Sports Tourism Panel Moderator Tom Fitzmaurice Executive Director

Sports Tourism Panel Moderator: Tom Fitzmaurice, Executive Director, Greater Merrimack Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau Bob Murdock, President and Director of National Accounts Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau John Gibbons, Executive Director Rhode Island Sports Commission

What is Sports Tourism? • Sports tourism refers to travel to play sports, watch sports, attend a sports business event, or to visit a sport attraction including both competitive and non-competitive activities. • The most powerful metric for the growth of the sports events and tourism industry is direct visitor spending associated with sports events. Estimated 2017 direct spending (professional sporting events excluded) was $11. 40 billion in 2017, an increase of 9% from the $10. 47 billion reported in 2016. • Visitor spending has increased over the past five years, signaling the continued strength of the industry overall and as a reflection of the innovative leadership in sports events and tourism in the United States.

Sample of 2018 - 2019 Events in the GMV • • • Colonial Classic Figure Skating Championships New England Pop Warner Cheerleading Championships George Bossi Holiday Wrestling Tournament MIAA state regionals: baseball; softball; soccer; basketball; hockey USA Field Hockey Northeast Summer Bash USRowing Northeast Juniors Regional Championships USRowing Northeast Masters Regional Championships New England Golden Gloves Baystate Marathon

GMV Venues Samples • Tsongas Center at Umass Lowell (8, 000 seat arena) • Le. Lacheur Park (5, 000 seat outdoor venue) • Cushing Field Complex at Umass Lowell (5, 000 seat outdoor venue; 2 turf fields) • Bellegarde Boathouse / Merrimack River (Rowing venue / kayak center) • Umass Lowell Aiken Street Complex (2 turf fields) • Edge Sports Center – Bedford, MA (multiple ice rinks/ 2 turf fields) • Mill Works – Westford, MA (6 basketball courts; 2 turf fields; 6 badminton courts) • Tyngsborough Sports Center (4 indoor turf fields; 1 outdoor turf field;

Sample of 2019 Events in Connecticut • • • First to the Finish New England Regional Volleyball Winterfest Varsity Cheer Spirit Fest College Squash Women's National Team Championship NCAA DI Men’s Basketball 1 st and 2 nd Rounds NCAA Women’s Ice Hockey Frozen Four National Championship AAC Women’s Basketball Championship NCAA DI Men’s Lacrosse Regional Championship USSSA (Softball) National Championships 18 U, 16 U, 14 U USA 14 U Class A Girls Eastern Territorial Fast Pitch Softball Eversource Hartford Marathon USA BMX Gold Cup Ironman 70. 3 Connecticut

CT Venues Samples • • • • CT Convention Center (140 K Sq. Ft Expo Floor) Pratt & Whitney at Rentschler Field (41, 000 seat outdoor venue) Yale Bowl (60, 000+ seat outdoor venue) XL Center (16, 000 seat arena plus 40 K Sq. Ft. Expo Hall) Webster Bank Arena (10, 000 seat arena) Casinos: Mohegan Sun Casino (8, 000 seat arena plus 120 K Sq. Ft. Expo Hall) and Foxwoods Casino (48 K ballroom plus theaters) Connecticut Tennis Center Outdoor rectangular field complexes: Yale University, Loomis Chaffee School and Avon Old Farms School Quinnipiac University - People’s United Center Motorsports Facilities International Skating Center of Connecticut Chelsea Piers Stamford Trinity College George A. Kellner Squash Center Trumbull BMX

Facilitate and Collaborate • • • Take a long-term approach Be a resource to event planners and to your community Look for partners who will benefit from collaboration Champion local event planners and partners Work together on large event bids – Cross State lines – Utilize multiple venues • Instead of saying no, provide alternatives • Be creative - Look at what could be instead of what is there

Sample of Events in Rhode Island • • • Kennedy Memorial Hockey 214 Teams 9 Venues Multi State Athletic Championships Cheer 5, 000 Cheerleaders Plus Family Rhode Races Marathon and ½ Marathon Firecracker Baseball Tournament 156 Teams Multi State American Contract Bridge 12, 000 hotel room nights Anchor Down Ultra Marathon Volvo Ocean Race RI Invitational Gymnastics JVC Volleyball North American Tree Climbing Championships

RI Venues Samples • RI Convention Center 140, 000 Square Feet • Bryant University 8 Multi Purpose Fields • Longplex Indoor 2 turf fields, 7 courts, roller hockey rink, 4 pickle ball courts • Univ. or Rhode Island up to 20 soccer fields • Fort Adams State Parking Sailing Center • Rhode Island State Parks • E Sports Options

Partnerships • • Trade Shows and Marketing Multi State Events Multi Venue Events Hotels Public Agencies Public Safety Fact Checking