The sports events tourism industry is expanding rapidly, with destinations competing to host events of all sizes. While traditional metrics like visitor spending and hotel occupancy remain essential, earned media offers a powerful, untapped opportunity to measure the broader impact of sports events.
Key Takeaways:
Earned Media Value (EMV): Represents unpaid, organic publicity from media coverage, influencer mentions, and social sharing—capturing the intangible impact of media impressions.
Sports ETA Earned Media Calculator: Provides a groundbreaking tool to quantify EMV, enabling destinations and Rights Holders to measure and report media awareness and overall impact effectively.
Broader Event Value: EMV highlights the significance of events beyond overnight stays, showcasing audience reach, brand visibility, and media exposure.
Enhanced RFPs: Including EMV in event proposals helps Rights Holders present a comprehensive and compelling case for their event’s e...
Welcome to the December edition of the Sports ETA Facility Showcase! This month, we’re diving into what makes the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center in Rock Hill, South Carolina, a shining example of how vision and execution can elevate a destination. Stick around for the “Key Difference Maker”—a critical insight that could transform your facility’s future.
The Top of the Hill
Rock Hill seamlessly combines the amenities of a large city with the simplicity and ease of small-town life. Located just 20 minutes south of Charlotte, NC, on the I-77 corridor, Rock Hill has leveraged its strategic location to develop some of the most impressive sporting facilities in the region.
The City of Rock Hill’s Parks, Recreation & Tourism division spearheads its sport and tourism efforts with a clear mission: to enhance the quality of life for both residents and visitors through leisure, recreational, and cultural opportunities.
Innovation at The...
The NCAA is currently soliciting bids for the 2026 and 2027 Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT) semifinal and final games.
The WBIT is an annual postseason tournament, owned and funded by the NCAA, which features 32 Division I women’s basketball teams. Preliminary rounds, including the first, second, and quarterfinal rounds, are held at campus sites. The semifinals and finals are held at a pre-determined neutral site.
Bid specifications and supporting documents can be found HERE. The bid portal is currently live and will remain open until 5:00 PM ET, January 31, 2025. If you are interested in hosting both years, please submit a bid for each year.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a meeting to discuss further, please reach out to Jessie Carmack (jcarmack@ncaa.org).
Welcome to the November edition of the Sports ETA Facility Showcase! This month, we turn our spotlight to the Roebbelen Center in Placer Valley, California—a groundbreaking project that reimagines the potential of sports facilities on the West Coast. This facility is a trailblazer, transforming the decades-old Placer County Fairgrounds into a world-class multipurpose event campus that has become a national model for tourism and sports event innovation.
Make sure to read to the end—our Key Difference Maker could inspire new strategies to elevate your facility's success!
A Place Where Champions Are Made
Nestled at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Northern California, Placer Valley has emerged as a hub for premier sports events, hosting some of the largest youth, amateur, and professional competitions in the western United States. With top-tier facilities, tournament-friendly hotels, and easy access via Interstate 80,...
Welcome to the October edition of the Sports ETA Facility Showcase! This month, we’re thrilled to highlight the Alachua County Sports & Events Complex (ACSEC) in Gainesville, Florida—a premier destination for sports events in North Florida. Known for its state-of-the-art indoor track and adaptable multi-sport spaces, the ACSEC stands out as a powerhouse in sports tourism, boosting local economic growth and providing world-class facilities for athletes, spectators, and the surrounding community. Don’t miss the “Key Difference Maker” at the end—this insight could help shape your own facility’s impact.
A Legacy of Sports Dedication
Since 1999, the Gainesville Sports Commission (GSC) has been dedicated to advancing sports tourism and community development through strategic sports events. As a nonprofit with a mission to drive tourism and economic impact, the GSC has fueled over 300 million dollars in economic growth for Gainesville and ...
Are you maximizing your brand’s revenue potential? Our latest merchandise white paper helps you learn how to create a customized brand solution through merchandise sales.
