SportsEvents is edited for those who plan tournaments or other sports events.
pubs and seven historical sites." Minerich said the tournament is esti- mated to have a $1.5 million economic impact on his city. The fast-growing Chicago suburb of
group host- ed a 10-team
regional playoff at the Pershing Center, a his-
VOLLEYBALL MATCHES are often well suited for convention centers.
The center hosts a lot of rodeos, horse shows and kennel club events, Snover said. "We have all rodeo and horse equipment on site, which includes bucking chutes, roping chutes and stalls for 800 to 1,200 horses. The versatility of having both dirt and con- crete floors also creates a great combo for kennel club dog shows." Planners can make the best of what
an area offers by combining various venues, said Chris Clouden, senior director of events and marketing for the Charlotte (N.C.) Sports Commission. "We work closely with Visit Charlotte and use the Charlotte Convention Center for galas and live entertainment to tie in with sporting events, such as a meet the community event for the Carolina Panthers or a black-tie fundraiser for local children's charities called 'Fight Night for Kids' that fea- tures live boxing. We've worked with them on that for the past 12 years." The Charlotte Convention Center has more than 90,000 square feet of event space.
Convenience
Easy parking—or the ability to walk to the event—is important, said Andrea Tarnick, executive director of No Coast Derby Girls, part of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association. Tarnick's
6 September 2011
toric city-owned arena in Lincoln. "The Pershing Center has the best flat- track surface in the country; it's the per- fect size for our events—it's like it was meant for roller derby. And, the down- town location means that fans and skaters can walk from the host hotel or to restaurants and bars and avoid the pain that downtown parking can be sometimes." In Kentucky's capital city, the Frankfort Convention Center combines flexible space with a great location, says Rob E. Minerich, executive direc- tor. The center recently won the bid for the 2012 NAIA Women's Division One National Basketball Championships, which is moving from a city where it had been for 20 years. "This is the longest-running women's national bas- ketball tournament in the country and has also been coined College Basketball's Toughest Tournament. We will feature 32 teams, 31 games and one national champion in seven days." The 5,300 fixed-seat facility is in the heart of historic downtown. "Winning this bid was a community effort, but I think part of the reason this tournament is moving to Frankfort is that we have so many attractions nearby, giving the student athletes extra-curricular activi- ties during their down times. In addition to our facility, we have a 189-room hotel on our campus, and we are within walking distance of 14 shops, nine restaurants, several art galleries, four
Tinley Park has a newly expanded con- vention center, said Bob Lukens, CDME, PR manager for the Chicago Southland Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). "The Tinley Park Convention Center offers a larger indoor space for competitions than we have had in the past in the Chicago Southland region, with 58,000 square feet of event space. Parking at the con- vention center is free, and the facility is connected to a 202-room, full-service hotel," Lukens said. Big expansions are also under way in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, according to Jennifer Pickar, director of communica- tions and marketing for the Cedar Rapids Area CVB. "The U.S. Cellular Center arena closed in July for an inte- rior and exterior renovation, set to be completed in November 2012. Highlights include a larger stage area and a new concourse with enhanced concessions. Attached to the arena is the former Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel that also is closed for a $25 mil- lion renovation. It will reopen in November 2012 under a new flag." ➤ The new Cedar Rapids Convention Complex is under construction adjacent to the hotel and arena and is expected to open in early 2013, said Mary Lee Malmberg, CSEE, director of sports tourism for the CVB. "One of the fea- tures that we believe will appeal to sports event planners is the attached hotel. Also, the meeting space in the new convention center will provide close access for officials' meetings, vendor sales and media interview areas."
In Morgantown, W.Va., the
Morgantown Events Center connects to the 205-room Waterfront Place Hotel, adding additional event space, said Dave Plevich, sports and special events manager for the Greater Morgantown CVB. "Also, there's a four-story park-
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