NASC Playbook - September 2014

September 2014

Inside this issue: NASC Board of Directors Summer Retreat Recap NASC Webinars: Your Chance to Learn More About Your Industry A Look Back at the 2014 Sports Commissions of the Year Are You Ready for a Crisis?

Register Now for the 23rd Annual NASC Symposium NASC Sports Legacy Committee Announces 2015 Beneficiary NASC Celebrates its Long-Time Members 速

速

Your Resource for the Sports Tourism Industry

#SportsTourism

National Headquarters

9916 Carver Road, Suite 100 Cincinnati, OH 45242

Telephone/Fax

(513) 281-3888/(513) 281-1765

Website

www.SportsCommissions.org

Staff

Don Schumacher, CSEE, Executive Director Lori Gamble, Associate Executive Director Beth Hecquet, CMP, CMM, Director of Meetings & Events Elizabeth Young, Director of Membership & Marketing Meagan McCalla, Member Services Coordinator

Board of Directors Officers

Kevin Smith, CSEE, Director, St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission, Chairman Greg Ayers, CSEE, President & CEO, Discover Kalamazoo, Vice Chairman/Chair-Elect Ralph Morton, CSEE, Executive Director, Seattle Sports Commission, Treasurer Mike Anderson, CSEE, Executive Director, Myrtle Beach Sports Commission Terry Hasseltine, CSEE, Executive Director, Maryland Sports, Immediate Past Chairman

Directors

John David, CSEE, Chief Operating Officer, USA BMX Tammy Dunn, CSEE Sports Marketing Manager, Snohomish County Sports Commission Greg Fante, CSEE, Director of Sports Development, Louisville Sports Commission Kindra Fry, CSEE, SMP, Vice President of Sales and Marketing Bryan-College Station CVB John Gibbons, CSEE, Executive Director, Rhode Island Sports Commission Rick Hatcher, CSEE, Executive Director, Treasure Coast Sports Commission Brian Hickey, CSEE, Director of Sports, Visit Tallahassee/ Tallahassee Sports Council Mike Hill, CSEE, Senior Director, Sports Sales, Hilton Worldwide - Sports Sales Jeff Jarnecke, Associate Director of Championships and Alliances, NCAA Michael Price, CSEE, Executive Director, Greater Lansing Sports Authority Janis Ross, Executive Director, Eugene, Cascades & Coast Sports Janis Schmees Burke, CSEE, Executive Director, Harris County - Houston Sports Authority Benjamin Wilder, CSEE, Director, Savannah Sports Council Nancy Yawn, CSEE, CDME, Director, Round Rock CVB Marc Zimmerman, CSEE, Sales & Events Manager, Central Florida’s Polk County Sports Marketing

Media & Public Relations Advisers

Jackie Reau, Game Day Communications

Betsy Ross, Game Day Communications

www.SportsCommissions.org

TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from Executive Director.............................4 NASC Members Receive Discounted Rate on Street & Smith’s ...............4 NASC Board of Directors Summer Retreat Recap....................................................5 NASC Webinars: Your Chance to Learn More About Your Industry.............................. 6-8 A Look Back at the 2014 Sports Commissions of the Year.........................................................9 Are You Ready for a Crisis?......................... 10-11 Register Now for the 23rd Annual NASC Symposium............................................. 12 NASC Sports Legacy Committee Announces 2015 Beneficiary..............................................14 NASC Celebrates its Long-Time Members............15

Affinity Partners

In an effort to advocate for our nearly 700 member organizations, the NASC has developed a strategic public relations plan, which includes more national coverage. Since 2012, Game Day Communications, a public relations firm based in Cincinnati, OH, has worked with national media to share information about sports tourism and the good things our members do.

NASC Members Receive Discounted Rate on Street & Smith’s

This summer, national stories mentioned the NASC including: Summer vacation hot spot: The sidelines featured on CNBC.com.

Costs for youth sports set to spiral ... again. was featured on TODAY.com.

Each member organization received a complimentary copy of the issue. We encourage you to use the special section as an educational tool for your key stakeholders and constituents. The special section is also available as a downloadable PDF on the Association website, www.sportscommissions.org/SBJspecialsection.

Not only are reporters reaching out to the NASC for quotes, but they are also sourcing industry research and reports commissioned by the NASC. Dr. Lisa Delpy Neirotti, Ph.D, at George Washington University, conducts the research required for the NASC to publish our annual state of the industry report.

Special thanks to all of our members who supported the special section as advertisers:

We thank all of our members who share information about their destination or sport and participate in our annual surveys.

