SportsEvents is edited for those who plan tournaments or other sports events.
Issue link: https://sportsevents.epubxp.com/i/391591
September 2014 20 www.sportseventsmagazine.com "Convention centers offer a profes- sional, controllable environment," said Mahammad "Maq" Qureshi, CEO of Cricket Council USA, pointing out that his sport—traditionally considered an outdoor sport—has found convention centers fit the bill for a number of its tournaments. Likewise, the Bassmaster Classic, which held its 2014 event at the Birmingham-Jefferson (Ala.) Convention Complex, always looks to convention centers to support a success- fully run event. "[The event] is as much a city-wide convention and a rock-and- roll show as it is a fishing tournament," said Michael Mulone, director of event and tourism partnerships with B.A.S.S. "We use more than 200,000 gross square feet of space for our consumer expo, highlighting fishing tackle, boats, gear and the best in outdoor equipment. While some sport organizers need convention centers for their competi- tion, we are one of the few sports that actually has a convention in conjunc- tion with the sports event." Over the last decade, destinations have woken up to the economic impact potential of the amateur sports market and are creatively looking at ways to leverage convention centers to fit the needs of a wide variety of events. The Triangle Volleyball Club (TVC) was the first sporting group to hold an event in the Raleigh (N.C.) Convention Center (RCC) in 2009, and Sherry Fadool, executive director of TVC, recalled her initial hesitation about bringing sports into the facility. "Now youth sports events are commonplace at RCC, and the staff has even asked us to contribute to planning for expanded space so that it best accommodates sports," Fadool said. "We have an excellent relationship with the city and the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance. They eagerly accept our feedback and work hard to make sure our event is well run, supported and successful from their end." Holding a sports event in a conven- tion center is often a win-win for all involved, but there can be challenges to the convention center choice—cost being the biggest obstacle for many groups. "It's not the typical draped event that convention centers are used to hosting," said Tori Collins, associate director of the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance. "There are often extra expens- es, and there is a learning curve with every sport." Tammy Dunn, sports development manager for the Snohomish County BEAUMONT, Texas—Ford Arena, Ford Exhibit Hall and Ford Midway are locat- ed in Beaumont, Texas, on U.S. Interstate 10 between Houston and Lake Charles, La. Located on 221 acres, the complex provides numerous venues for sports events. The 8,500 seat multi-purpose Ford Arena hosts concerts, rodeos, circuses, motor sports and other special events. Ford Exhibit Hall has 48,000 square feet of exhibit space and is attached to the arena, offering a combined 83,000 square feet of space. The exhibit hall includes eight individ- ual meeting rooms, an 11,000-square- foot lobby or pre-function space, a full-service kitchen for catering, conces- sion stands and restrooms. ■ Ford Park More Centers That Love Sports! WILDWOOD, N.J.—Located on the world famous Wildwoods Boardwalk directly overlooking the beach and ocean, this unique, state-of-the-art, 260,000-square-foot facility offers one of the most spacious, flexible, innova- tive and inviting venues available for conventions, trade shows, meetings, concerts and exhibits. Located within a day's drive of one-third of America's population, it can accom- modate groups as small as 100 or as large as 10,000. The center hosts a variety of sports events, including the Cheer Tech Island Championships, which will be held in November. The competitions will include recre- ational, school, college, open and all-star divisions. In August, the center hosted hundreds of roller derby enthusiasts, skaters and ven- dors for a roller derby tournament. The center also hosted a mixed martial arts competi- tion in August. ■ Wildwoods Convention Center More Centers That Love Sports! SPECIAL Feature ▼ The Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in downtown Birmingham, Ala., is within walking dis- tance of hotels, an entertainment district and more. BJCC