

“It’s walkable, it’s safe, it’s clean and it’s affordable,” said Hollenbeck.

“Downtown offers a wide variety of things to do and gives visitors real local flavor with our restaurants, bars, shopping and activities. When you come to Oklahoma City, you get the full package — a great, well run event in outstanding facilities, along with a great vacation. Oklahoma City is the unexpected.”

Talty O’Connor, Creator, S.P.O.R.T.S. The Relationship Conference

OKC-ing is believing.

From World Series softball at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium to world championship regattas just steps from downtown, OKC has a venue for sporting events of every shape and size. From little league dreamers to big league champions. If OKC isn’t on your list, it’s time to OKC what you’ve been missing.

Learn more at

/sports

#SeeOKC The new Boathouse District and RIVERSPORT Rapids are in walking distance of downtown OKC. august 8-14, 2016

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The new Ford Center at the Star is part of the Dallas Cowboys’ world headquarters.

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Toyota Stadium, home of FC Dallas, is undergoing a $39 million renovation.

Dr Pepper Ballpark’s lazy river is a unique way to catch a baseball game.

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The nearly completed Dallas Cowboys world headquarters, the Star, with its 12,000-seat multiuse event center and football stadium, adds one more gem to the crown of world-class sports facilities in Frisco, Texas.

The fast-growing, youth-oriented community has a network of sports venues, organizations and events extensive enough that Men’s Journal dubbed Frisco “the best place in America to raise an athlete.”

The Ford Center at the Star is a collaboration between the city of Frisco, the Frisco Independent School District and the Dallas Cowboys, and is the first of its kind for any NFL team. In addition to serving as a Cowboys practice facility, the center will be booked for local high school football games and state championships and can accommodate a broad spectrum of other youth and amateur sports events.

“On Aug. 27, the Star’s inaugural event will be all eight Frisco high schools competing in four football games, on a single day,” said Marla Roe, executive director of the Frisco Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The Star will be home to Cowboys corporate offices and practice fields, as well as an entertainment district with shops and restaurants. Also in the works for the 91 acres is a medical center, the Baylor Scott & White Sports Therapy and Research at the Star.

An Omni Hotel is under construction adjacent to the Ford Center, adding substantially to Frisco’s room inventory.

The Omni will open in 2017.

Toyota Stadium, home of MLS FC Dallas, is undergoing a $39 million renovation to create a new press box, suites and locker rooms. Toyota Stadium will also become home to the National Soccer Hall of Fame Museum. The stadium property features 17 tournamentready fields, said Roe, which are consistently booked with state and national tournaments.

In addition, the city of Frisco has completed a renovation of Dr Pepper Ballpark, home of the Class AA minor league Frisco RoughRiders. The biggest change is the construction of the 3,000-square-foot Choctaw Lazy River beyond right field, providing a one-ofa-kind baseball-viewing experience.

Plans are to open the lazy river on nongame days, as well.

Dr Pepper Arena, the practice facility for the NHL Dallas Stars and home of the NBA D-League Texas Legends, received its own upgrade a couple of years ago, which included equipment that will allow the facility to host a bigger range of events, such as Cirque de Soleil.

Frisco offers a wide variety of other venues for youth and amateur sports, including Fieldhouse USA, with 12 fullsized hardwood basketball/volleyball courts and indoor soccer/football turf; the Frisco Superdrome, a haven for professional and amateur cyclists; Lakes Tennis Academy, with 12 lighted outdoor hard courts; and the Warren Sports Complex, with 14 soccer/foot-

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Cowboys’ Star Facility is the Talk of Frisco

Warren Sports Complex serves a thriving youth sports market in Frisco.

ball fields and four baseball/softball fields. The city also offers three challenging golf courses for tournament play.

Tournaments and championships come to Frisco because of the quality and volume of facilities, said Roe, and because Frisco is both sports friendly and youth friendly. Families find plenty of engaging activities during hours off the field, including great dining and shopping, as well as family-oriented hotels.

“In 2014, sports travel generated a $15 million economic impact for Frisco,” said Roe. “Most of that was in youth tournaments, such as basketball, soccer and swim meets. We are fortunate that we have a proactive local leadership that understands the value of sports to our community, not only for our residents, but also for our economy.

We are also fortunate to have a strong history of partnerships among public and private organizations that have allowed Frisco to create a wealth of state-of-the-art facilities for youth and amateur sports.” august 8-14, 2016

nasc

NASC celebrates its 25 th anniversary

The NASC has grown from a handful of founding members 25 years ago to more than 2,500 members today by providing education, networking, event management and marketing resources. nasc, from page 2A

of which are in various phases of sports complex development.

