Among the numerous segments comprising a destination’s tourism portfolio, often exists sports and event tourism. These efforts may reside in any number of organizational structures from within a destination marketing organization (DMO), a government entity or stand-alone organization. The growth of sports and event tourism has been undeniable. The industry’s professional association originated with merely a dozen communities gathering to share ideas more than 25 years ago. Today, what would become the National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC), serves more than 840 members from across the country and beyond.
As the go-to resource for the robust sports and events tourism industry, the NASC serves not only destination representatives, but just as importantly, sports and event rights holders looking for host destinations that can accommodate their events, venue and facility operators, and a plethora of industry suppliers. Destinations ranging in population from less ...
When you plan an event, there are many hurdles to jump over to make sure your event goes perfectly. With that being said, preparing for these obstacles and going in with a strong strategy to get things done is key. Here are five tips from “MeetingsNet” to help make your event go off without a hitch.
Set clear goals and objectives
While this might sound like an easy task, this task puts your team on the same page. You need to have an initial meeting to decide what the end goal is, how you will reach it, and when you will reach it. In this meeting, you can determine due dates and when check-ins will happen.
2. Prepare for the “what-if” scenarios
You get one chance to deal with an unexpected situation. MeetingsNet suggests thinking of them early on so you can create a crisis management plan. The plan should have wiggle room for the surprise situations, but should also have something for each team member to work with.&n...
Soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, destination management organization… what do all of these have in common?
Competition.
Each one is competing to win the tournament, to win the meet, to win the event. Parents are spending an exorbitant amount of money on trainers, coaches, and advanced leagues to help their children excel in hopes of winning and future scholarships. Destination management organizations are investing hundreds of thousands (sometimes millions) of dollars to renovate and/or build the best sporting venues to attract large multi-day tournaments for multiple year contracts.
As destinations look to sports tourism as an option to increase overnight visitation, resulting in additional tax revenues for the destination, the question is often asked “should we invest in our current infrastructure or build new sports facilities?” If the answer is yes, then the question of “how do we pay for those infrastructure improvements” usually follows.
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Want to create a successful sports event or tournament? If so, you’re going to need great sponsors which means a great sponsorship activation plan. The first problem with many people is they don’t truly grasp what sponsorship activation is. For many, they believe simply putting a logo on a banner or poster is considered a successful sponsorship activation. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
In The Secret to Successful Activation blog, Eventbrite says activation “is where audience goals and sponsor goals come together in a way that achieves the outcomes of both parties.” Once you’ve successfully obtained a sponsor, now comes the activation.
Eventbrite says it all starts with understanding what your audience wants along with what they don’t want. To do this, ask them questions- what do they love about your program or event? What didn’t they like? After collecting feedback, talk with your sponsors about the responses. Have they r...
The Certified Sports Event Executive program offers NASC members a chance to elevate their sports tourism careers to a whole new level. With the opportunity to meet a variety of specialists from the industry and taking classes directed to give you a fresh, new look at the sports tourism industry. For graduates like Kristyn Hawkins, this program enhanced her knowledge and experience in ways she never imagined.
As the current, Sports Tourism Sales Director at the Spartanburg, South Carolina CVB, Hawkins came into the program wanting to learn more about the best practices in the industry so she could bring that back to Spartanburg CVB. She ended up getting that and so much more.
“This program allows you to learn all aspects of sports tourism by learning from the top industry professionals,” Hawkins said. Even more so, Hawkins recognizes that this program allowed her to build relationships and a support system to bounce ideas around.
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NASC Sports Legacy Fund to raise money for Knoxville’s DreamBikes
Every year, the NASC Sports Legacy Fund awards an annual grant to an organization that provides opportunities in sports and encourages a healthy lifestyle. This contribution is part of the legacy NASC leaves. This year, the NASC Sports Legacy Fund is benefiting an organization in need in the host city of the 2019 NASC Symposium, Knoxville, TN, and we need your help to do so! Since 2009, the NASC Sports Legacy Fund has donated more than $140,000 to beneficiaries in the host cities of the NASC Symposium.
DreamBikes, the 2019 beneficiary, is an organization that strategically places their stores in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods to give paid, hands-on job training to teenagers. Employees learn how to refurbish bikes, use POS software, and deliver great customer service. DreamBikes provides lifelong skills to their teen employees, helping them to shift gears and find a bright future.
Help us, help Drea...
We are officially under 100 days until the NASC Symposium! Are you joining us in Knoxville, Tennessee from May 6 through the 9th? Each year, leaders from event hosts, tourism professionals and industry partners gather to exchange resources, strategies and solutions.
A few reminders for those of you coming to Knoxville:
Do you have your hotel reservation? The hotel blocks are quickly filling up. Get yours today: https://www.sportscommissions.org/symposium/hotel-travel. Event owners -- NASC will book your hotel room.
Destinations: Register by 2/15/19 to be entered to win your top 3 mutually requested appointments (10 organizations will be selected)
Vendors: Register by 2/15/19 to be entered to win a free pre-symposium eBlast (3 organizations will be selected)
Event Owners: Register by 3/22/19 to be considered for travel assistance
You can start preparing for the 2019 NASC Symposium right now. Check out which event owners are coming and which destinations wi...
Contact:
Jackie Reau, Game Day Communications, 513.929.4263, jreau@gamedaypr.com
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SPORTS COMMISSIONS
TO HOST NEW SPORTS FACILITIES SUMMIT
CINCINNATI (January 29, 2019) - The National Association for Sports Commissions announced today the inaugural Sports Facilities Summit to be held Monday, May 6, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. The one-day seminar will provide education and best practices to senior leadership of sports facilities who want to learn how to secure and operate more sports tourism events.
The seminar will include four main topics: administration, event operations, facility management, and event programming. Speakers include industry leaders and top subject matter experts from sports facilities across the country: Michael Grade, VP of Sports Operations, Atlanta Sports City, Ben Huffman, Director of Sports Enterprises, Warren County CVB, William Knox, Director, Grand Park Sports Campus, and Mike Millay, Managing Partner, Clancy’s S...
How CVBs and Event Partners Can Provide a World-Class Experience to Visitors
When you think of Disney World, what comes to mind? If you’ve ever had the chance to visit Mickey’s magical land, you know that every detail of every park and resort is tailored to create an immersive, unique experience to all who enter (and they do such a great job of this that they have a whopping 70% return rate for first time guests!).
So, what does Disney World have to do with us as event partners or host communities? Well, it’s safe to say that we’re all looking to provide the best possible experience to all of our guests so they continue to come back, year after year. It’s unlikely that most of us will be able to eliminate all litter at our events by ensuring that no trash can is ever more than 30 steps away, or create an elaborate system of underground tunnels for staff to travel between locations, but there are many other ways in which we can all work togethe...
A big win for two National Association Sports Commissions members as the National Hockey League selects two cities to host outdoor games in 2020.
The 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic is headed to its southernmost location yet. The Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, Texas will play host to the January 1st game. The contest will mark the first NHL regular-season outdoor game for the Dallas Stars. The game in 2020 will mark the 12th year for the first NHL Winter Classic.
The Colorado Avalanche will also host an outdoor game in 2020 at the United States Air Force Academy, in Colorado Springs. The NHL Stadium Series will play at Falcon Stadium on February 15, 2020. The Avalanche’s opponent will be named at a later time. This is the second NHL outdoor game for the state of Colorado, and the first in Air Force’s history.
Congratulations to both Dallas Sports Commission and Denver Sports!
Read full article by NHL.