Playbook - Summer 2019

Playbook Summer 2019

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Contents National Headquarters

Letter From President and CEO....................................... 1

9916 Carver Road, Suite 100 Cincinnati, OH 45242

Letter from the Chair ............................................................ 2 Member Services News ..................................................... 3

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

Record Attendance, New Leadership, CSEE Grads, and State Association Forum ........ 5-6

Website www.SportsCommissions.org

Creating an Emergency Management Plan ...................................................................7

Team Alan (Al) R. Kidd, President & CEO Elizabeth Young, Vice President Meagan Grau, Director of Member Services and Engagement Michelle Wessels, Meetings and Events Coordinator Madison Fante, Member Services Coordinator Rebecca Myles, Sponsorship and Advertising Jennifer Stoll, PhD, CSEE, Research and Education

Keep in Contact with Your New Contacts ................ 8 NCAA Site Selection and Bid Process ....................... 9 In Hosting Events, Collaboration Is Key in Virginia’s Blue Ridge ............................................... 11-12

Board of Directors

Sports Legacy Fund ........................................................... 13

Officers

2019 Hall of Fame Inductees ......................................... 14

Chair: Janis Schmees Burke, CSEE, Chief Executive Officer, Harris County - Houston Sports Authority Vice Chair/Chair-Elect: Michael Price, CSEE, Executive Director, Greater Lansing Sports Authority Treasurer: Janis Ross, CSEE, Executive Director, Eugene Cascades & Coast Secretary: Don Dukemineer, CSEE, CHSP, Deputy Director of Sports Tourism, Foley Sports Tourism Immediate Past Chair: Kindra Fry, CSEE, SMP, President/CEO, Bryan College Station Sports + Events

Member Award Winners ........................................... 15-16 Empowerment through Accommodation ....... 17-18 4S Summit ........................................................................ 19-20 CE Summit ............................................................................... 21 Sports Facilities Summit .................................................. 22 Fox Cities Takes Events In House .............................. 23

Directors Ashleigh Bachert, CSEE, Executive Director, Discover Durham Derek Bombeck, CSEE, Sales Development Manager, Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau John David, CSEE, Chief Operating Officer, USA BMX Josh Dill, CSEE, Director of Sports & Events, Visit Frisco Pete Harvey, CSEE, Director of Sports Development, Buffalo Niagara Sports Commission Gen Howard, CSEE, Senior Sales Manager, Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau Frank Lett, CSEE, Senior Associate Executive Director/Director of Sports Marketing, Visit Kingsport Matthew Libber, CSEE, Executive Director, Maryland SoccerPlex Brent Nelson, Sr. VP of Business Development, Greater Orlando Sports Commission Ray Palmer, CSEE, President/CEO, Pensacola Sports Hank Pivarnik, CSEE, Director of Sports Sales, Hilton Worldwide Daniel Rush, CSEE, CMP, CASE, Vice President of Global Sports and Event Sales, MGM Resorts International Christine Strong Simmons, Senior Director of Operations, USA Fencing Marissa Werner, CSEE, Senior Sports & Entertainment Manager, VISIT Milwaukee J.D. Wood, CSEE, General Manager, Panama City Beach Sports Complex

LOOKING TO SHARE YOUR EXPERTISE? Information-sharing is a founding principle of Sports ETA, and the industry knowledge among Sports ETA membership lends itself to unprecedented expertise.

Sports ETA encourages members to share information with your peers. Contact Meagan Grau, Director of Member Services and Engagement, at Meagan@SportsCommissions. org to learn more about how you can contribute to a future edition of The Playbook.

To include your news in the weekly Get in the Game eNews, send press releases and articles to info@sportscommissions.org.

www.SportsCommissions.org

Letter From President and CEO With over 1,000 attendees, 35 education sessions and dozens of subject matter experts, this year’s Symposium was one for the record books! Attendees had the privilege of hearing a truly motivating keynote speaker, Inky Johnson, to kick-off the week. We capped off the jam-packed week with the tremendous, real-life everyday humor of LeAnne Morgan, who provided the perfect complement to several history-making activities. Here are just some of the activities that will lead us into an expanded, more relevant and impactful player in the world’s sports events and tourism spectrum.

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• Held the first of what we plan to be an annual expansion of our programs for Sports Facilities – shout out to Michael Grade, Matt Libber, Ben Huffman, Mike Guswiler, William Knox and Mike Millay for leading the charge.

• Held a series of meetings with a delegation from China to develop a significant partnership with Sports ETA. I met with one of the top leaders for all of sports and culture, Mr. Jin Huang to frame the platform for these new international initiatives. Several of our market leaders met with two Chinese delegations from their sports businesses and media. All arranged by Dale Neuberger and Sandra Sun from Burson Cohn & Wolf (formerly TSE Consulting).

• 25 of 28 state tourism groups came together during an invitation-only meeting to assist in the formation of a sub-group in our membership to advance state sports tourism initiatives.

• The significance of passing over 100 bylaw changes, while cumbersome, opens the gates to several governance changes to expand our footprint of services, strengthens a few processes, makes our board more accountable and creates equality across all membership categories. Thank you very much for taking the task seriously and working through the process.

Congrats to this year’s Hall of Fame inductees Patricia Ernstrom, Jack Kelly, Pam Gerig-Bland, and Kevin Smith.

Thank you for all that you have done for this industry and for being role models to so many industry professionals!

You may have seen The Pulse in our weekly Get in the Game eNews, Kidd’s Komments, or on our social media.