“They have the beach and lots of dining and ancillary attractions,” Schumacher said. “They’re also equipped with the right kind of lodging, condos in particular, with kitchens and laundry.”

He pointed to Myrtle Beach, which has paid particular attention to its cur-

rent inventory mix and looked to fill any missing elements. The community has built a 10-court indoor facility adjacent to its convention center and a hotel, and they keep it busy all the time.

“People must turn to an in-depth, cautious analysis so they know ahead of time all the potential pitfalls and can make a sound business decision,” said Schumacher. “Sports tourism can help a community, but it’s not a panacea. If a community spends precious dollars

on sports tourism when it doesn’t have other infrastructure, it’s taking a serious risk. Just look at Rio de Janeiro. What happens on a national scale also happens on a local scale.”

Schumacher cautions cities against getting caught in bidding wars for events that may make less money than they cost. Communities must also do their best to resist event owners’ requirements for room rebates. And communities must always add to their

inventory with caution.

“The business continues to grow and will continue to grow for the foreseeable future — it is a great business and a great economic driver,” said Schumacher. “But I see that the economic benefits now will go to the highly experienced communities, which already know the risks and the best management strategies. Newcomers to the industry will not reap the same economic benefits, unfortunately.”

K&K Insurance: Uniquely Qualified for Sports Market The youth sports travel market has exploded over the last five years and K&K Insurance has stepped up to provide the specialized coverage necessary to ensure all aspects of youth and amateur events are properly handled.

K&K Insurance, with more than 60 years experience in the sports insurance marketplace, writes coverage for market segments from small youth baseball tournaments to NBA arenas.

The company writes insurance for 15 U.S. Olympic governing bodies.

“If it’s handled by K&K, clients know they’ll have insurance in place that’s designed specifically for sports and entertainment organizations,” said Lita Mello, senior vice president of K&K’s recreation division. “We can

august 8-14, 2016

take on events that other insurance carriers may pass up, such as marathons, because we understand the unique liability needs of events and faciliLita Mello, SVP, ties and are able recreation division to provide appropriate coverage. Our underwriters have the deep experience to think through every minor detail.”

K&K Insurance is unique because it is approved to write coverage in all 50 states. The company also retains legal counsel in every state to ensure that clients have experts in local legal

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intricacies, said Scott Lunsford, senior vice president of K&K’s sports division.

In addition, K&K offers unique coverages, such as participant legal liability, that are not standard policy with other insurance firms. K&K’s policies are unaggregated, meaning multiple claims can be made on an event’s insurance policy without exhausting the limits of the policy.

“And if the unfortunate does occur,” Lunsford said, “We have 30 years of experience adjusting and handling claims in youth Scott Lunsford, SVP, and amateur sports division

street & smith’s sportsbusiness journal

sports so that everyone is satisfied.”

K&K Insurance offers more than 70 programs in a wide range of sports and entertainment areas. Every division within K&K is deeply focused on its segment. Lunsford’s division knows everything about youth and amateur sports because that has been its focus for 30 years.

In 1952, Nord and Teddi Krauskopf were motorsports enthusiasts who began offering medical benefits for race car drivers. K&K Insurance has grown from a benevolent fund to the nation’s premier insurance firm for sports, from facilities to teams, to events and to leagues, and now insures more than 300,000 clients. K&K Insurance partners with more than 6,000 insurance agents nationwide.

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NASC celebrates its 25 th anniversary

Palm Beach County, Fla., with its year-round climate, dedicated sports commission and world-class facilities, has long been a favorite among events rights holders.

With the opening of the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in January 2017, the future spring training home of the MLB Houston Astros and Washington Nationals, the county will double its capacity to host national and international baseball and softball competitions.

Palm Beach County will be the only Florida county with four MLB teams in two world-class spring training facilities as the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins train at nearby Roger Dean Stadium. Between the new stadium and Roger Dean Stadium, Palm Beach County can tap into 26 MLB-quality diamonds, as well as world-class training facilities and seven multipurpose fields, built to FIFA specifications, for soccer,

palm beach county

Palm Beach County Tourneys Continue to Grow

The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches will host spring training for the Astros and Nationals.

lacrosse, field hockey, rugby and flag football.

“In 2015, we hosted 19 baseball tournaments in Palm Beach County, bringing in 700 teams with 12,000 athletes, 20,000 room nights and $12 million in

direct visitor spending,” said George Linley, executive director of the Palm Beach County Sports Commission.

“And next year, we’ll have the capacity to double that. We are already the state leader for hosting amateur baseball tournaments. With those 26 diamonds, plus our other MLB-quality fields, it will be hard for anyone to compete with us for baseball.”