We couldn’t conduct important industry research and publish reports without your support.

Members can download the most recent state of the industry report at http://www.sportscommissions.org/Research.

(Login required to access the report.)

Yours in Sport,

Don Schumacher, CSEE Executive Director Don@SportsCommissions.org

The NASC and many of our members were featured in an 18-page special advertising section in the August 4-10, 2014 issue of Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal.

The section highlights the evolution of sports tourism and the history of NASC and its members as the pioneers for sports-related travel.

• Birmingham CVB • Elizabethtown Sports Park • Frisco CVB • Greater Columbus Sports Commission • Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance • Maryland Sports • Massachusetts Sports Marketing Office • Myrtle Beach Sports Center

• •

• • • • • •

Oklahoma City CVB Palm Beach County Sports Commission Pensacola Sports Association Rocky Top Sports World Sioux Falls CVB The Sports Facilities Advisory Visit Jacksonville VisitPittsburgh

Additionally, the NASC has negotiated a special discount on SportsBusiness Journal. Members who are not subscribers or who have not had a subscription during the prior six months from the date of their order may subscribe for the annual rate of $174. That’s a $90 savings of the basic rate of $264. To take advantage of this offer, simply contact SportsBusiness Journal at: help@sportsbuinessjournal. com, reference the NASC $90 discount, and provide your member account number and last name. You can find your member account number on the My Account page of www.SportsCommissions.org or you can request your account number at info@sportscommissions.org.

Annual Membership Benefits

The NASC continues to develop benefits and services to make your organization more efficient and effective in the sports event industry each year including: • • • • • • •

4

Online Directories Online Event RFP Database NASC Economic Impact Calculator Industry Research and Reports Job and Internship Board Models and Samples CSEE Program

• • • • • •

Best Practices Webinars • Event Webinars

Market Segment Meetings • Sports Event Symposium • Consulting Services

Shipping Discounts, courtesy of PartnerShip®

Car Rental and Airport Shuttle Discounts Premium Item Discounts SportsBusiness Journal subscription discount

#SportsTourism

NASC Board of Directors Summer Retreat Recap Membership services and professional development were two of the main topics covered at the 2014 National Association of Sports Commissions Board of Directors Summer Retreat, held July 16-18 at the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s office in downtown Indianapolis.

The meeting is the yearly opportunity for the Board to discuss topics that affect the long-term growth and viability of the NASC, and how NASC can best serve its members.

Chair/Chair-Elect of the Board. “The Board wants to find new ways, from education to networking, to help our members establish themselves as leaders in this field.”

The next board of directors meeting will be held in Chicago, IL. As a reminder as the only not-for—profit association serving the sports tourism industry, we urge members to go to the board of directors with any questions, comments, or concerns about benefits and services that the NASC provides to make your membership and your association more valuable.

“We see the summer retreat as a great way to proactively look at the issues facing the NASC and its member organizations,” said Kevin Smith, CSEE, director of the St. Petersburg/ Clearwater Sports Commission and the chair of the Board of Directors. “We use this time to discuss some of the ways we can help our members be even more productive.”

Topics during the retreat included CSEE and professional development for members, Association meetings and events, and new membership services.

The Board also heard from Mark Lewis, executive vice president for championships and alliances of the NCAA, on the changing environment of college sports.

“These topics affect how our membership does business in the competitive sports tourism industry,” said Greg Ayers, CSEE, president and CEO of Discover Kalamazoo and Vice

Staff Travel Schedule Dates

Location

Meeting/Event

Staff Member

October 14-16

Charlotte, NC

NRPA

Elizabeth Young and Meagan McCalla

October 21-23 Ft. Lauderdale, FL AAU Convention

November 10-14 Las Vegas, NV TEAMS

November 19-21

Orlando, FL

USSSA

Elizabeth Young and Beth Hecquet, CMP, CMM Elizabeth Young and Beth Hecquet, CMP, CMM Elizabeth Young

www.SportsCommissions.org 5

NASC Webinars: Your Chance to Learn More About Your Industry One of the advantages of being a member of NASC is that you have the opportunity to take part in free webinars on issues and opportunities within the sports events business.

This summer, two of the most popular Best Practices webinars were on the roles of sports commissions and CVBs in the sports event business, and services for event owners and destinations.

We’ve chosen excerpts from both of these webinars, the first led by NASC Executive Director Don Schumacher, CSEE, and the second, by Zack Davis, CMP, of the Louisville CVB, for you to review. We encourage you to view the archived presentations (just click on the “education” tab on the NASC home page, then click “webinar archives”) and listen to the full presentation as well as questions that your colleagues had as follow-up.