We encourage you to participate in each edition to help us better help YOU! This short survey tool will focus on gathering valuable information from you, our members. It takes less than a minute to complete and provides you an opportunity to weigh in on issues and provide input. If you haven’t already participated, head to our website now to complete The Pulse.

You can find a button to The Pulse on our homepage.

We will be publishing the results of The Pulse in what will be called The Vault. The Vault will be a new membership benefit offering a centralized portal for a variety of content resources. This resource center will house industry research and data, sample documents and templates, whitepapers, industry podcasts, infographics, and even consultant recommendations. Resources and tools will continually be added to The Vault to help make your job easier! The Vault will offer a clean and easy to search user experience, so that finding the resources needed to support your organization are only a few clicks away. The Vault will launch later this summer and will only be available to members.

THINK BIG!

Al Kidd President & CEO Sports ETA

We received tremendous enthusiasm for the new brand platform, Sports Events and Tourism Association or SportsETA. This is more than a name change; it is a platform for all our current and future programs that will roll out a family and consistent positioning for all we do. Matt Dunn, Kathy Nelson, Marc Zimmerman, Scott Powers and I worked with Bill Fredericks to arrive at this new platform.

This year’s Symposium produced its annual awards program with several new winners. A big congratulations to all our winners and finalists. You can see a full list of award winners on page 15 and 16.

Sports Events and Tourism

Letter From the Chair Sports Legacy

Janis Schmees Burke, CSEE CEO, Harris County – Houston Sports Authority

Your talents are needed!

Sports ETA is supported annually by more than 100 engaged members who volunteer their time and resources for the association. Participating on a committee allows you to contribute to the decision-making that positions Sports ETA as THE resource for sports events and tourism professionals and the sports events and tourism industry.

Please review the committee descriptions below. If you are interested in joining a committee, head to our website at www.sportscommissions.org/committees to complete the volunteer application form between July 1 - July 31.

Awards/HOF The Awards Committee makes recommendations for recipients of the Hall of Fame Award and member awards.

The Hall of Fame Award recognizes and acknowledges individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of the sports events and tourism industry.

Award recipients are chosen annually.

Education The Education Committee creates, provides and advances professional development and certification programs that are accessible, offer value and are relevant to the needs of the industry. The committee seeks to improve the knowledge and skills of members through the recommendation, design and evaluation of professional development programming.

The Education Committee provides oversight and guidance for speaker selection and content development for online courses as well as the following events: • Symposium • CE Summit • Sports Facilities Summit • 4S Summit • Women’s Summit

Mentoring The Mentoring Committee cultivates relationships with new members to help guide them through their first year of membership. The committee is also responsible for planning and hosting first time attendee activities at the Symposium.

Rights Holder

The Sports Legacy Committee manages the Sports Legacy Fund. The committee establishes the criteria and eligibility requirements for beneficiaries of the fund and selects the beneficiary each year. The committee also coordinates all aspects of the annual fundraiser, including promotion, solicitation of donation items, equipment donations and ticket sales. Additionally, the committee coordinates community service projects for members at association events.

Symposium The Symposium Committee assists in the planning and execution of the annual Sports Event Symposium.

Committeemembers make recommendations about programming, hospitality functions, recruit event owners and vendors, and promote the Symposium through word of mouth marketing to industry peers and colleagues.

4S Summit The 4S Summit Committee assists in the planning and execution of the 4S Summit. Committee members make recommendations about scheduling and hospitality functions, recruit attendees and promote the 4S Summit through word of mouth marketing to industry peers and colleagues.

Chief Executive Summit The Chief Executive Committee assists in the planning and execution of the annual CE Summit. Committee members make recommendations about programming, hospitality functions, and promote the CE Summit through word of mouth marketing to industry peers and colleagues.

Women’s Summit The Women’s Summit Committee assists in the planning and execution of the Women’s Summit. Committee members make recommendations about programming and hospitality functions, recruit attendees and promote the Women’s Summit through word of mouth marketing to industry peers and colleagues.

Sports Facilities Summit The Sports Facilities Summit Committee assists in the planning and execution of the annual Sports Facilities Summit. Committee members make recommendations about programming, hospitality functions, and promote the Sports Facilities Summit through word of mouth marketing to industry peers and colleagues.

The Rights Holder Committee actively reviews, evaluates and develops resources for sports event owners to make their membership more valuable and increase their engagement.

www.SportsCommissions.org

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Member Services News We would like to thank all the organizations who have recently joined our growing list of members. Thank you for the privilege of serving you!

Compete Sports Diversity Council Crappie USA Elite Hockey Events Firecracker Baseball Major League Fishing U.S. Futsal US Youth Soccer Vipers Pro Basketball

Industry Partners

Destinations 3

Apex Sports & Events Center Cedar Point Sports Center Cleburne Chamber of Commerce- Convention & Visitors Bureau Destination Irvine Discover Gilbert Discover Puerto Rico Dodge City Sports Commision Events Regina Fort Smith Convention & Visitors Bureau Grapevine, Texas Convention & Visitors Bureau Greater Burlington Convention & Visitors Bureau Hopkinsville-Christian County CVB Kellogg Arena LakePoint Sports Development Group meetNKY Menominee Nation Arena Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Pine Bluff Convention Center Ridley Sports Complex - City of Columbia, TN Visit Glendale Visit Mississippi Visit Yuma Woodside Sports Complex

Cloud M ltd Downs & St. Germain Research Epic Legends, LLC DBA; Printed on Site Nielsen Sports & Entertainment Red Lion Hotels Corporation Regional SportAccord RESURE T°CoolPT, LLC Turf Tank Venues and Event Solutions Verified Volunteers Victus Advisors

Rights Holders 2D Sports Cabela’s King Kat USA Cap Classic Series

Sports Events and Tourism

etownsports.com

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www.SportsCommissions.org

Record Attendance, New Leadership, CSEE Grads, and State Association Forum A record turnout of industry leaders in sports events and tourism attended the 27th annual Symposium held in Knoxville, TN from May 6-9 to elect new leadership, honor members with national awards and participate in dozens of continuing education programs led by industry leadership.