The county already draws some of the best brands in amateur baseball, such as USA Baseball; Perfect Game USA, the nationally renowned premier provider of amateur baseball events; and the Under Armour Baseball Factory.

Now, Linley said, “we can build mega tournaments with 10,000 visitors each, filling thousands and thousands of room nights.”

Palm Beach County has a deep history in the sports travel industry, and is a

charter member of the National Association of Sports Commissions, said Linley.

The success derives from the county’s continued investment in diverse, top-ofthe-line facilities and its investment in a sports commission team dedicated to bringing extraordinary levels of service to rights holders.

“Our motto is ‘Just Bring Your Game,’” said Linley. “We want event organizers to solely concentrate on the sport-specific components of their tournament. We can handle everything else.”

And that service pays off.

“In the past year, we’ve hosted 138 major sporting events that represented 40 different kinds of sports, which generated 185,000 room nights — and the year isn’t over,” said Linley. “Consider that in the first decade of the millenSee palm beach county, page 9A

Wilmington, N.C., and its surrounding beach towns are seeing continued growth in a far-ranging swath of the sports tourism market.

The Tony Hawke Foundation has committed funding toward Ogden Skate Park, a professional competition-level facility opening in 2017. And as the NCAA has grown the sport of beach volleyball, the area has seen an increase in bookings for tournaments for its three manmade beach volleyball courts, along with the miles of natural beach courts.

“Our cities and New Hanover County have worked hard to create a spectacular inventory of facilities for both sports tourists and our local community,” said Kim Hufham, president and CEO of the Wilmington and Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Next May, the city of Wilmington

will host the 2017 Wells Fargo Golf Championship at Eagle Point.

“We expect to show that we can handle a PGA-sized tournament,” said Hufham. “Our residents have stepped up to ensure it’s a success.

We expect the championship will only grow our golf market.”

Within the next 15 months, the area will add to its hotel inventory by another 400 to 500 rooms, as several new hotels come online.

Hufham is expecting continued growth in all areas of the sports tourism market. IRONMAN North Carolina has acquired the area’s traditional PPD Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon and will drive participation numbers even higher. It is expected to spur more similar events for the area.

Triathlete magazine named the B2B one of the top five iron distance triathlons in the world.

wilmington, nc

Quality Venues a Sports Magnet for Wilmington

Ogden Park, a professional-competition level skate park, opens in 2017.

Promoters and organizers, such as USSSA youth baseball, NSA girls fast pitch softball and the U.S. Tennis Association, return to the area year after year. The Seaside Soccer Classic, now in its 23rd year, brings more than 4,300

regional athletes on 300 teams.

Wilmington, and the towns of Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach and Kure Beach, draws regional basketball, softball and lacrosse youth tournaments and national and international marathons and triathlons.

Proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway make the area a natural home for watersports.

Wilmington is also home to great tennis at the Althea Gibson Tennis Center, which features 19 lighted courts “Wilmington and the beaches offer the full package for families,” said Hufham. “With 8,000 rooms, from hotels to cottages, at a wide range of prices, there are options for every budget. Our facilities, combined with our great year-round weather, the wealth of activities and beautiful beaches, have made amateur sports travel our fastest growing market.”

Seaside Days & Great Plays

We’re always game

From pro-am volleyball tournaments to IRONMAN North Carolina, Wilmington’s hosted many diverse events filled with good times. Our welcoming year-round weather, breathtaking beaches and bustling riverfront are crowd-pleasers.

Book off-season for the best savings, and see where the water takes you.

NCCoastalSports.com | 800.650.9064 ext.124 8A

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august 8-14, 2016

NASC celebrates its 25 th anniversary palm beach county, from page 8A

palm beach county

nium, we averaged 75 events a year.

We’ve roughly doubled that output.

We’re now supporting almost as many events in the summer alone as we used to support in a full year.”

In addition to great service, Linley credits the continuing growth of facilities inventory, including more fields, tennis courts and gym space.

Palm Beach County has won bids for two of its biggest events this year because of one dynamic facility — the International Polo Club Palm Beach, which offers nine polo fields and a commitment to bringing amateur events of all kinds to the county.

In July, the county hosted the biennial, week-long American Youth Soccer Organization National Games, bringing more than 200 teams with 4,000 athletes and 9,000 total visitors to town for 13,000 room nights.

Over Thanksgiving weekend, the county will support the National Hockey Festival, owned by USA Field Hockey, bringing another 200 teams and 8,000 visitors for the long holiday.

“The reason we won those bids was because of the polo club,” said Linley.

“We can lay out 30-plus contiguous soccer fields so that all the soccer can be played in a single location. We were able to bring the National Hockey Festival here because the polo club could accommodate 33 hockey pitches. It’s very tough for other cities to compete with that ease of access.”