And watch our webinar schedule for upcoming sessions!

Defining The Roles of Sports Commissions and Convention and Visitors Bureaus Don Schumacher, CSEE Executive Director National Association of Sports Commissions Two names: Sports Commissions and Convention and Visitors Bureaus..only one has “sports” in the name. That is not an insignificant way to get started. I understand the differences, and quite a few of you know the differences as well as I do.

It’s a useful exercise to see the differences between these two types of organizations, in the sense that in a perfect world, a destination that’s got both has the best of all worlds.

Only one (of these) is one-stop-shopping for sports events, again the sports commission, but it is so important to also observe, only one of those names is one-stop-shopping for destination management services (CVBs). Nobody can do it all. For those of you who are CVBs who are trying to do it all in this business, you’ve got a major challenge.

A convention and visitors bureau needs to be in the partnership business. If there’s no sports commission in the community to work with, you need to be able to partner. And you need to be able to work with local event organizers for the various services you need in order to pull off an event, whereas the sports commission does not.

The heart of the issue is direct visitor spending. NASC reported $6.68 billion in direct visitor spending in 2011, $8.3 billion in 2012 and $8.7 billion in 2013. That draws the interest of CVBs in the sports tourism industry.

2014, I’m calling it the Year of the Pirate. There’s even more business than ever before. Whenever you have more

business, you’ve got more shipping. And if you’ve got more shipping taking place, you’ve got more pirates…a CVB is going to have to wade through a lot of choices that a sports commission intuitively knows and understands.

Because a sports commission knows what it can do, and what the community expects. If you run a sports commission you don’t even give thought to events or sports that you don’t have the time, or the facilities, to handle. You just forget about them. And you focus entirely on those that you know you can deliver on.

For those convention and visitors bureaus that are in the sports tourism industry only for room nights, my personal opinion is you have a very difficult challenge. Because it’s not all about room nights, actually, it’s all about the competition. And in order to get the room nights, you as a bureau have to do what a sports commission does, which is cover the difference between what you know and understand, and what has to be done in order to deliver that event in the absence of a sports commission.

The way you do that is with the local leagues, clubs, sports organizations that volunteer to help and keep you on the upside and keep you from getting into difficulty along the way.

In sports, when they say ‘yes,’ that’s when the work starts.

It doesn’t stop. And you need to be very well informed.

Fortunately, sports commissions and CVBs in the same market can work, hand in glove. Because the CVB can always find out where the rooms are and what price, and a sports commission will always know what the event’s asking for.

What’s really important to remember is that a sports commission is going to know how to look behind what might be on paper, in terms of what the event owners says they’re looking for, because they’ve had a lot of experience of looking at sports events RFPs or requests.

Just as that’s true, the sports commission is still going to want the convention and visitors bureau’s opinion.

The biggest move we’re seeing today is to a department within a bureau. We’re seeing a move from the sales person being a part of the sales team that sells the destination, to the sports activities being split off into a separate department because of the differences between bidding on a sports event and a meeting, convention or trade show.

There are fundamental differences between sports commissions and CVBs. If you’re in a market that has both, you’re in a great situation, because you’ve got a partner and there’s nowhere you can’t go with that partner. If, on the other hand, you’re a CVB and you’re in a market where a sports commission is simply not

#SportsTourism 6

TIPS FOR DESTINATIONS

feasible, you’ve got to get very good and fast in understanding how to do that.

And the only way I’ve ever been able to figure out how to do things like that is to talk with others who are doing it. And where you can do that, of course, is at the NASC, where you have a large number of CVBs that are trying to do the very same thing you’re trying to do. And there’s a lot of institutional knowledge out there that you can take advantage of.

10 Things to Think About: Services for Event Owners & Destinations Zack Davis, CMP Convention Services Manager Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau Zack Davis, CMP, geared a few quick strategies toward destinations and how to better service sporting events in your cities. He also shared suggestions with event owners on how to tap into, and get the most out of services offered by destinations.

1. Think like an event owner. It’s all about strategic partnerships.

We really want to think outside the playing field. Sports groups are so different, we need to think like the event owners and like the planners that are operating them and try to come up with strategic partnerships.

We are the experts at the destination level of what we have in our city and what can work well for these clients.

And they don’t have that expertise, so if we can connect them with vendors, venues, maybe it’s a local business, maybe there’s some sponsorship in there, mostly probably in kind, always think like an event owner and look at strategic partnerships.