I attend Symposium so that I can visit with old friends, make new friends and catch

“In our largest-ever Symposium where sports events and tourism industry leaders meet, we introduced a new brand for the organization called Sports ETA that represents the evolving and growing nature of the industry we lead,” said Al Kidd, President & CEO of Sports Events & Tourism Association. “Knoxville was a terrific host city to convene our industry to discuss best practices, new trends and business opportunities.”

up on the latest trends in sports marketing.

New Board Leadership

Directors

it is the event for education and contacts.

- Carey Harveycutter, SALEM-Virginia’s Championship City

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Officers Chair: Janis Schmees Burke, CSEE, Harris County - Houston Sports Authority Vice Chair/Chair-Elect: Mike Price, CSEE, Greater Lansing Sports Authority Treasurer: Janis Ross, CSEE, Eugene, Cascades & Coast Sports Secretary: Don Dukemineer, CSEE, CHSP, Foley Sports Tourism Immediate Past Chair: Kindra Fry, CSEE, SMP, Bryan College Station Sports + Events

Ashleigh Bachert, CSEE, Discover Durham Derek Bombeck, Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau John David, CSEE, USA BMX Josh Dill, CSEE, Visit Frisco Pete Harvey, CSEE, Buffalo Niagara Sports Commission Gen Howard, CSEE, Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau Frank Lett, CSEE, Visit Kingsport Matthew Libber, CSEE, Maryland SoccerPlex Brent Nelson, Greater Orlando Sports Commission Ray Palmer, CSEE, Pensacola Sports Hank Pivarnik, CSEE, Hilton Worldwide Daniel Rush, CSEE, CMP, CASE, MGM Resorts International Christine Strong Simmons, USA Fencing Marissa Werner, CSEE, VISIT Milwaukee J.D. Wood, CSEE, Panama City Beach Sports Complex

Sports Events and Tourism

CSEE Graduates: Danny Corte, CSEE Jamie Patrick, CSEE Billy Bos, CSEE Mark Kowalewski, CSEE John Poole, CSEE Ashley Wilson, CSEE Jeremy Leifel, CSEE Matthew Bosen, CSEE Daniel Gallagher, CSEE Kris Jackson, CSEE Kathy O’Connell, CSEE Luchie Javelosa, CSEE Jarrett Dowling, CSEE Al Stauffacher, CSEE Consuelo Sanchez, CSEE Shaheen Roostai, CSEE Sarah Kirchberg, CSEE

Kelsey McLean, CSEE Ashleigh Bachert, CSEE Matt Prewitt, CSEE Kristyn Hawkins, CSEE Mark Hargis, CSEE Clay Partain, CSEE Bill Kelly, CSEE Suzanne Keller, CSEE Holly Kesterson, CSEE Stephanie Decatur, CSEE Gray Workman Williams, CSEE Miranda Coleman, CSEE Anissa Brown, CSEE Chad Culver, CSEE Dean Polk, CSEE Rashika Patel, CSEE Lisa Motley, CSEE

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As always, this year’s Symposium delivered on several levels. The educational components were top notch with attendees learning everything from what’s new in sports safety to navigating the politics of community funding. For SPG it represents the best opportunity each year to spend quality time with our DMO and Sports Commission partners as well as our

State Association Forum

readers who look to us for answers to their

25 states attended the State Association Forum in Knoxville, TN to discuss the feasibility and necessity to organize state representatives from each state in the US. The goal of the meeting was to determine baseline foundational pieces to consider for the formation of this sub-group within Sports ETA. Discussions ranged from how groups are formed and staffed, to financial support and resources. Staff is conducting a research study to further explore the many aspects of a state collaborative. These results will be shared with state group leaders during the 2019 4S Summit.

tournament planning. There’s simply no other show like it! That’s why I encourage all of my contacts to put it on their calendar every year. -Dan Maloney, Sports Planning Guide / Premier Travel Media

www.SportsCommissions.org

Creating an Emergency Management Plan

By Ashleigh Bachert, CSEE, Executive Director, Durham Sports Commission

Hope for the best…. but expect the worst.

And create an emergency plan to spring into action!

When I started working with our emergency management partner from Durham County, I was naïve to all the situations to plan for our upcoming USATF National Youth Outdoor Championships. Yes, we’ve all considered the more obvious man-made and natural emergencies that that we hear about on the news. After sitting in a room meeting with our partner and hearing the scanner continually outline different scenarios, I started to wrap my head around just how many things could go wrong – despite the most thorough of preparations. Beyond natural disasters, bomb threats and active shooter situations, we’re now considering what to do for protests, mass food poisonings and chemical spills.