The two events combined, he said, involve 40 hotels creating a strong, positive economic impact throughout the county’s 38 municipalities.

Palm Beach County is also Florida’s No. 1 golf destination. With more than 170 courses, it’s a natural spot for the Honda Classic, a premier PGA tournament, that topped 200,000 attendees in 2016, as well as the PGA Allianz Championship and the LPGA Legends’ Walgreens Charity Championship.

Palm Beach County is having an “Olympic moment” this summer before the games in Rio de Janeiro, Linley said.

In late July, the county hosted Argentina, the world’s leading soccer team, playing against the No. 3 Colombian team and then, two days later, against the Haitian team, an emerging Caribbean powerhouse.

“We’ve had some banner years,” Linley said. “We’ve exceeded our expected growth in every area for the last five years. I attribute that to not only the growth in the sports travel market, but to the Palm Beach Sports Commission’s high level of investment in quality services, along with the continued expansion and growth of our worldclass venues.”

The Palm Beach Sports Commission has supported more than 138 youth and amateur sporting events for 40 different kinds of sports in the last 12 months, generating 185,000 room nights in Palm Beach County.

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NASC celebrates its 25 th anniversary

Triangle Sports Brings Venues, Events to N.C. USA Baseball National Training Complex

ing Complex.

In addition, the Triangle Sports Commission helped land the ACC Baseball Championship in Durham and co-produces the ACC Youth Baseball Tournament in conjunction with the college championship. The commission also works to bring other ACC championships to the Triangle, including men and women’s cross country and swimming and diving, along with women’s soccer and basketball.

For the future, the commission is working with a private developer to build the Wake Competition Center, which will serve as the permanent practice facility for the NHL Carolina Hurricanes. The $15 million facility will house two sheets of ice, a gym that can hold seven volleyball courts, a second gym for gymnastics competitions and two soccer fields. The center is expected to open in 2017.

“Our work facilitates long term, high impact events,” said Hill Carrow, CEO of the Triangle Sports Commission. “Our main achievement has been our ability to help bring world-class facilities online that bring international-level competition to our area.”

Myrtle Beach, S.C., with a longstanding history as a leading family beach destination in the U.S., has transformed itself, in the last seven years, into a top destination for sports travelers, particularly for youth events.

“The king of our market is the parent,” said Mike Anderson, executive director of sports tourism for the Myrtle Beach Regional Sports Alliance.

“When mom and dad decide to participate in sports travel, they want it to be in a destination location like Myrtle Beach.”

The sports alliance encompasses the 60-mile-long Grand Strand and its communities.

“In the last seven years, we’ve created some phenomenal facilities, such as the Grand Park in Myrtle Beach, which draws softball, baseball, soccer and lacrosse,” said Anderson. “We have the new Myrtle Beach Sports Center, an indoor facility bringing in basketball, wrestling and volleyball competitions. North Myrtle Beach Park and Sports Complex is outstanding. We have the Cal Ripken Experience with its replica fields. We have 8 Oaks Park, with state-of-the-art multipurpose fields.

And our own Coastal Carolina University — which just brought home the championship title from the NCAA College World Series — offers freshly renovated baseball and foot-

ball stadiums.”

While Myrtle Beach is naturally packed in the summer, the sports alliance leverages the area’s great climate and must-see attractions to bring sporting events year-round.

Anderson said a feasibility study is in the works to determine the next opportunities for growth in the sports travel market.

“The future is bright,” Anderson

MBCVB

triangle sports commission

The Triangle region of North Carolina has become a powerhouse for Olympic trials and amateur sports in the last 15 years, thanks to the all-volunteer Triangle Sports Commission (TSC). The TSC is one of only eight U.S. Olympic Committee Community Olympic Partners in the country.

The sports commission, which covers Wake, Durham and Orange counties, led the Triangle’s recruitment effort to relocate USA Baseball from Arizona. The TSC secured local partnerships valued at more than $13 million to create USA Baseball’s new headquarters and National Training Complex at Thomas Brooks Park in Cary, N.C. The commission has also led the effort toward hosting major international games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham.

TSC leadership helped secure funds to create the WakeMed Soccer Park, home of the NASL Carolina RailHawks.

At WakeMed, which the sports commission has outfitted for international rugby, the TSC played host to the firstever Olympic trials for USA Rugby in 2015 and USA Rugby College 7s National Championships in 2016.

More than $6.5 million raised by TSC leaders are currently being used to expand the 30-court Cary Tennis Center and will be used for a future expansion of the USA Baseball National Train-

Myrtle Beach a Top Choice for Families

The Grand Park Athletic Complex draws tournament play in multiple sports

said. “Diamond sports are our strength at the moment, but there are other sports, such as soccer, we haven’t even begun to tap. We’ve got plenty of land for facilities and a lot of capacity for support. We’ve got 100,000 guest rooms and more than 1,000 restaurants. There are so many great things in Myrtle Beach; families come for the sports and stay for the fun.”