2. Who are their customers? Learn your groups’ goals and priorities.

This is from the destination standpoint. Generally we’re thinking in terms of athletes and fans and spectators of the event, but one key customer that I think oftentimes we overlook is the exhibitors, the sponsors and the other partners.

Ready. Set. Go.

Client Engagements: Round Rock Sports Center Upward Star Center

City Beach

Aviator Sports & Events Center

Rocky Top Sports World

Tampa Bay Sports Commission

Plan

Spooky Nook Sports

Branchburg Sports Complex

Fund

Open

Myrtle Beach Sports Center

National Stadium of the Bahamas

Canada Games Centre

And Many More…

Manage

www.sportadvisory.com

www.SportsCommissions.org 7

These are basically the moneymakers, oftentimes, for the event, especially for sporting groups, and taking care of the exhibitors and the different folks that come in and sponsor the event, is just as important, if not more important to the client as the fans and spectators.

3. The experience matters; make it authentic.

We all know our destinations, and Louisville, I’m sure if you all could talk to me right now, if I asked what we’re known for, you’d probably say horses and Slugger and maybe, just maybe, you’d say bourbon. We know that and each destination has something that makes you special, so bring that out. It can be as small or as big as you want it.

4. Be yourself; it’s OK to make mistakes. Just keep the clients’ interest first.

It’s always, always important to keep the clients’ interests first. It allows you to be a much better service person or sales person on the destination side, and it builds a much more authentic relationship with that planner so that when you can’t say yes and you need to say, we need to try that, when a difficult situation comes up, you have a lot more ease to make that ask.

5. It’s not what services we offer; it’s how we offer those services.

We all essentially offer kind of the same stuff…it’s not about what services, because we can’t all offer the same, but it’s really about how we deliver those services.

This is the one thing that no matter if you handle just sports, or if you work with conventions and associations, this is true for both worlds. It’s not about what services, it’s about how.

TIPS FOR EVENT OWNERS & RIGHTS HOLDERS 6. Ask what services destinations offer.

Ask us what we can do to help. As crazy as that sounds, especially in the sports world, I’m finding that you guys have a lot on your plate. You’re planning five, six, seven, 10, 12 events a year, you’re moving from city to city, and take a moment and see how we can help, see what we can do to benefit your group.

7. Communicate what you need as soon as possible!

I know we talk about this in just about every educational session and conference we go to, but good communication and building relationships really is the core of our business and the way you succeed, or don’t succeed, honestly.

So I say communicate what you need, as soon as possible.

Again, I think the sports world is different than the convention and association world because you guys have so many events throughout the year, you’re moving around so much, that if you have an event in Louisville in October you may not even want to talk to me until August. Well, that’s totally fine, but I think the key here is to communicate that.

A lot of times services managers specifically, we….reach out to you at certain times, maybe it’s monthly, maybe it’s weekly, and just always be in contact with you, we’re kind of expected to know everything that you know and report that back internally and to the city. So that’s why you know we’re not bugging you, but we are certainly looking for information and how we can help.

8. Tell us what makes you stand out to your attendees and stakeholders.

It kind of goes back to us understanding what you’re all about and who your VIPs are and the important people are to you and what makes your event a success.

Much like the previous point, tell us what you need, tell us what we can do to make you awesome, to make you a rock star, to make you successful. Because we want you to be a success, because we know if that happens, the event will be a success and the city will have a successful event, more folks staying in it. We need to know what your hot buttons are.

9. Let us in; help us help you.

Let us be involved, you know, a lot of times, in our world, I may work with 140 events in a year, and some I won’t know when they come and go, or that’s all I’ll know, when they come and when they go, I won’t ever talk to them, others, I’ll be hands on the whole thing. Don’t be shy, if you’re not working with the CVB or not working with anyone at the city level, get in contact, find out who your contact will be, the person who can help.

And just let us get involved, treat us like a staff member, hopefully, share information with us, we are only here to help and the more we are aware of your event, the more of a relationship we have with you, the more we can advocate for you. And I think that is our primary role--one of them is to be the advocate for our client.

10. In the end, it’s all about hotel rooms for CVBs. This is the point I want to hammer home with the event owners and rights holders, because I think this is one of the core differences between sporting events and conventions and associations. In the end, it’s all about hotel rooms.

We’re looking at the bed tax, because that’s how the CVB is funded, how much bed tax you’re producing, and all that to put a value on the business. Because all of our services are complimentary, we’re here to help you, but we also have to be able to justify that. So if you don’t do a lot on the hotel end…if you can track at all or show the significance of the hotel impact you have on a city, it is super important. No matter how small or how big it is, if you show a willingness to do that, it’s just really vital to what we do in our business.