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Brainstorm the worst, craziest things you can think of happening: • Each industry is different or has a plan for situations specific to their business or responsibilities. Reach out to contacts at fire and police departments, public transit, hoteliers and so forth and anticipate how their response plans impact your event or could be adapted.

• Find inspiration by watching a couple of episodes of “Criminal Minds” or “Law and Order” – it’s great material to get your brain thinking! To keep viewers’ attention, those storylines are purposefully creative or out-of-the-box.

• Go online and search for emergencies that have previously happened during events like yours, as well as events unlike yours.

• Take the pulse of your destination. Are there talks about livable wages that could cause strikes or rallies nearby?

Has the national or regional news media already caught on to those conversations? If so, understand what coverage your event might be tied to, should something happen.

Okay, you’ve brainstormed the craziest things. How do you counteract the crazy?

1. Make sure you have the right players at the table. Law enforcement representatives don’t always know what to do in the case of a chemical spill. Make sure you have everyone you can think of at a kick-off meeting and let them, the experts, opt out if they feel they shouldn’t be there moving forward. Either way, you need them in the room to discuss how situations will be handled or at least alert them to what is on your radar.

2. Keep your emergency action plan down to only what needs to happen between an incident occurring and trained professionals taking over. Every situation is different, and most are highly complex. What matters most is getting the professionals on the scene as quickly as possible, and for your event staff to know how to alert authorities and what to do till they arrive.

3. Create a crisis communications plan that mirrors the emergency action plan. Ensure event participants and spectators will hear the same thing from you as the information they receive on their phones. Messaging must align to reinforce the immediate need to act. Outline external communication responsibilities between event owners, local organizing committees, facility owners and other parties. Who’s the best person to send information to the media? Who’s the best or most appropriate person to be on camera when? What situations can you prepare a statement for in advance – so in the moment you only have to modify given the circumstances, rather than start from scratch.

4. Identify the tools needed to put your plan in place. If cell towers are jammed, how will you communicate with volunteers or other officials? Do you have walkie-talkies as a backup or a dedicated phone line? Do you have a space for organizers to meet that is removed from the general public to make potentially tough decisions? Do you have translators or ways to communicate with participants that may not speak English?

5. Provide a shortened version of the plan to volunteers or others that don’t need access to minute details.

Our plan for the USATF National Youth Outdoor Championships is currently 33 pages long and it keeps expanding. No volunteer can reasonably carry all that information around – give them only what they need to know so they can execute and understand their role.

6. Review the plan daily during your event. Make sure your EMT team knows the protocol, volunteer leads know what the potential weather issues will be, and security knows of any threats against the venue. Talking daily about what the next few hours might bring will keep everyone focused on what’s most relevant.

It has been an eye-opening experience prepping for Durham’s first national track and field championship. By expecting the worst, we’re prepared to host the safest event possible. I am grateful for our partners’ expertise and have learned so much just from listening to others in and outside of our industry. Here’s to us hopefully never needing to use the plan, but also sleeping (a little!) more easily knowing we have a game plan to counteract the craziest of ideas in place.

Keep in Contact with Your New Contacts

By Stephanie Denzel, Game Day Communications

After attending the 2019 Symposium and getting back to your projects and events, don’t forget about all those contacts you met in Knoxville.

In the sports events and tourism industry, networking is key, and we hope you met a lot of great people at the Symposium to help in future projects.

Don’t let those business cards go to waste. Follow-up is key to developing a new professional relationship. Forbes has a few great tips to master the art of the follow-up.

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Start with a quick email. Don’t feel it has to be something long and profound. Simply say you enjoyed meeting them and if you can, reflect back on a point from your conversation, even if it wasn’t about work.

Link in on LinkedIn. This is another way to connect after meeting. LinkedIn also offers many free tools to keep your contacts front-of-mind for both you and them. Plus, you can send them a quick note on their work anniversary or their birthday.

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Create ‘reconnect files.’ Forbes suggests creating a file with the information you learn about the contactwhere are they from, previous jobs, family life, etc.

Then set a reminder once a month or every other month to reach out to that person.

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Use the power of one connection to open many doors. Every contact knows hundreds of other people, which could help you in the future. Once you’ve developed real trust with someone, be more intentional about how you can help them and vice-versa.

Don’t let those connections go to waste. Take the time to reach out and say hi. We hope many new future opportunities come your way because of it.

Citation: Women, YEC. “How To Master The Art Of Networking Follow-Up.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 23 Sept. 2014, www.forbes.com/sites/ yec/2014/09/23/how-to-master-the-art-of-networking-follow-up/ #3f3388ad2597.

www.SportsCommissions.org

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Site Selection and Bid Process

The NCAA has engaged the services of an agency, 129 Sports LLC, to assist in managing this effort. Its founder, Russ Yurk, has in-depth knowledge of the NCAA and our processes, as well as experience in a range of national sporting events. He can be reached at russ.yurk@att.net.

The timeline for the bid process is as follows:

February 3: Bid responses due

August 26: Bid specifications will be published on ncaa.org/bids Bid portal opens

March-September: Committee deliberations, recommendations and approvals

September 18: Host bid cycle symposium, NCAA national office

October 23: Hosts/sites announced

Photos Courtesy of NCAA

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The NCAA is pleased to announce the start of their 2022-26 championship site selection campaign.

They will look for hosts and sites for 86 of the 90 NCAA championships each year over four academic years, spanning 2022-23 through 2025-26.

