Symposium

The Spring 2019 edition of the NASC Playbook is available now.  Download your copy. Inside this issue: What kind of leader do you want to be Sports Facilities Summit On motivating your employees Why rebrand the NASC That aha moment 12 questions for CVBs and Sports Commissions Symposium education track line-up Staying competitive on and off the sports field  We encourage 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 NASC Playbook. The NASC Staff

A mentor is someone that will guide you along the path you have chosen, someone that will help you overcome challenges and build your character, while being motivated to support you and being a positive influence on your journey. Have you identified important individuals that have had a positive impact on your life? These individuals could be friends or advisers that you haven’t talked to in years, but they are still mentors to you. Reach out to them, thank them and start up that new dialogue. For me, it was a college professor at Ohio State in 2003, and I never realized how important he was to helping create who I am today and why I ended up in the sports tourism industry in 2012. After nine years of working in a variety of roles in professional sports – from interning and working full-time for a Minor League Baseball team, to spending time selling sponsorships for a PGA golf tournament and then moving into event operations for a golf contractor, then finally landing...

When you begin to plan for your event, something that is a driving force of how you plan is the event’s branding strategy. Everything is centered around what colors you associate with your brand, the logo, the tagline, and the name of your event. Beyond that, how your event goes will affect the future of your brand and can change it forever. Keeping this in mind, here are some tips from ‘Wild Apricot’ for keeping your branding strong throughout the event planning process. Name your event.  The name of your event is the first thing your future consumers will see.  It can easily be a make or break if someone decides to participate in it so you need to make sure your tagline is eye catching and easily explains the event.  With naming your event, think about how your event is different from others in your area and what are you wanting the message that your consumers read is.  Create a tagline. Once you have the name, think of a short and m...

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 ...

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...

Definition of aha moment  : a moment of sudden realization, inspiration, insight, recognition, or comprehension I will be attending my seventh NASC Symposium this year, and with each one I have incredible “Aha Moments”.  From the definition noted above, I have experienced the following: A sudden realization that my destination can host events and play in this marketplace. Inspired by incredible leaders within the sports tourism industry that have made me see things in a slightly different way, changing my whole perspective. Incredible insight from my counterparts from all over the country on all the aspects of our work.  Recognition, with articles published, successful events achieved and the ability to show the impact of what we do for our communities. Comprehending all the processes from RFP to Recap. As we approach the next Symposium in Knoxville, I encourage you to take it all in and let yourself have those Aha Moments.  I wa...

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...

CINCINNATI, Jan. 15, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Association of Sports Commissions is getting ready for its 2019 program slate of four national conferences, which will bring the national membership and sports events leaders in the industry together for educational and networking opportunities. The Women’s Summit from April 3-5 hosted in Tampa, Florida is developed by top female leaders in the sports events and tourism industry to help women achieve their career goals. Topics include building allies, breaking down barriers, personal branding and female entrepreneurship. Registration is open now: https://www.sportscommissions.org/education/womens-summit The NASC Symposium, which will be held May 6-9 in Knoxville, Tennessee, will bring hundreds of sports events and tourism professionals and industry partners together to exchange resources, strategies and more. The Symposium features dozens of education sessions, networking opportunities, and business development...

It’s hard to believe the holidays are here and 2019 is just weeks away.  It’s a wonderful time to spend with family, enjoy the company of friends and reflect on 2018.  It’s also the time of year people begin to make their annual resolutions for changes they would like to make in the coming year.  While making your New Year’s resolutions, don’t forget to about your job and changes you would like to make there as well.  Here are my resolutions to help get you started… My first resolution for 2019 is to better develop the relationship I have with my Parks & Recreation department.  While some cities have amazing private sports parks or school facilities to utilize, many of us rely a great deal on our public parks to host many of our events.  As cities to continue to grow and the availability of open field time shrinks, a great relationship with your parks and recreation staff can help overcome facility obstacles.&nbs...

The NASC Symposium is a unique opportunity to share your experience, expertise and best practices with sports event professionals. We are seeking a combination of peer-to-peer sessions, as well as presentations from subject matter experts to deliver the best educational opportunities for all disciplines in the sports event and tourism industry. We invite you to submit a proposal for the 2019 NASC Symposium taking place May 6-9 in Knoxville, TN. Submit a Proposal If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us at info@sportscommissions.org or 513.281.3888.