SportsEvents is edited for those who plan tournaments or other sports events.
Issue link: https://sportsevents.epubxp.com/i/88798
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT Natural Venues Participants in the Summer Splash, a six-mile float down the Chattahoochee River in the Metro Atlanta area, are transported by shuttle upriver to begin their trip. attract. An ideal rowing destination has a body of water that creates a fair racing environment while also allowing specta- tors a full view of the race course." Dominique likes Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge, Tenn., for example. "It's great for participants because there is little to no current. The on-land areas are close and easily accessible to the dock area, making everything close and convenient. The peninsula allows for a close-quarters area between teams and vendors, which helps create a championship atmosphere. Plus, the park has plenty of water-side viewing, and is one of the few venues in the country where spectators can see the entire 2,000- meter course." To give spectators—at an event and around the world—an even better view, US Rowing introduced live streaming video in 2010. "We are able to provide the spectators with a view of the race from start to finish and with shots from on the water. Our normal set-up includes a view- ing tent with two or three large-screen monitors. We also utilize UStream (www.ustream.tv) to show the video live on site, online and on mobile devices." Coordinating tourists, locals and com- www.sportseventsmagazine.com peting events is always a challenge in a populated area, said Megan Monsour Hartman, TMP, senior marketing manager for the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) in Lake Charles, speaking of the year the city's lakefront hosted the STIHL Timbersports Series at the same time as the ESPN2 Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup fishing tournament. "It became a way to draw a huge crowd for the redfish weigh-in," she said. "Spectators were entertained by the professional lumberjack sports, with male and female competitors from around the world." Hartman also emphasized that planners and organizers have to learn to share the venues to everyone's benefit "Situated on the east rim of Lake Charles, the Lake Charles Civic Center lawn, Bord du Lac Marina and the lake are popular spots for festivals of all kinds in addition to sports and watercraft events and outdoor trade shows requiring waterfront access, so there has to be a lot of cooperation. The organiz- ers of the HT Redfish Series had to coordi- nate everything with the Contraband Days Louisiana Pirate Festival, since the fishing series was taking place at the same time as the two-week festival that had already secured the venue. Everything from the weigh-in to the specific dates of the fishing tournament had to be coordinated with the festival. But the festival organizers were more than accommodating and were excit- ed to add this event to their schedule." Preparing For The Unknown Factors that are out of anyone's control complicate sporting events at natural ven- ues, such as lakes, trails, etc. "There's more than raking a field and laying down white lines, like you would do for a ➤ softball tournament, in terms of venue preparation, said Eric Zartler, senior sales manager/athletics for the Lake Charles/ Southwest Louisiana CVB. "There's no preparation you can do on the water. I find myself checking weather.com and watch- ing The Weather Channel often. I've never been a firm believer in the Farmer's Almanac, but I do check out the historical weather conditions when we start looking for dates." Weather is always a concern, said Bischoff with the Pro Wakeboard Tour. "We definitely take the weather patterns ➤ Natural Venues Guide 2012 5 Sandy Springs Hospitality & Tourism