Sports Events and Tourism

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www.SportsCommissions.org

In Hosting Events, Collaboration Is Key in Virginia’s Blue Ridge

By Betsy Ross, President & Founder, Game Day Communications

Very rarely does any group host an event on their own. As we know, it takes teamwork, from a myriad of groups: the CVB or sports commission, the city, the venue and more, to make sure any event runs smoothly. That is the message that Carey Harveycutter, Director of Tourism from the City of Salem, Virginia, and John Shaner, Director of Parks and Recreation for Salem, are evangelistic about as they spread the gospel of collaboration.

we going to do for the athletes for the opening ceremonies?

That’s the nuts and bolts and I know, if they had their parks and rec with them at these conventions, then they would be

“You have to have partners,” Harveycutter says. “We have a city of 25,000 and we can’t do everything. We need everybody in Virginia’s Blue Ridge. We all work together and when something goes south that’s where you find your real friends.”

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For example: Salem Stadium held the NCAA Division III National Football Championship game, known as the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, from 1993 to 2017, an event not without its challenges.

“We had 26 inches of snow the day of the Division III Football Championships (December 19, 2009),” said Harveycutter.

“We played on the day it was scheduled. We were six hours late, but we played.”

“When Carey was the director of the Civic Center, we didn’t see ourselves as two separate city departments, we saw us as one,” Shaner says. “You can’t sit at home and answer email, you have to talk to people, go to the Symposium and sit and talk to people to make connections for your city.”

And that’s why Shaner says that partnership should extend to the bid process.

“I constantly say to sports commissions and CVBs, why are your parks and rec not here?” Shaner says. “We are the whole turnkey package. We come to the conventions, we get the material, we either write the bid, or we fill out the bid to submit, we present the bid, and then when we get the bid we’re actually the tournament directors who put the event on.”

“Whenever I’m bidding, I get up on stage and the first thing I say is, we have an airport, we have restaurants, we have hotels, but you all really want to know what our field makeup is,” Shaner continues. “What the grass looks like. What are

You have to have partners, Harveycutter says. We have a city of 25,000 and we can’t do everything. We need everybody in Virginia’s Blue Ridge. We all work together and when something goes south that’s where you find your real friends.

Sports Events and Tourism

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able to help them be able to sell their community better. I can’t tell you how long we’ve been preaching that, that they should be coming to these meetings.”

Harveycutter says a relationship with one event can lead to others.

“You build upon your successes, and sometimes things don’t go the way you want it to, or it doesn’t draw the crowds, or an event leaves, but you don’t worry about that because next year you’ve got something else.”

Photo courtesy City of Salem, Virginia

“We had no idea what we were getting into 27 years ago (in Division III Football). The city of Salem, we wanted a football game. We’re a football community, we wanted a football game. The next year we saw that Division III Softball was

up for bid. And we submitted a bid because we’ve got a great softball complex. So they came in and started a great relationship. We’ve built upon that, then we leveraged the relationship with the NCAA to get other events like AAU girls basketball, among others.”

www.SportsCommissions.org

Sports Legacy Fund The Sports Legacy Fund raised more than $20,000 to benefit Knoxville non-profit, DreamBikes, which strategically places used bicycle stores in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods to provide hands-on, paid job training to teens. Working in conjunction with local youth organizations, DreamBikes employs teens from the area to work in the store; teaching them how to refurbish bicycles, use the POS software, and to deliver great customer service. DreamBikes provides lifelong skills to our teen employees, helping them to shift gears and find a bright future.

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Sports Events and Tourism

2019 Hall of Fame Inductees

CONGRATULATIONS!

Patricia Ernstrom Vice President of Special Events San Francisco 49ers “Being honored by NASC and my peers is humbling. This is a recognition not just for me, but one that I share with all those colleagues from my NASC family to staff, board members, and most importantly each and every rights holder I’ve had the privilege to work with. Reflection on this honor evokes wonderful memories and collaborations on so many events over the years – all that went into them and the lasting memories, legacy and impact of those events and what they brought to our community.”

Jack Kelly CEO World Equestrian Games “Jack would have been greatly honored to have received this distinguished award from NASC. He spent the last 25 years involved in and promoting sporting events. I think his favorite part was meeting and working with so many wonderful people in so many different aspects of sports and events and within communities. This award was a recognition of and a tribute to his efforts and dedication to this field. I, and my family, truly appreciate your installing Jack into the NASC Hall of Fame. He would have been proud.” – Kathy Kelly, Jack’s Wife

Kevin Smith Founder OnPoint Sports Strategies, LLC “I’m honored to be inducted into this Hall of Fame class of 2019 with the other distinguished recipients. It means so much to me and I am thankful to receive this recognition from my peers.

Our industry has embraced the Sports Legacy Fund and we continue to make an impact in the lives of others in our communities and to me it shows the depth of character of the people in the sports and events business.”

