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By Jackie Reau, Game Day Communications     There were dozens of informative education sessions at the NASC symposium a few months ago. Now is the time to review your notes and take a pulse check of your strategy as we reach the mid-year calendar milestone.   It’s also important to note the enormous (and growing) economic impact of the U.S. sports tourism industry (studied annually by NASC and Ohio University), which now stands at $11.4 billion, a 37% increase over the last four years. Keep these stats in mind as you plan your strategy against metrics.   Here are a few thought starters to get you going on the process following the theme of the 4S Summit to review your strategy, services, sales and sponsorship.    First, take a half-day and schedule yourself out of the office so you can have quiet time to think. Head to your favorite coffee shop, library or campus spot for inspiration.   Strategy Plan in Pl...

By Matt Cacciato, Executive in Residence and Director, Masters of Sports Administration Program Ohio University The past few years, and even the past few months, have brought about numerous changes in the media space that will impact the sport tourism industry as organizational media strategies evolve. The number of new sports media offerings, technologies, joint ventures and mergers (completed and/or pending) have been dizzying and difficult to keep score of... even for those who follow the action closely!  Therefore, it is worthwhile to highlight some of these happenings, and trends, to update you on key platforms in media. The biggest development is the industry's move toward a direct to consumer model with enhanced viewer control over when, where and how they follow sports. The following sports media platforms all deliver significant impact on the sports ecosystem and share the concept of greater viewer control: ESPN+: The launch of ESPN+: A long tim...

CINCINNATI (For Immediate Release)- Meagan McCalla, who formerly worked at the National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC) in member services, returns to the NASC staff as the Director of Member Services and Engagement. She previously was with the NASC from May 2012 to April 2017. In her new role, McCalla is responsible for membership recruitment and retention as well as fulfillment of all member services. She also manages the member services team, with the goal of increasing engagement of all members across all categories of membership. McCalla earned a Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communication with a focus on Marketing from Miami University in May 2013. While at Miami, Meagan was a member of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and served on the Public Relations Committee. She also was a member of Miami University Honors Fraternity, Lambda Pi Eta and served on the Internal/External Relations Committee. Before transferring to Miami University, Meaga...

CINCINNATI (For Immediate Release) – Nearly 1,000 sports events and tourism professionals attended the 26th NASC Symposium, the annual meeting of the National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC), April 23-26 in Minneapolis. NASC members elected new leadership and participated in dozens of high-level education sessions. "The educational content was focused on key elements of effective strategies for sports event and tourism organizations, said NASC President & CEO, Al Kidd. Our tracks, including event management, research, partnerships, and technology, provided attendees with insights on the latest trends and how they will impact their destinations and events." General sessions included a super panel on youth sports participation, featuring Tom Cove, President and CEO of SFIA, Tom Farrey, Executive Director of the Sports & Society Program at the Aspen Institute, and Dev Pathik, Founder and CEO of the Sports Facilities Advisory. New NASC leadership w...

Last Minute Must Do’s Before Leaving for NASC The National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC) Sports Event Symposium is just around the corner! And if you’re attending for the first time, you’re in for a real treat. On April 23rd, people from all over the country will come to Minneapolis to learn from and network with hundreds of sports tourism professionals. The NASC Symposium “will feature dozens of authentic educational sessions, countless networking opportunities, and business development appointments in the NASC Sports Marketplace.” As a newbie, attending your first NASC can be a little overwhelming. You might not be sure what to expect, what to bring, or how to prepare for the show. Whether you’re a vendor, an event owner, or a destination attending NASC for the first time, here are some tips to help you get ready for the show. Check Your Itinerary + Plan Your Arrival Traveling to a new city can be nerve-wracking, especiall...

Are you attending the NASC Sports Events Symposium for the first time? Get ready to make some new friends, have fun, and learn a new idea to take back to your community! Are you a first-time attendee or a new NASC member? We invite you to come to the First-Time Orientation and Networking Reception on Monday, April 23rd. The First-Time Orientation is at the Minneapolis Convention Center from 4:30 pm to 5:15 pm. The Reception is at the Brit’s Pub from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm (a short walk from the convention center). Come attend the First- Time Orientation to learn tips and ask questions about the NASC Sports Events Symposium. Meet your mentor so you may put a face to the emails and phone calls. (I am looking forward to meeting my mentees.) The orientation will be a great opportunity to meet new colleagues who will become your friends. We in the sports tourism industry have a lot in common and have lots of fun! The First-Time Networking Reception will be an opportunity to conti...

A little over three years ago, I was hired as the National Sales Manager at the West Michigan Sports Commission. I was making the transition from college athletics into an unfamiliar territory of sports tourism and knew that I had to hit the ground running. Developing relationships in the community and eventually on a national level was very important in being successful, but where was I supposed to start? Fortunate enough, I had a great support system in my organization that guided me throughout the process. But still, the tradeshows were something I was not quite sure about because they were all so different. And what is this thing called ‘speed dating’? Do we really have six minutes to get as much information as possible from event planners? I had the opportunity to attend a few tradeshows prior to my first NASC Symposium in Milwaukee. As I continued to meet people in the industry, they would always talk about the NASC Symposium because it was much different than othe...

I often think about the phrase “learn something new every day”. I think about it because I realize I don’t commit enough time to learning or growing professionally. If you think about it, learning is really unavoidable. I mean, every encounter, interaction and experience has a takeaway, but how often do we take time to reflect and realize the lesson learned? I’d like to say I do so every time, but let’s be real! My life, like I imagine most, feels like one distraction after another. This is not a complaint. I love my life, personally and professionally. But I really wish I was better about taking the time to learn and advance my professional skill set. I imagine others feel this way as well. Every spring I attend the NASC Symposium and while I enjoy interacting with clients at appointments, that is actually near the bottom of my satisfaction list. I have just as meaningful interactions outside the appointments as I do during. I understand many people at...

A new event organizer is visiting your city/community to do a site-visit, review dates and discuss logistics and fees.  These are twelve (12) questions every CVB/Sports Commission should be prepared to answer: 1. What are facility rental fees and is financial support offered for a first time event? Does CVB/Sports Commission have a grant program? Or perhaps assist with securing discounts on facility rental fees? Is there a bonus paid for reaching pre-determined number of room pick-ups? For one year, or longer?  2. Has there been another event organizer/tournament on this particular weekend? If so, why are they no longer hosting an event this weekend?  3. What other large events or festivals are scheduled the same weekend (or week) that might have an effect on hotel availability and getting around the community easily? 4. Is there another established event or tournament, in the same sport, within 60 miles that may be competing against Event Organizer...

Cincinnati (For Immediate Release) – Elizabeth Chaney Young, formerly the director of membership and marketing for the National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC), takes over as Vice President of the organization, effective immediately. She has served the NASC in various capacities since joining the organization in 2007 and has been an integral part of the NASC’s growth over the last decade. As director of membership and marketing she developed the annual strategy for membership recruitment and retention and oversaw all integrated marketing and communications for the association.  In her new role, Elizabeth will oversee membership, marketing, communications, events, and education to support the continued growth of the organization and service of its members. “We are fortunate to have someone of Elizabeth’s skill and knowledge continue her career at the NASC,” said Al Kidd, president and CEO. “Her experience with our 800 members ...