Gifts, errands, budgets. New year, new season. Why not also make it time for an NASC membership checklist? Especially if you are new to the association, it’s time to get your NASC house in order.
Make sure your company profile is accurate. Log in here: https://www.sportscommissions.org/My-Account and review each tab “ My Organization, My Profile”, etc. to make sure you have the latest info out there.
Upload a photo. Yes, use that new headshot. If you don’t have one, now is a good time!
Tap into membership-related research. Make a meeting appointment each week to read something new off the site. You’ll be amazed at what is available right at in front of you.
Get registered for Symposium. Registration is OPEN. https://www.sportscommissions.org/Symposium/Registration Don’t delay. You don’t want to miss out on any new developments for April 2018 in Minneapolis.
Shop. (It IS the holidays....
First and foremost, we want information. Rights holders operate in multiple states, counties, municipalities and other entities which all may have different rules when it comes to facility permits, health and safety rules, etc. Knowing that information is incredible helpful to rights holders and can save them hours of research time and phone calls trying to sort it all out.
Local information is also helpful, especially for youth events. People need things to do between games, or need to buy things they forgot etc. Providing a simple one-sheeter with information such as the nearest hospital, urgent care center, sporting goods store, mall, movie theater etc. will be useful when training staff and can be included in their staffs books they use throughout the weekend. Think about the things you would want to know about if you were traveling for your son’s or daughter’s tournament.
For youth sports especially, it is also important to have a re...
First 4S Summit completed, what a great time we all had in Detroit!
Lots of good conversations, good ideas and good friends. Now you may ask, we have all this knowledge….. what next? I think we all learned that the ‘4S’s” go hand in hand, right?
Let’s do a little recap…. Sales, Strategies, Sponsorships and Services.
In order to have an event in your destination these four topics will come into play. Best practices, things that work, things that don’t and discussing these topics in an open forum is a great way for destinations to learn from one another. We all know that we have many different size destinations, budgets and a variety of venues. However, one common denominator is we all want to host a successful event. That brings me to Sales, learning about the event…Does it fit in market? Do we have a local club or ambassador to help advance our bid? Making sure you have all the players to make the event successful? Do YO...
1. Mother Nature might have a say. If it’s pouring rain, your event owner may not be jazzed about walking your soccer fields, so be ready with a covered cart or a windshield tour.
2. Actions speak louder. Invite potential clients to SEE an event happening at your venue.
3. Give them space. Event owners might like to roam on their own, talk amongst themselves, get opinions while on site.
4. Let them eat cake…. locally. Showcase your community with a meal that lends itself to good conversation. Buy dessert!
5. Meet the Fam. Include operations staff, turf specialists, maintenance and office coordinators to visit with event owners.
6. Find your “no”. You don’t have to say yes to every request. If something won’t work for your venue, say so. Then explain.
7. Overpromising is never good. Never. Ever. Be realistic.
8. We ALL want you. Showcase your community, hotels, what makes your sports ...
In theory, you or I could submit a bid for any sporting event. If you want to win a bid, and more importantly host an event, you must start by knowing your product (your local facilities, community and marketing plan) and developing strong relationships.
If you’re not already connected, it’s time to get connected within your community and within the NASC. Meet the management team and staff at each facility; get to know your community members and their interest in the sport(s) you are considering bidding on and build relationships with the event organizer(s).
Dedicate time to research the sporting event; contact friends within the industry that have been hosts and have open, honest conversations with the organizer(s) to establish realistic expectations and to create a mutually beneficial plan. Knowing you and your team (staff, LOC, community partners and event organizers) are positioned to make the event successful takes precedence over bidding.
Fac...
The NASC is the leader in the sport tourism industry when it comes to providing educational opportunities to its members. The Certified Sports Event Certification (CSEE) is the most recognized professional designation in our industry. The program, having been developed in 2002, has continued to evolve as the needs of the NASC members have changed. Sessions have focused on such topics as Media Relations, Hotel Contract Negotiations, Strategic Planning, Coordination of Volunteers, RFPs and the Bidding Process, and Social Media. Online courses were also recently launched to supplement the live courses.
As a sport tourism professional, I believe it’s important to continuously keep myself educated on what’s happening in our industry. My primary reasons for earning my CSEE include:
1. Knowledge - The world around us is constantly changing and it’s imperative that for us to do the best jobs we can, that we stay informed. CSEE courses provide us with another source of informa...
It should be no surprise that if you are active in Sports Tourism that you should be working very closely with your Parks and Recreation Departments. For the most part they have what Event Planners are looking for----diamonds, fields, courts and green space.
For some of you that may just be one Department and for others---like me---it involves multiple jurisdictions in our large metropolitan area. Each Park and Recreation Department may excel in a particular sport and it is nice to have them as your “go to partner” for that specific sport while others due to their availability and designated space like to branch out and be considered for some “out of the box type events”. No matter how you look at it or approach their space get to know each Parks and Recreation Department Leader. Invite them to lunch, let them know some events that you are working on and who knows----maybe they have heard of an event that needs a nudge or some assistance that you could connect w...
Member Mentoring is one of the best services the NASC has to offer for new members/partners to the NASC.
Having been involved with the NASC since 1996, I have seen the NASC transform into one of the strongest association in the tourism industry. One of the special aspects of the NASC is the Member Mentoring committee. This committee assists new members to the NASC and helps answer questions, work through issues with event owners or rights holders and helps in creating that fraternity of “been there and done that” so the new member does not feel like they are on an island.
One of my best Member Mentoring stories I like to share from time to time happened several years ago. I was assigned Daniel Rush, Vice President of Global Sports & Event Sales for MGM Resorts in Las Vegas, NV.
Now as first, I am thinking, what do I have to share with the Vice President of Global Sports and Event Sales for MGM Resorts that he has not seen or been thro...
My life has centered around connecting with people.
Perhaps it was growing up in the small town of Fairport Harbor, Ohio (where everyone really does know each other) that gave me the love of meeting new people, getting to know them, and staying connected to them. That fortunate trait has been my greatest personal joy, and has become my greatest professional strength.
The business of sport that we are all engaged in as members of the National Association of Sports Commissions is conducted through our personal relationships with people from every facet of our professional world, and when we share our experiences with each other we all benefit.
I can still remember the hundreds of hours of benchmarking that it took to launch the Greater Columbus Sports Commission in 2002. Colleagues (many of whom have now become my friends) from dozens of cities such as Richmond, Orlando, St. Louis and Portland shared their budgets and best practices to help get us off the ground.
I coul...
Seven years ago I was hired as the Sports Market Sales Account Executive. I was straight out of college and had a lot to learn! NASC was the first trade show I attended and I was a little nervous about attending my first sports trade show for many reasons: I wouldn’t know anyone, I didn’t know what kinds of questions to ask during appointments, how would I choose which educational sessions to attend from all of the options, etc.
I was relieved to find that the NASC membership as a whole are a very friendly and helpful group. I would eat lunch with people I didn’t know and they would be more than willing to offer advice and suggestions. I quickly felt comfortable and now, seven years later, can refer to those helpful individuals as friends.
A few years ago I was looking into joining a NASC committee. I saw the Mentoring Committee as an option and knew that was the committee for me! I can appreciate how new members have a lot of questions and can relate to their e...