Pam Gerig-Bland Executive Director Palm Beach County Sports Commission “Pam embodies the best of class for the sports tourism industry. Pam served as the executive director for the Palm Beach County Sports Commission for 14 years and became a pioneer and a trailblazer for this industry. I know this Hall of Fame recognition means so much to her. Pam loved the NASC and has mentored sports tourism leaders from across the nation. The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is one of the leading sports development agencies in the nation and we owe much gratitude to Pam for establishing a strong foundation for success.” – George Linley, Executive Director, Palm Beach County Sports Commission

www.SportsCommissions.org

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CONGRATULATIONS TO

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Sports Commission of the Year, Over 500k

Sports Tourism Organization of the Year, Under 500k

Sport Minneapolis, Powered by Meet Minneapolis

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports

“We are extremely honored to receive this award. It’s important industry recognition for the significant work of our organization to recruit, enhance and produce sporting events. We look forward to working with our regional partners to continue delivering quality events for the economic benefit of our community.” - Melvin Tennant, Executive Director, Sports Minneapolis and President & CEO, Meet Minneapolis

Sports Commission of the Year, Under 500k Spokane Sports Commission “Sports tourism is an important part of our economy and I’m proud that our board and staff are being honored for this work. We set lofty goals and are committed to making our region a premier destination for amateur athletes. We do this by offering superior sports services to our clients as well as providing exceptional and unique experiences for visiting athletes. We are grateful for our deep-rooted relationships with our clients, facility partners, hoteliers, vendors, corporate partners, local sports clubs, volunteers, and governmental agencies—all who help put our community on the map.” – Eric Sawyer, CEO, Spokane Sports

Sports Tourism Organization of the Year, Over 500k Visit Anaheim “We are honored to receive this prestigious award for the third year in a row. Sports Anaheim works very hard to try to be a leader in the Sports Industry and without the dedication to excellence from Anthony Brenneman and Rashika Patel it would not be possible.” Roy Edmondson, Vice President of Sports Business Development, Visit Anaheim

“As a sports commission, we don’t approach building relationships and business with awards in mind; we work hard to invite and welcome athletes, families and fans to Alabama’s beaches. We were against some huge competition for Sports Tourism Organization of the Year, which just adds fuel to our fire. I am deeply proud of our all-female team for pursuing excellence and not being afraid to step outside their comfort zones to improve sports tourism in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.” – Beth Gendler, Vice President of Sales, Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission

Event Marketing Campaign Savannah Sports Council “We are extremely proud to win the Event Marketing Campaign of the Year for the 2018 Enmarket Savannah Bridge Run. There is no greater feeling than being recognized by your peers as one of the leaders in the industry.” – Rob Wells, CSEE, Director, Savannah Sports Council

Destination Branding & Marketing Campaign of the Year, Under 500k Rockford Area CVB “We’re honored to be recognized again by our sports tourism peers—this time for Destination Branding & Marketing Campaign of the Year! This accolade is certainly indicative of a lot of hard work, strong storytelling and diverse programming that collectively keeps elevating Rockford as a sports destination. But again, we have so much more to accomplish and are really excited about what the future holds for us and the greater sports tourism industry.” Nick Povalitis, Director of Sports Development, Rockford Area CVB

Sports Events and Tourism

OUR AWARD WINNERS! Locally Created Event, Over 500k Louisville Sports Commission “For the Urban Bourbon Half Marathon presented by Jim Beam® to be selected as the best event in the country by our national trade association as voted on by our peers and sports events experts is both humbling and rewarding.

Our team works tirelessly to deliver great experiences for event participants, and we appreciate the support from our community partners and sponsors.” – Karl F. Schmitt Jr., President & CEO, Louisville Sports Commission

Locally Created Event, Under 500k Rock Hill/York County CVB “Visit York County is honored to receive the NASC Locally Created Event award for 2018! This award, and the event that helped win it, mean so much to the team at Visit York County. When you go out on a limb and create your own event, the first of its kind in the area, you have to overcome obstacles that are thrown your way. It’s so nice to see all the hard work pay off, both with a successful event and even more so when you are recognized from an organization with such prestige as NASC. Visit York County is very appreciative of this honor!” – Andy Clinton, Vice-President of Sales, Visit York County

Superior Service Award

Sports Tourism Executive of the Year George Linley “The recognition as the Sports Executive of Year is a tremendous honor”. This award is incredibly meaningful, considering it was presented by the National Association of Sports Commissions, which is the leading organization for sports commissions, sports destinations, sports event owners, and industry partners. This award represents the outstanding teamwork that takes place at the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. I have a very talented team, which is dedicated to growing sports tourism on a daily basis. The team consists of a remarkable staff that is the best of class, a dynamic and innovative board, a trendsetting County committed to sports development, and sports and hospitality related partners that are leaders in the industry.

Our team has worked diligently to grow sports tourism and transform Palm Beach County into one of the nation’s premier sports destinations. This award embodies the success of my entire Palm Beach County team. I’m very blessed to work in the sports industry, which signifies the most impactful tourism product that exists in this nation and I’m grateful to the NASC for the special acknowledgement and for the NASC’s efforts to make us a better Sports Commission through its programs.” George Linley, Executive Director, Palm Beach County Sports Commission

TSE Consulting

Game Changer Award

“On behalf of the TSE Consulting team in Indianapolis and Colorado Springs, we are honored to be selected by NASC as the 2019 Allied Member of the Year and Winner of the Superior Service Award. We value our longtime association with NASC and are grateful for the opportunity to work with its dedicated professional staff to build a vibrant sports events and tourism industry.” Dale Neuburger, Director, Burson Cohn & Wolfe Sports Practice - North America

Michelle Russ “To be a ‘game changer,’ you must have a great team to affect change and further the mission of growing sports tourism, and I am incredibly blessed to work alongside some of the best in the business. Wow, I am humbled and honored to have been considered for this prestigious award, and my goal is to continue to learn, grow and live up to this career milestone. I love what I do every day!” – Michelle Russ, Director of Sales, Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission

www.SportsCommissions.org

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Empowerment through Accommodation

By Dave Tostenrude, Director, National Veterans Wheelchair Games, Department of Veterans Affairs Jen Purser, Senior Associate Director, PVA Sports and Recreation, Paralyzed Veterans of America

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Photo courtesy National Veterans Wheelchair Games

Planning events and programs while accommodating the diverse interests and goals of clientele is daunting.