Thank you to our CEO, Hill Carrow, for 15 years of great TSC leadership and for founding the National Association of Sports Commissions, the world’s number one sports tourism organization.

From three attendees at your first meeting in 1989 to almost 1000 at the 2016 Annual Symposium,

800.488.8998 | MyrtleBeachSports.com

it has been quite a ride for the NASC!”

Grand Facilities | Diverse Accommodations | Exciting Attractions Incredible Shopping | Family Entertainment | Pristine Beaches

We are proud of you for continuing to lead the way in sports tourism, becoming the first NASC member heading both an Allied member and Rights Holder member simultaneously. Here’s to many more years of great sports tourism achievements for you, the TSC, and the NASC!

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sports force

NASC celebrates its 25 th anniversary

Sports Force and Fields Inc., offers a turnkey sports vision for Panama City Beach, Fla.

Sports Force a Leader in Facility Creation A remarkable redevelopment is taking place in Sandusky, Ohio., The Sports Force Parks at Cedar Point Sports Center is scheduled to open in spring 2017 and will unquestionably become a new standard by which other sports tourism facilities will be judged.

The park is being built by The Sports Force and Fields, Incorporated, part of Sports Fields, Inc., an Atlanta-based sports park designer, builder and operator. The Sports Force created a unique public-private partnership with Erie County, Cedar Point, and Sports Force Parks to create this new sports tourism destination.

Sports Force Parks is establishing itself in the sports tourism industry, along with its sister divisions, Fields, Incorporated and The Sports Force as a true end-to-end, solutions providers.

“We say we’re about sports, family and fun, not just the tournament and wins and losses,” says Brian F. Storm, President and CEO of Sports Fields, Inc. “Our goal is to create new youth sports opportunities for communities that are looking at the redevelopment of under-utilized or undeveloped spaces in their locale; and, who are desirous of creating new positive revenue streams.” Sports Fields, Inc. and its affiliated divisions are seeking to create and operate new types of sports tourism experiences for its clients, including progressive communities and their local governmental entities.

Along with the professional caliber of these fields are a whole range of amenities for families to participate in when their child is not playing. These include miniature golf, playgrounds, a ropes course, a trampoline park, passive recreation opportunities, a full roster of food and beverage concessions, and an outdoor theater.

Sports Fields, Inc. is currently involved in sports tourism parks projects throughout the United States with active projects being developed in Mississippi, Utah, Colorado, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia and Florida. “We are actively seeking community partners around the country that are looking to make an impact in the youth sports industry and their bottom lines,” Storm says. “Our unique ability to creaugust 8-14, 2016

ate multisport destinations that are designed to transform and cater to each individual sport allows for our parks to create a year-round impact for our partners.”

The company is an industry leader in sports complex planning, design, construction and management, providing everything from feasibility studies and master plans to complete “vision to reality” production and operating of sports complexes and parks.

Sports Fields, Inc. provides its clients with a seamless process that results in specifically planned projects built for long-term success with sensitivity to budgets, operating efficiencies, consumer expectations and local, state, and federal requirements.

“Our turnkey approach gives our clients the security of knowing they can trust their entire vision to us” Storm remarked. He went on to say that, “as more communities tap into the youth sports market, sports complexes must bring more amenities to the table, whether they are for participants or their families seeking to fully experience all that the sports, the facilities, and the geographic location have to offer.”

Jim Arnold, Director of Business Development for Sports Fields, Inc. noted that “we are taking lessons from professional sports regarding the need for better fan experiences and bringing that to youth travel sports.” Our goal is simple…change the expectation of a youth sports tournament with a focus on sports, family and fun.”

As a result, sports complexes and their communities must find ways to make tournament travel fun for the entire family. Sports Force Parks at Cedar Point Sports Center epitomizes this trend by combining synthetic turf sports fields with entertainment attractions, onsite and offsite and all in an easily accessible family destination.

This newest Sports Force Park has already proven to be a success with having developed relationships with youth sports organizations in the region, as well as a national partnership with US Lacrosse. With registration now open for spring, 2017, the complete spring and summer schedules will be released later this fall. special advertising section

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NASC celebrates its 25 th anniversary

Birmingham Proves a Natural Choice for USOC Trials

greater birmingham cvb

national and international visitors to events such as professional tennis’ Fed Cup and Davis Cup. In June 2017, the city will draw thousands to the National Senior Games, a 19-sport, biennial national championship for men and women ages 50 and up.