#SportsTourism 14 8

A Look Back at the 2014 Sports Commissions of the Year Don Schumacher, CSEE Executive Director National Association of Sports Commissions

This past April, the Harris County Houston Sports Authority and the Erie Sports Commission were named sports commissions of the year in their respective market categories. All too often we make these awards and that’s that. We move on. That can be a shame. We intend to feature these exceptional performances. It is no small thing to be selected above your peers, particularly in a competitive business like ours.

I was struck by the completeness of the submission from Houston Harris County. They covered it all: big ticket events, one-time events like the NBA All-Star Game, the revitalization of a college football classic, a nearly sold-out USA Rugby game and plenty of locally oriented events and activities. The word that comes to mind is comprehensive. As focused as they are on major events they are committed to quality of life issues for residents and acting as a conduit connecting events to every aspect of the broader community.

Great job, Houston! You have raised the bar!

In Erie, we have a winning submission from an organization still in its formative stages! It has been less than three years since the commission started. In 2013 they were involved in 19 events! Wow! They bid on events, created events and assisted others to be more than they have been. In the bargain they produced an estimated $4.58 million in economic impact.

Virtually all of this impact was not happening before the commission organized and started its work. Erie is quickly becoming a poster child for destinations. They are the most recent example of what can be accomplished between the business, governmental and hospitality communities when everyone pulls together!

Submitting an Entry for 2015 Member Awards Online submission for entries will open in November 2014. Entries are due by Friday, February 6, 2015 at 11:59pm ET. For more information about Member Awards, contact Elizabeth Young, Director of Membership and Marketing, at Elizabeth@SportsCommissions.org.

Kudos to Erie and Houston‌two great sports commissions in very different markets.

www.SportsCommissions.org www.SportsCommissions.org 15 9

Are You Ready for a Crisis?

A bomb goes off at the storied Boston Marathon; an angry parent charges after an umpire at a youth baseball game; all manner of security issues can pop up at events. These days, it’s more important than ever for rights holders, as well as venues, to have crisis and safety program in place, well before the event.

Of course, the best option is to try to prevent a problem in the first place. That’s what Major League Baseball is doing now, slowly rolling out airport-like metal detectors in ballparks this month so fans can get used to seeing them when they’re mandated in 2015. If you attend NFL games, you’re used to having bags checked and being wanded as you enter the facility.

But how about your event or your venue? How do you handle all levels of issues, from pushy parents to bomb threats? We asked Jonathan Paris, director of events at the Austin Sports Center, how his venue has adjusted to our new world of security.

Q: Have you changed the way you handle security and background checks, especially for volunteers?

A: We only used paid staff to run our tournaments. All staff that interacts with the event during the time when the event is happening are background checked by us.

Additionally, anyone that is associated with USA Volleyball on the club level is background checked through their USA Volleyball registration.

We will sometimes draw on members of our own club to assist with events, or other local volleyball individuals, so since they are typically already a member of USA Volleyball, we know that they are part of their background checks.

Additionally, USA Volleyball mandates that anyone running a tournament be background checked. So even though I don’t have anything to do with our club, coaching and our teams, I am a USA Volleyball member and therefore background checked by them.

Background checks are something we take very seriously since we deal with kids 10-18 years old. Our hired security companies that manage our entrances, exits and general public safety are all background checked by their company. Any staff we have that are set-up and tear-down and not onside during the event are not background checked.

Q: How do you try to make events safer? Does the local police force help with that security?

A: We do not hire any additional local police officers outside of what the facility requires us to hire. And each facility is different in their requirement for local police

officers. However, what we have increased is our bag checks at the entrance, plain clothes security staff roaming the facility and increased security at our main entrance/ exit access point.

Q: Some venues now have separate entrances to make sure that parents don’t mix with officials, and even with the youth teams, to prevent any incidents. Do you do anything like that?

A: We have only one main entrance/exit at our events.

It allows us for better crowd control and policing of our spectator registration program (spectators get a wristband as their ‘ticket’ to get in and out over the two- or three-day tournament weekends). As we are in Convention Centers, there is typically a large bank of doors for each hall entrance. So we designate some doors for spectators and then another adjacent set of doors for players and coaches.

In our larger event, the Lone Star Classic, we have a separate entrance for our staff, officials and trainers.

®

®

Q: How has security changed for venues over the last few years? Was there one thing that precipitated change, or is it just ‘a sign of the times?’