Compound that with customers requiring special transportation, housing and other support makes the playing field almost unfair. However, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) have partnered nearly 39 years taking on the challenge through the National Veterans Wheelchair Games (NVWG) and in doing so educate and empower Veterans living with physical disabilities to lead healthier lives through adaptive sports and recreation. On average 600 Veterans compete in 20 events ranging from Wheelchair Basketball, Powerlifting, Cycling, Swimming, Quad Rugby to Track and Field.

While the competitions set the stage for the Veterans’ experience, the PVA and VA recognize that there is incredible value in the preparation and execution required for an individual living with a disability to transition their needs to an unfamiliar environment. That experience leads to greater independence and confidence in all areas of their lives.

Empowerment throu The greatest barrier is the one you don’t plan for. The approach begins with education, extends to partnering with the airports, transportation, hotels and sports venues and finishes with team work to tackle the unexpected issues you can’t foresee. Collaboratively, the VA and PVA NVWG staff host monthly calls and information to Veterans, coaches and caregivers through the www.wheelchairgames.org website and on our #NVWG App regarding the logistics and community resources available for individual preparation for the upcoming event. These platforms provide links to pharmacies, dialysis centers, accessible transportation, local attractions, veterinarians, oversize parking lots and other resources an individual may need to support their care or interests during the NVWG. Most importantly, we utilize these platforms to educate on barriers known that we think the person may encounter that could cause an inconvenience. Situations such as limited number of elevators, unexpected construction projects that impact

accessibility just come up and that’s life. We educate to avoid surprises that elicit problem solving, patience and less complaints for event staff.

The VA/PVA team works for about two years planning each event. Beginning with airports to ensure that the volume of wheelchairs, personal equipment and adaptive sports equipment can be accommodated. Markets supported by regional jets can reschedule larger planes if given enough notice. Regional jets cannot handle the volume of the NVWG needs without significantly impacting other passengers. For transportation, ramps are essential as lift systems cannot handle heavy volume loads over the period of the event. The challenge is to find the right buses that can be modified with tie down systems to handle the volume of wheelchair users. For volume in the best situation, 6-7 users can be accommodated per bus safely. Hotels don’t have enough ADA rooms, so we look for door widths greater

Sports Events and Tourism

Photos courtesy National Veterans Wheelchair Games

empower Veterans living with physical disabilities to lead healthier lives through adaptive sports and recreation

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gh Accommodation than 27 inches and a layout enabling access to the bed and bathroom effectively. Some strategies to improve access is removing furniture and bathroom doors. The majority of sports events for the NVWG are conducted at a host convention center. Special requirements we consider for community venues include: deck space for pools, staging areas for track events, building entrances, bathroom and locker room access. All need to be looked at from the wheelchair perspective. One rule of thumb is to divide the room occupancy by 3 for our population.

This is a snapshot of an elaborate process of planning the NVWG. At the core is a commitment to ensuring the accommodation but not avoiding obstacles that are part of every experience and community. Through the process, the Veteran returns home with greater confidence to attack the possibilities!

www.SportsCommissions.org

Thanks to our host

October 8-10, 2019 Providence, RI The 4S’s of sports events and tourism: strategies, services, sales, and sponsorships, will be covered during general sessions, and small group discussions. Takeaway key tools, resources, and best practices from your peers as well as experts in the sports events and tourism industry. This summit is an ideal learning opportunity for sports commission and DMO sales, services, events, and business development staff.

2019 4S Summit Schedule

Hotel

Subject to change.

All 4S activities will be at the Omni Providence Hotel.

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Tuesday, October 8 7:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.– Registration 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. - State Association Meeting (invitation only) 1:00 p.m.– 4:00 p.m.– CSEE Fall Course* 5:30 p.m.– 7:30 p.m.– Welcome Reception

Omni Providence Hotel Rate: $189/night Reservation Cut-Off: Monday, September 16, 2019 Book your room online at sportscommissions.org/education/4S-Summit

Registration Member Rate: $499 Non-Member Rate: $699

Wednesday, October 9 7:00 a.m.– 4:30 p.m.– Registration 8:00 a.m.– 9:45 a.m.– Coffee and Conversations 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. – Breakout Sessions (Sales, Service, Sponsorship, Strategy) 11:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. - Morning Networking Break 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. - Breakout Sessions (Sales, Service, Sponsorship, Strategy) 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Lunch 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. - Breakout Sessions (Sales, Service, Sponsorship, Strategy) 3:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. - Afternoon Networking Break 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Breakout Sessions (Sales, Service, Sponsorship, Stragey) 4:30 p.m. - Open Evening

Participants will earn 2 credit hours toward CSEE certification or recertification for attending the 4S Summit.

Travel Tips For those flying into Rhode Island, Warwick’s Green International Airport (PVD) is only 10 minutes from downtown Providence. Green International Airport was named the third best airport in the U.S., as well as best in New England in the Condé Nast Traveler 2015 Readers’ Choice Awards. Green features up to 100 nonstop flights daily via major carriers.

For more travel information check out sportscommissions.org/education/4S-Summit.