In 2018, Birmingham will host the U.S. Women’s Open for the first time, bringing the LPGA world to Shoal Creek golf club, a Jack Nicklaus-designed course.

In 2021, the city has been tapped to host the World Games, which, under the Barber Motorsports Park is the home of the prestigious Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, drawing 100,000 visitors annually to Birmingham

greater birmingham cvb

Deep ties with the Olympic and Paralympic Games, a wealth of worldclass facilities and a community of avid sports fans combine to make Birmingham, Ala., a natural choice as the final celebration for the 2016 Team USA Road to Rio Tour.

The Lakeshore Foundation, site of the celebration, is a sprawling campus with world-class athletic facilities dedicated to fitness and sports for those with physically disabling conditions. The barrierfree athletic complex, with two Olympic-sized heated pools, a fieldhouse with three hardwood courts and a 200meter Mondo surface track, is a national training site for both Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

At the Lakeshore Foundation, athletes can compete in wheelchair basketball, track and field, swimming, power soccer, wheelchair tennis and marksmanship and wheelchair rugby. It serves as the home of USA Wheelchair Rugby.

“Birmingham is a natural for sports,” said David Galbaugh, vice president of sports sales and marketing for the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We’re an enthusiastic sports town. And we’re proud to host sporting events from the youth and amateur level to the collegiate and professional levels.”

The city is located in the center of the Southeastern footprint, making it a natural hub for regional tournaments, and is easily accessible by air, bringing

The Birmingham Crossplex is just one of the city’s premium sports venues.

patronage of the International Olympic Committee, showcases more than 25 sports, such as squash, sumo, roller sports and gymnastics, every four years.

The event will bring an estimated 4,500 athletes and officials from 100 nations.

“The World Games have not been held in the U.S. since the Games’ founding in 1981,” said Galbaugh. “We’re

excited that Birmingham was chosen for the Games’ return.”

As headquarters for the NCAA’s Southeastern Conference, Birmingham is a natural draw for every kind of collegiate championship.

“Although football dominates the headlines, SEC schools are powerhouses in other sports as well, such as gymnastics, softball and baseball, and Birmingham, with our wealth of college and other facilities, play frequent host to them,” said Galbaugh.

Birmingham is the annual home of the prestigious Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, held at the Barber Motorsports Park. The event annually draws close to 100,000 visitors and has a $30 million economic impact on the city.

The Birmingham CrossPlex, named

the Indoor Track and Field Facility of the Year by the American Sports Builders Association, is home to the area’s largest swimming and diving championships, as well as volleyball, basketball, wrestling and cheerleading competitions. Its indoor track and field components are built to international competition standards.

“Birmingham is an enthusiastic sports town. With our 16,000 hotel rooms and outstanding facilities and service, we can support the best in amateur, collegiate and professional sporting events,” said Galbaugh. “With our culinary scene, our nightlife and our attractions, visitors will find that the energy and excitement here make Birmingham the perfect sports, as well as vacation, destination.”

“State-of-the-art athletic facilities & southern hospitality.”

Come see why the NCAA and World Games chose Birmingham.

Swimming at the Birmingham CrossPlex Book your sporting event in Birmingham / (800) 458–8085 / sportsbirmingham.com Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau

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NASC celebrates its 25 th anniversary

Pensacola, Fla., has a rich, storied tradition with sports that nearly matches its long deep community history as the first European settlement in America.

“Some of the greatest names in sports have their roots here in Escambia County,” said Ray Palmer, executive director of Pensacola Sports. “Baseball Hall of Famer Don Sutton; NFL Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith and Derrick Brooks; golf great Bubba Watson; Olympic gold medal sprinter Justin Gatlin — the list goes on. The list is even more remarkable considering we have a population of fewer than 300,000.”

The sports commission itself, founded in 1955, is one of the oldest sports tourism organizations in the nation and prides itself on its ability to create and manage sporting events and bring an unprecedented level of attention to every necessary detail. The sports commission team is a dedicated group of event organizers and planners, emphasizing service over quick sales.

Palmer thanked the National Association of Sports Commissions for bringing together the nation’s sports commissions to advance sports tourism and to promote industry-wide professionalism.

“The NCAA has turned to us for national championships because they trust that we have the needed depth of knowledge and the ability to meet all of their specific requirements,” said Palmer. “Rights holders and governing

pensacola sports

Pensacola Sports History a Draw for Athletes

Clockwise from top left, the Pensacola Double Bridge Run; the Pensacola Beach Firefighters Challenge; Subway High School All-Star Series football and basketball.

bodies know we understand what it takes to handle all the details.”

The sports commission created and operates one of the top 15K runs in the nation, the Pensacola Double Bridge Run, which brings in about 5,000 out-oftown athletes.