A: We hold our largest event, the Lone Star Classic, on the second and third weekend of April each year. In 2013, on the final day of the first weekend, (three-day event ending on a Monday) the Boston marathon bombing occurred. So before the second weekend, in conjunction with the Convention Center security director and their contacts with the Dallas Police, we instituted some additional security measures. Some of those measures included increased bag checks, additional police officer presence on the event floor and pre-event sweeps of the facility before the doors opened.

But in general, the changes and new requirements have typically been more in the spirit of everyone focusing more on safety and security.

Although we have not gone to the clear bags only, I have heard of several other volleyball tournaments that are implementing that policy which is now standard with the NFL. Mostly these are events held on college campuses which are implementing the clear bag program. I could see the trend going to more scrutiny of what bags people have and what they can bring in.

#SportsTourism 10

Q: Do you have suggestions or advice for other venues or events rightsholders about keeping their events as safe as possible?

A: 1) Security, safety and risk planning are as important as the games themselves and need time and attention.

2) Be flexible and able to make changes on the fly as circumstances and world events require.

3) Work in partnership with the venue’s security team.

You have to be on the same page as to what your security plan is and what their expectations are.

Although this may not be security related but more safety related, we have gone to posting more warnings of the inherent dangers of attending a volleyball tournament in a convention center. After a few unfortunate incidents of injury and in one case a death, posting in both the ticketing area and the main entrance of ‘entering at your own risk’ and ‘here are the potential hazards’ are becoming more prevalent. Primarily driven by insurance and risk management, we will have these signs at all of our events in 2015.

4) And plan for the worst and hope it never happens!

Our thanks to Jonathan Paris, director of events at the Austin Sports Center, for his best practices tips on safety and security at youth events.

The best sports events have a way of staying with you.

With over 1,200 sports facilities to choose from, and numerous world-class attractions, you’ll make lasting memories on and off the field.

Find the perfect venue for your next event at sportsillinois.com.

®

® THE MAGNIFICENT MILE IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF THE MAGNIFICENT MILE ASSOCIATION. © 2014 ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, OFFICE OF TOURISM TTY: 1-800-785-6055

31123_Illinois_SportsCommission2014.indd 1

2/18/14 11:53 AM

www.SportsCommissions.org IOT/Illinois Sports Commissions 2014

11

Register Now for the 23rd Annual NASC Symposium The NASC Symposium is the annual meeting for the only not-for-profit association for the sports tourism industry. For more than 20 years, the Symposium has been designed for sports tourism professionals by sports tourism professionals. Through a combination of industry-leading educational and business development opportunities, more than 800 Symposium attendees learn how to produce measurable ROI for their organization and advance their careers in the industry. Appointments in the NASC Sports Marketplace cannot be guaranteed if not registered by March 13, 2015.

In 2015, we are requiring all vendors to be exhibitors in the NASC Sports Marketplace. Exceptions are made only for speakers. This ensures a high buyer/supplier ratio and is in response to feedback we received from the 2014 Symposium survey. Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.

Based on member feedback, the NASC Symposium website is now a microsite of the association website. To register, visit www.SportsCommissions.org/Symposium.

2015 NASC Symposium Schedule

April 27 - 30, 2015 | Wisconsin Center | Milwaukee, WI Sunday, April 26, 2015 5:00pm to 7:00pm – 2014/2015 NASC Board Meeting 4:00pm to 7:00pm – Registration Monday, April 27, 2015 8:30am to 7:00pm – Registration 8:30am to 7:00pm – Booth Set Up 8:30am to 9:30am – NASC Committee Meetings, group 1 9:30am to 10:30am – NASC Committee Meetings, group 2 8:00am to 11:00am – Add on Activity* 11:30am to 4:00pm – CSEE Spring 2015 Module* 5:00pm to 6:00pm – 1st Time Attendee Reception* 7:00pm to 9:00pm - Add On Activity* Tuesday, April 28, 2015 7:00am to 6:00pm – Registration 8:00am to 9:30am – Opening Ceremonies Breakfast with NASC Member Awards 9:45am to 10:45am – Education Sessions 11:00am to 12:30pm – NASC Sports Marketplace 12:45pm to 2:45pm – NASC General Membership Meeting & CSEE Graduation Lunch 3:15pm to 4:15pm – Education Sessions 4:30pm to 6:00pm – NASC Sports Marketplace 6:30pm – VIP Transportation for Sponsors & Event Owners 7:00pm to 8:00pm – Transportation to Welcome Reception 7:00pm to 9:00pm – Welcome Reception 9:00pm to Midnight – Extra Innings