Thursday, October 10 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. – Registration 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. – Morning Fitness* 8:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. – Coffee and Conversations 9:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. – Networking Break 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. - “What Keeps You Up At Night?”

Roundtables (Sales, Service, Sponsorship, Strategy) 11:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. - Networking Break Noon - 1:30 p.m. – Closing Keynote Luncheon *Separate registration and fees required

Sports Events and Tourism

Photos courtesy Rhode Island Sports Commission

Top Five Things To Do In Providence 1. WaterFire – The event features nearly 100 bonfires that seem to float gently through Providence’s three rivers. The smell of aromatic wood smoke, flickering firelight and enchanting music add to the mystique.

2. Walking Tours – Providence’s architectural treasures and rich history make it a delight to explore on foot. A series of self-guided walking tours tell the tales behind three of Providence’s most loved neighborhoods. Pick up the printed maps at the Visitor Center (located in the RI Convention Center).

3. Federal Hill – Dubbed one of the best “Little Italys” in the United States by Mario Batali, this iconic neighborhood features many Italian restaurants and shops, along with a few non-Italian places that add additional flavor.

4. Roger Williams Park Zoo - Home to more than 100 species of animals including a Komodo dragon, zebras, red pandas, African elephants, Masai giraffes, snow leopards, and more.

5. Land & Sea Exploration – Located at the confluence of three rivers, Providence is a great city to explore by land or sea.

Glide through downtown on an authentic Venetian gondola or learn while you launch on the Providence Riverboat. Outdoor enthusiasts can get a workout while touring with Providence Kayak. Landlubbers can explore the city (and state) with the knowledgeable tour guides of Experience Rhode Island.

For a list of more fun things to do in Providence, head to our website at sportscommissions.org/education/4S-Summit.

www.SportsCommissions.org

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Thanks to our hosts

November 5-6, 2019 Louisville, KY

Who Should Attend

The CE Summit equips sports events and tourism CEOs with the tools necessary to advance the mission of your organization. CEOs of sports destinations and sports events are invited to learn from industry experts addressing highlevel topics including crisis management, board governance, office culture, and more.

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Sponsored by

• Presidents • CEOs • Executive Directors

SCHEDULE Subject to change.

Tuesday, November 5 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Registration 1:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. – Welcome and Introductions 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Opening Keynote 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Education Session 5:45 p.m. – Trolley Rides to Angel’s Envy 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. – Reception and Distillery Tour at Angel’s Envy 7:30 p.m. – Dinner On Own

Photos courtesy Photos courtesy Louisville Tourism

Wednesday, November 6 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. – Complimentary Breakfast 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. – Education Session 9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. – Break 9:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. – Education Session 11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Closing Lunch 1:15 p.m. – Transportation to Churchill Downs 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Afternoon at the Races: Networking at Churchill Downs

Registration Member Rate: $499 Non-Member Rate: $699

Hotel Embassy Suites by Hilton Louisville Downtown Rate: $189/night Reservation Cut-Off: Monday, October 7, 2019 Book your room online at sportscommissions.org/education/chief-executive-summit

Sports Events and Tourism

Sponsored by

In May, we held the inaugural Sports Facilities Summit, designed to provide education and best practices to the leadership and management of sports facilities interested in learning how to secure and operate more sports tourism events. Over 70 industry professionals were in attendance to discuss and learn more about facility administration, management, event operations, and event programming.

We plan to use this first year to determine scope and need in consideration of expanding our membership, and are excited about the future of this group. There will be time during the 2019 4S Summit, dedicated to Sports Facilities. More information on programming, schedule and registration will be available later this summer.

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Do it the right way, with

www.SportsCommissions.org

Fox Cities Takes Events In House

By Betsy Ross, President & Founder, Game Day Communications

First known as the Fox Cities Champion Center, it is scheduled to open this fall as the “Community First Champion Center Fox Cities” after awarding naming rights to Community First Credit Union. The facility will feature ice and hardcourt surfaces. The ice rink will be open all year and will be able to seat up to 1,000 people. The facility will have four basketball courts which convert to eight volleyball courts and a seasonal arena that converts to one ice rink or four more basketball courts or six more volleyball courts.

Meeting space also will be available.

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The Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau says a study it commissioned estimates the first year will bring in $8.9 million to the area.

“This is going to be a treasure for the community, not only for local athletes, but it’s going to invite people from other areas to bring their competing teams here, in tournaments, on the weekends, and that just really enhances the vibrancy of our entire community,” said Amanda Secor, Community First Credit Union.

Pam Seidl, president of Fox Cities Sports Development and Executive Director of Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau, added, “Community First Champion Center Fox Cities will be one of the best indoor sports facilities in the Midwest and will be a destination for sports events that drive positive economic impact in the Fox Cities.”

The project will be paid for through the Fox Cities Tourism Facilities Fund, which receives lodging room tax revenues collected by Appleton, Grand Chute, Fox Crossing, Little Chute, Kaukauna, Kimberly, Menasha, Neenah, Sherwood and the Town of Neenah.

To learn more about the center, visit Championcenterwi.com.

The “Community First Champion Center Fox Cities” is expected to bring in nearly $9 million to the Fox Cities area in its first year when it opens this fall.

Sports Events and Tourism

Photos courtesy Fox Cities CVB

Anyone who plans events knows that one of the earliest challenges in scheduling an activity is finding a venue to stage it—one that’s accessible and affordable and fits the event’s needs.

Fox Cities, WI, is in the process of taking control of the venue search by building its own $31 million-dollar sports complex.

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