“That sounds small, but not many people actually run 15Ks,” said Palmer.

“Our small residential population means those 5,000 runners must come from everywhere, both nationally and internationally, to compete. And they do.”

Pro Watercross Jet Ski Racing, some-

times called “NASCAR on the water,” for three years running, has brought teams from all over the world to participate in racing and freestyle driving at Pensacola Beach.

Sports tourism is a solid economic engine for the family-friendly vacation spot set on the sugar sands of the Gulf of Mexico. It generates about $30 million in direct spending and about 30,000 room nights.

Relying on a strong mix of city, county and university facilities, along with private venues, Pensacola is a

competitive player in the youth sports market.

Soccer is the No. 1 tournament sport, played at the area’s 18-field soccer complex, followed by baseball and volleyball. Lacrosse is an emerging tournament market for Pensacola. The Roger Scott Tennis Center, a 28-court facility, is a frequent site of USTA events, including the Pensacola Futures Championship, a pro circuit event.

The sports commission also brings to life the Subway High School All-Star Series for football, volleyball, soccer, basketball, softball and baseball across three counties of athletes.

“In Escambia County, there is a passion for the development of youth sports of all kinds,” said Palmer. “And it shows in the quality of our tournaments and in the phenomenal athleticism we see from kids who’ve grown up here.”

In 1988, Escambia County had seven native sons and daughters competing for the U.S. Olympic team. Five of those Olympiads were from the same high school.

“We have phenomenal youth coaching,” Palmer said. “Our worldclass athletes come from every kind of background, from the poorer inner city to the country club kids to any combination in between. If we could figure out exactly what makes Pensacola such a hotbed of great young athletes, we’d bottle it and sell it. We’ve decided it must be something in the water.”

Celebrating a 25-year winning streak!

sports destination with more to explore

Pensacola Sports congratulates the National Association of Sports Commissions on this year’s milestone.

For 25 years the NASC has been promoting sports tourism and helping local communities like the Pensacola Bay Area create incredible experiences surrounding athletics.

Visit Pensacola and Be Moved by the sporting competitions we host - running and cycling events, baseball, soccer, tennis, golf and more!

FOR A FULL CALENDAR OF EVENTS, VISIT PENSACOLASPORTS.ORG

august 8-14, 2016

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NASC celebrates its 25 th anniversary

With an extensive track record of hosting successful sporting events, along with a combination of strong partnerships with more than 20 local organizations and a wealth of worldclass facilities, Greater Raleigh has emerged as one of the nation’s leading destinations for sports tourism.

“The key to our success is our host partners,” said Scott Dupree, executive director of the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA). “That’s our trademark.

That’s what makes this such a great sports town — teamwork and partnerships. We have so many teams, colleges and universities, venues, munici-

palities and clubs that not only host championship events, but host them incredibly well.”

Greater Raleigh and surrounding Wake County are making a name for their abilities, so well, in fact, that the National Association of Sports Commissions named GRSA the 2015 Sports Tourism Organization of the Year.

Raleigh and North Carolina State University welcomed the first and second rounds of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at PNC Arena in March, making 2016 the fourth time the area has hosted March Madness events in the last 12 years, and the sec-

ond time in a three-year span. The tournament was a slam-dunk success and brought 19,676 visitors to the region and generated an estimated $4.6 million in direct visitor spending.

On the heels of the basketball tournament, Raleigh welcomed runners from all over the nation for the third annual Rock ’n’ Roll Raleigh Marathon and Half Marathon in April. More than 9,000 registered runners from all 50 states and eight countries hit the pavement in cool, sunny weather and enjoyed the high-energy weekend and scenic course. The new “Weekend of Music” concept featured a concert

LE A DER A ND LEGEND

GEORGE WILLIAMS S a i nt A u g u s t i n e ’s Un i ve r s i t y

He inspires greatness, coaching 39 Olympic track and field athletes and 37 NCAA Championship teams. Locals like Coach Williams help make Raleigh, N.C., a top destination for sports championships and events. Find out how the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance can help simplify planning and stretch budgets further, giving your event an added edge.

Put your roots down in Raleigh.

@raleighncsports

grsa

Greater Raleigh is a Favorite for Sports Travelers

NCAA men’s basketball first and second rounds were played in PNC Arena in March.

on Friday night, followed by live music on Saturday at the expo and inaugural 5K, and concluded with a post-race festival on Sunday.

In June, IRONMAN 70.3 returned to Raleigh and attracted 2,200 athletes from 42 states and 18 countries. The fourth year of the event was a success by any measure and included the IRONKIDS Raleigh Fun Run. “The GRSA is delighted and proud to have partnerships with two of the most respected and highly regarded brands in the sports event industry – IRONMAN and the Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon Series,” said Dupree.