12

Wednesday, April 29, 2015 7:00am to 7:00pm – Registration 8:00am to 10:00am – Continental Breakfast 8:30am to 10:00am – Game Changers Sessions 10:15am to 11:45am – NASC Sports Marketplace 12:15pm to 1:45pm – Keynote Luncheon 2:15pm to 3:15pm – Education Sessions 4:00pm to 5:30pm – NASC Sports Marketplace 5:30pm to 6:30pm – NASC Sports Legacy Fund Reception 6:30pm to 9:00pm – Open Evening 9:00pm to Midnight – Extra Innings Thursday, April 30, 2015 8:30am to 12:30pm – Registration 9:00am to 10:30am – NASC Sports Marketplace 10:30am to 2:00pm – Booth Tear Down 10:45am to 12:15pm – Closing Celebration 1:00pm to 2:00pm – 2015/2016 NASC Board Meeting *Additional Fees Apply Schedule subject to change. All times are Central Standard Time.

Unless otherwise noted, all functions will be held at: Wisconsin Center 400 W. Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53203

128 miles of bike and running trails 16,000 hotel rooms 125 downtown restaurants 14 sports facilities

Milwaukee is looking forward to welcoming the National Association of Sports www.SportsCommissions.org Commissions Sports Event Symposium

to Milwaukee April 27-30, 2015. See you at next year’s event — you’ll find it easy here — VISITMilwaukee.org 13

NASC Sports Legacy Committee Announces 2015 Beneficiary The NASC Sports Legacy Committee is pleased to announce the selection of the Running Rebels Community Organization as the 2015 beneficiary.

Since 1980, the Running Rebels Community Organization has been dedicated to developing Milwaukee’s youth mentally, physically, and spiritually. By offering youth programs that focus on education and recreational activities, Running Rebels provides Milwaukee’s youth with positive alternatives to gangs and substance abuse.

The proceeds raised for the 2015 NASC Sports Legacy Fund will go toward the Running Rebels basketball fundamentals program which will expand the number of youth served and aide in the development of year-round programming. Funding will off-set operating expenses for the program including gym rental and referee fees, equipment, transportation, training for older youth to become certified referees, and healthy snacks. This will allow the program to become much more than a fundamentals program; utilizing young people’s love of basketball to benefit them physically, socially, and academically.

How you can help 1. Make a cash donation when you renew your 2015 membership or register for the 2015 NASC Symposium 2. Donate a silent auction or raffle item 3. Purchase an “old-fashioned” during the first night of Extra Innings or the NASC Sports Legacy Fund Reception at the 2015 NASC Symposium 4. Purchase raffle tickets and bid on silent auction items at the 2015 NASC Symposium 5. Donate basketball equipment

About the NASC Sports Legacy Fund Originally created by the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission, the NASC Sports Legacy Fund awards an annual grant and sports equipment donation to an organization in need in the host city the NASC Symposium.

An emphasis is placed on donations to not-for profit organizations that provide individuals, particularly at-risk youth, veterans, or physically or intellectually disabled individuals, opportunities to participate in sport and encourage healthy lifestyles. This contribution is part of the legacy the NASC leaves in each host city.

Thanks to the generosity of our members, the NASC Sports Legacy Fund made a donation of $14,000 to Oklahoma Cleats for Kids. “The Sports Legacy grant is helping Oklahoma Cleats for Kids with opportunities to help more kids,” said Stacy McDaniel of Cleats for Kids.

“We have purchased four bins for sporting goods collections and will be purchasing three permanent outdoor collection bins for locations around the Oklahoma City area. Also, our programs director, who has been a part time employee, has moved to full time. This is making a big impact on C4K’s ability to reach more kids.”

For more information about how you can help leave a legacy, contact Elizabeth Young, Director of Membership and Marketing, at Elizabeth@SportsCommissions.org.

#SportsTourism 14

NASC Celebrates its Long-Time Members From its beginnings in 1992, the National Association of Sports Commissions has always worked to deliver quality education and networking opportunities along with event management and marketing tips to our members.

We thank all of them, and here’s what some of them had to say about what being an NASC member means to their organization.

“As a founding member of the NASC, San Antonio Sports greatly values the business and personal relationships created throughout the years. One of the primary benefits has been the sharing of information and challenges by like-sized sports commissions on the many topics related to our industry. The importance of the relationships is exemplified by the amount of information that associates share with each other, especially when discussing event bids. SAS is also proud to have contributed to the growth of the NASC through its board of directors membership, Association Chairman and seminar presentations.”