Key Takeaways:
Increased Revenue: Merchandise sales provide an additional revenue stream that can significantly boost your event’s financial performance.
Enhanced Fan Engagement: Offering event-specific merchandise creates a deeper connection between fans and the event, enhancing their overall experience.
Brand Visibility: Branded merchandise acts as a walking advertisement, increasing visibility and awareness of your event.
Memorabilia: Merchandise serves as a tangible memento, allowing attendees to relive their experience long after the event has ended.
Data Collection: Merchandise sales can provide valuable data on consumer preferences and behaviors, informing future marketing strategies.
View the White Paper Here
Thank...
Navigate the complexities of insurance and it’s requirements in the youth and amateur sports industry while addressing the financial risks associated for all stakeholders.
This white paper explores the essential insurance types required to protect the youth sports industry from financial risks. It covers the needs of event organizers, venues, sports clubs, and families, highlighting key solutions like general liability, accident medical insurance, sports fee insurance, and event cancellation insurance.
Key Takeaways:
Comprehensive Insurance Solutions: Safeguards the financial investments of all stakeholders.
Event Cancellation Insurance: Protects revenue for event organizers with customizable solutions.
Stay-to-Play Revenue Protection: Exclusive USSCI solution that automatically secures refunds and stabilizes revenue at no cost to event organizers.
Broker Benefits: Brokers help navigate complex insurance needs, ensuring tailored, cost-effective coverage.
...
Get ready for an exciting edition of the September 2024 Sports ETA Facility Showcase! This month, we’re shining the spotlight on one of the most groundbreaking facilities in the sports events and tourism industry: Arizona Athletic Grounds (AAG). As one of the largest sports and entertainment complex in North America, AAG is not just a venue—it’s a game-changer for sports tourism. Dive into this showcase and discover how AAG is driving both community engagement and economic growth. Plus, don’t miss our "Key Difference Maker" and a thought-provoking question to help you level up your own operations. Let’s get started!
Mesa, arizona: A Premier Sports Destination, Powered by Partnership
Mesa has earned a reputation as one of the nation’s most desirable destinations for hosting a wide range of sporting events—whether amateur, youth, collegiate, or professional. The city has hosted premier tournaments for the NCAA, NJC...
We’re excited to announce the next Women's Community Group call, scheduled for October 9, 2024, at 3 PM ET. Mark your calendars for an inspiring session led by Jessica Blubaugh, Chief Philanthropy Officer of United Way of Greater Kansas City!
Jessica brings a wealth of experience and passion to her role, with a career journey that began as an intern at the Kansas City Sports Commission—a fun fact that showcases her deep roots in the sports and nonprofit sectors.
This call will be an excellent opportunity to hear from Jessica as she shares her insights, experiences, and perspectives on leadership, philanthropy, and community impact. Whether you're looking to learn, network, or find inspiration, this session is sure to offer valuable takeaways for everyone.
Learn more about Jessica here: https://voyagekc.com/interview/daily-inspiration-meet-jessica-blubaugh/
Don't miss this chance to connect, learn, and grow with fellow members of the Women's Commu...
Join us for the inaugural Parks & Recreation Community meeting on Monday, October 16 at 2:30 PM ET!
This roundtable discussion, led by community leaders will bring together Parks & Recreation professionals, Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs), and Sports Commissions to create a vibrant, collaborative community.
Our focus will be on enhancing the impact of sports tourism, promoting healthy lifestyles, and fostering sustainable community development through the strategic use of parks, recreation facilities, and events.
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, share, and innovate with industry peers!
JOIN ZOOM MEETING
Meeting ID: 871 8748 8253
Passcode: 279776
If you have any questions, please be sure to visit our community webpage and LinkedIn group.
Community Leaders,
Jennifer Fink, Director of Parks and Recreation, MASC/National Sports Center
Clay Partain, STS, Executive Dir...