A fourth signature event for spring in Greater Raleigh is the Deep South Classic, a girls basketball showcase held on 20 courts in the Raleigh Convention Center, as well as several surrounding venues. This year’s event welcomed the largest number of girls’ showcase teams in the event’s history (488) and generated more than 9,000 total hotel room nights in more than 60 hotels throughout Wake County. Direct visitor spending totaled $3.1 million, an increase of approximately 40 percent over last year’s event — another slam dunk for area hotels and restaurants.

The Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance is anticipating more successes in the next 12 months. The area will once again host the NCAA Women’s College Cup (the Final Four of women’s soccer) in December. Last year’s event in Cary was arguably the most successful Women’s College Cup in history, with more than 25,000 tickets sold. And Cary will again play host to the NCAA Baseball Division II World Series in 2017 and 2018 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex. The NCAA Division I Women’s Lacrosse Championship will make its debut in Cary in 2017, which marks the first time in the championSee raleigh, page 15A

Learn more at raleighsports.org

2015 Sports Tourism Organization of the Year grsa

—National Association of Sports Commissions

A division of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau The 2015 NCAA Women’s College Cup, held in Cary, was a sellout.

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The Deep South Classic welcomed 488 girl’s basketball teams. raleigh, from page 14

ship’s more than 30-year history that the event will be held outside of the Northeast.

Greater Raleigh houses some of the finest sports facilities in the nation. PNC Arena, with seating for almost 20,000 and 66 luxury suites, has hosted NCAA men and women’s basketball tournaments, Stanley Cup Finals, the NHL AllStar Weekend and NHL Entry Draft.

WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary was the beneficiary of a $6.4 million expansion that saw its seating capacity grow to 10,000.

Other venues include Five-County Stadium for baseball in Zebulon; Carter-Finley Stadium for football at N.C. State; Cary Tennis Park, one of the largest in the Southeast with 29 lighted courts; the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, home of amateur baseball in the U.S.; Walnut Creek Softball Complex with nine fields; and the WRAL Soccer Park with 25 fields.

The Raleigh Convention Center,

home to the Deep South Classic, is a multipurpose, state-of-the-art facility with more than 500,000 square feet under cover, including a 150,000-square-foot exhibit hall.

“For most rights-holders, the single biggest factor in selecting a site is the quality of the venue,” Dupree said.

“We are fortunate here in Greater Raleigh to have a slew of world-class facilities. Other factors that strengthen our bids include our superb host partners and our abundance of hotel rooms. We’re convenient and have a great climate. But most of all, we have tremendous community support and we provide all of our visitors with a dynamic experience. All these factors combine to make Greater Raleigh a premier sports event destination.”

grsa

grsa

NASC celebrates its 25 th anniversary

The third annual Rock ’n’ Roll Raleigh Marathon and Half-Marathon brought 9,000 runners from all 50 states and eight nations in April.

if

Knowledge = POWER then

RG Live = BOOM!

A Sampling of Sporting Events in Greater Raleigh in 2016 • NCAA Men’s Basketball, first and second rounds • Rock ‘n’ Roll Raleigh Marathon and Half Marathon • Ironman 70.3 Raleigh • NCAA Baseball Division II World Series • NCAA Women’s College Cup • USA Ultimate Division I College Championships • ACC Women’s Soccer Championship • Great American Cross Country Festival • CASL visitraleigh.com National Soccer Series • SAS Championship, part of the PGA Tour Champions • USA Baseball Tournament of Stars • Deep South Classic • USA Swimming Southern Zone Age Group Championships • ACC Tennis Championships • USTA Tennis on Campus National Championships • 12 North Carolina High School Athletic Association State Championships • Powerade State Games of North Carolina

• raleighsports.org (website) • @raleighncsports (Twitter and Instagram)

august 8-14, 2016

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Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Broward County Sports Development Central Florida Sports Commission Charlotte Harbor Visitor & Convention Bureau Citrus County Sports Development Columbia County Sports Commission Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Emerald Coast Sports Development Office Gainesville Sports Commission Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau Jacksonville Sports Council Kissimmee Sports Commission Lee County Sports Development Naples, Marco Island and Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau Ocala/Marion County Sports Commission

Palm Beach County Sports Commission Palm Coast & the Flagler Beaches Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau Pasco County Sports Commission Pensacola Sports Polk County Sports Marketing Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners Sarasota County Sports Commission Space Coast Sports Promotions St. Pete-Clearwater Sports Commission Tallahassee Sports Council Tampa Bay Sports Commission Treasure Coast Sports Commission Visit Orlando Sports

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