Jenny Carnes, Vice President Events & Bids at San Antonio Sports “We are a member of the organization because of the networking opportunities it provides and identifying best practices. It provides an opportunity to discuss important industry issues with organizations very similar to us and those very different. We learn so much from other members, regardless of size and budget of their organization. Then you add the opportunity to meet with rights holders, an event database and a certification program, and it makes a great investment for our CVB/Sports Commission.

I am very proud to say I was at the table in St. Louis when the concept of the NASC was discussed. At that first meeting there were very small communities and very large communities sharing how NASC could pull together the sport tourism industry. It is working still today!”

Vicki Comegys, Vice President of Conventions, Sports and Services, Des Moines Area Sports Commission “Joining NASC was the best decision our organization ever made.

It puts us in touch with our peers and gives the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the relatively new industry of sports tourism and events. Friendships developed over the years with NASC officers and with our peers in other cities have been priceless and gratifying. We are proud to be among the most tenured sports commissions in the NASC family.”

Drew Mahalic, CEO, Oregon Sports Authority “The NASC has been a catalyst for the growth of sports commissions by bringing the industry together for more than two decades. So much of the strength of our individual organizations comes from our willingness to share best practices and work

together with our peers throughout the country. The end result has been a win-win scenario that creates enhanced events for communities, rights holders and participants, resulting in success from economic impact to athlete experience.”

Ralph Morton, Executive Director, Seattle Sports Commission “NASC has provided a wonderful forum to meet, network and learn from peers in the sports commission industry. This has proved very valuable over the years as our organization has grown.”

David Gilbert, President & CEO, Greater Cleveland Sports Commission “Tulsa Sports Commission was a founding member and has always been engaged locally, regionally and nationally to recruit, develop and enhance sports tourism for Tulsa and the region at every level of competition. In achieving that mission, NASC has always been a key partner in that endeavor as the conduit to NGB relationships and sports industry educational opportunities for all in the business of sports. They are the constant in our ever-changing industry and provide opportunities for us to stay relevant in this highly competitive industry.”

Ray Hoyt, Senior Vice President, Visit Tulsa/Tulsa Sports Commission

“Not only is the St. Louis Sports Commission a charter member of the NASC but the organization was formed at a meeting in St. Louis. So, as the “Birthplace of the NASC,” St. Louis takes its role as a member very seriously. Over the years, the NASC has been for us a source of information, a source of business and, most importantly, a source of colleagues and friends. The NASC has given structure, value and, in a very real sense, LIFE to our industry. It is our obligation, our need, and our great desire to be a continuing NASC member.”

Frank Viverito, President, St. Louis Sports Commission “The NASC is our one-stop shot for education, peer to peer networking and access to event owners. Being the only trade association for the sport tourism industry, the NASC remains at the forefront of industry growth, trends and best practices.

Our return on investment is high and the value and connectivity our membership provides is phenomenal.”

Mike Price, CSEE, CTA, Executive Director, Greater Lansing Sports Authority “NASC has been a vital component to our efforts in Philadelphia over the past two decades. The organization was created very much in a spirit of partnership, and that theme has really permeated over the years. The camaraderie and friendships among the cities has been invaluable, both personally and professionally.”

Larry Needle, Executive Director, Philadelphia Sports Congress

Some 22 years ago, those members could fit around a banquet table, and often did, at our meetings. Now, we’ve grown to nearly 700 member organizations and 2,000 sports tourism professionals, but if it weren’t for our founding and 20+ year partners, we wouldn’t be where we are today. That list includes: Joining in 1992:

• Chattanooga Sports Committee • Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation • Greensboro Sports Commission • San Antonio Sports • Seattle Sports Commission • Sioux City Sports Commission • Tulsa Sports Commission • Philadelphia Sports Congress • St. Louis Sports Commission

• Kansas City Sports Commission • Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau • North Carolina Sports Association • San Jose Sports Authority • Buffalo Niagara Sports Commission • Nashville Sports Council • Richmond Sports Backers • Augusta Sports Council • Oregon Sports Authority • Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Palm Beach County Sports Commission • Central Florida Sports Commission

Joining in 1994:

Joining in 1993:

Sports Promotion • Disney Sports Attractions • Rock Hill/York County Convention & Visitors Bureau • Tallahassee Sports Council • Jacksonville Sports & Entertainment • Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Des Moines Area Sports Commission • Long Island CVB & Sports Commission • Greater Lansing Sports Authority • Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau

and Sacramento Sports Commission • Greater Cleveland Sports Commission • Hoosier Sports Commission

• Illinois Office of Tourism • Calhoun County Visitors Bureau/Battle Creek

www.SportsCommissions.org 15

Ramping

Up. www.visittuscaloosa.com