SportsEvents is edited for those who plan tournaments or other sports events.
CO NVENT I O N CENT ERS SUPPLEMENT
ing garage, so it makes a nice package downtown overlooking the beautiful Monongahela River."
Weather Proof
Ample indoor space—and not having to worry about the weather—makes the Rimrock Auto Arena, part of MetraPark facilities in Billings, Mont., perfect for rodeo, said Justin Mills, general manager, Northern International Livestock Exhibition (NILE), an organ- ization devoted to preserving and embracing the Western lifestyle. "Indoor venues can be more expensive, but you have more control over the weather. From ➤ a production point of view, being inside means you can bring more elements to an event that improve the experience for your attendees. This summer's Professional Bull Riding competition, which typically draws around 15,000- 20,000 spectators over the course of the event, requires an indoor facility like this." The facilities at MetraPark, used for indoor football, basketball, wrestling, rodeo, hockey, motorcycle racing and more, completed significant improve- ments and renovations over the last year, according to Kelly McCandless, leisure sales manager, Billings Chamber of Commerce/CVB.
Climate control comes in handy for other sports as well. The Independence Events Center in Independence, Mo., is home to the Missouri Mavericks, the only professional hockey team in the Kansas City region, and to the Missouri Comets of the MISL (Major Indoor Soccer League), said Sarah Miskew, marketing director.
"In addition to professional sports, the Events Center hosts an annual men's hockey collegiate match up between the University of Missouri and University of Kansas, as well as youth events in hockey, basketball and indoor
SUMMIT ARENA, in Hot Springs, Ark., offers 103,000 square feet of clear- span space for competitions.
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What Planners Need To Know You cannot over plan, said McElwain with the Sunbelt Conference. "We out- line every detail for our event ahead of time and assign individuals to make sure everything gets taken care of. We also have weekly planning sessions for several months leading up to the event and make multiple site visits. Preparation is key." Andrea Tarnick with No Coast Derby Girls advises fellow planners to check up on a center's regulations. "Check on union requirements, if any, for sound and lighting. Sometimes, you can cut your costs if you can bring in your own people to do this. Check on ticketing requirements. Some venues will do all ticketing; others might let you ticket the event yourself. Also, if you plan to stream or broadcast your event, you need to discuss this with the venue prior to signing contracts. Venues may have an estab- lished policy that requires they receive a percentage of profits, if there are any, when broadcasting or streaming." And if you do plan to stream or broadcast—or you have vendors who will be using wireless credit card machines— you also
soccer." The 131,972-square-foot facili- ty opened in November 2009 and includes a 75,000-square-foot arena bowl with 5,800 fixed seats.
need to check on the venue's Internet capabilities, Tarnick noted. "Sometimes, an older facility isn't equipped as well as you may want." NILE's Justin Mills has a laundry list of suggestions and tips for planners. "If you plan to have large video screens of any sort hanging from the ceiling, what is the ceiling load capaci- ty? Our events require us moving in dirt, so I need to know what the cost is for cleanup. Also, check out security requirements and what the costs are. If the venue has a sound system, test it early enough to determine if it is usable or if you need to bring in your own sound."
Bob Lukens with the Chicago Southland CVB reminds planners that some facilities are not sport specific and cater to a variety of events, such as weddings or parties. "Be aware of that when trying to rent a space. Also, real- ize that the time of year could play a part in availability or costs." Finally, Tarnick offers advice that's good for any event situation: be a good communicator. "Try to answer e-mails and return phone calls quickly so that decisions can be made efficiently. Be as friendly and professional as you can at all times; that courtesy will be reflected back at you!" ■