SportsEvents Magazine

JUL 2012

SportsEvents is edited for those who plan tournaments or other sports events.

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Advertise Directories Natural Venues Guide Convention Centers Guide SPECIAL FEA TURE Miers added that team banquets or awards ceremonies are often made more spectacular when they are held at area din- ner theaters in smaller theme parks, such as the Arabian Nights, where an equestrian show and prime rib dinner can be cus- tomized for specific groups, or Medieval Times, which fea- tures feasts and jousting tourna- ments. While Atlanta's climate is more vari- able, sports groups usually find com- fortable tempera- tures when they add a vacation on to a tournament there, said Rita Lowery, national sales man- ager for Cobb (Ga.) Travel and Tourism. "We host more than 30 different sports events throughout the year, and we always encourage the par- ticipants to come early and stay late," she said. "In the summer, they like to go to Six Flags or try white water raft- ing in our area rivers. Most of the year they can walk, bike or jog the Silver Comet Trail, and Kennesaw Mountain is always popular." Chelsy Murphy, public relations manager for the Colorado Springs many popular areas and attractions are group friendly, and the CVB can help secure unique venues, suggest awesome activities and itineraries for non play time, whether it's visiting America's only Mountain Zoo, riding the Pikes Peak Cog Right For All Ages Bill Taylor, director of tournament opera- tions for FLW Outdoors, said he finds it boosts attendance when fishing tourna- ments are held in places with numerous attractions. When an event is held on the Potomac River, for example, fam- ilies of the con- testants can visit all the sites in and around Washington, D.C. "Its one of COVERS ALL THE BASES Fantastic Facilities, Fabulous Fun Kissimmee provides organizers, coaches, and players first-class facilities and superb services under palm trees and sunny skies. And gives families the best of all worlds — the thrill of cheering on your athletes while enjoying all of Central Florida's fabulous, world-famous fun. Everybody wins! Learn more about Kissimmee's sports facilities at KissimmeeSports.com or contact the Sports Department at the Kissimmee CVB at 800-831-1844 or email Sports@VisitKissimmee.com. CVB, pointed out that CVB staff mem- bers know how to speak to leisure travel- ers as well as help with sports events. "They truly are the destination experts on both sides of the spectrum," she said. "So www.sportseventsmagazine.com Railway to the summit of America's Mountain, making ice cream at Glacier Homemade Ice Cream & Gelato or stretching the team's legs up the 224 stairs of Seven Falls." many things we consider, and the options for adding a vacation to a trip to the tournament often figures in to our selecting a desti- nation. But we do try to hold tour- naments all over the country and some of the best fishing sites are remote," he said. "However, if the wife and kids have to sit in a hotel room all day rather than go out and sight- see or visit fun attractions, they probably won't come along. That lowers our atten- dance and lowers our economic impact on an area, so it is ben- eficial to an event to have it near other attractions." "In general, a sports vacation is a win-win for everyone involved," Guertin said, adding that even families going through challenging eco- nomic times will cut out a vacation before they will cut travel to sports events. ■ July 2012 25

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