Week 9: Events, Events, Events

Here at the commission we are all about events. We acquire these events in three different ways;

 A) Bidding: This process requires us to find a traveling event and then compete against other organizations who are also interested in having this event through what is called the bid process. For example we may find a junior nationals event that brings in 500 athletes from all over the country. In order to bring an event like that to Tacoma we first have to make contact with the event promoter to see if it is even feasible. From there we are required to complete a bid.  Within these bid packets they require us to complete a business plan on how we would accommodate the event promoters needs. Also there is a fee invovled to bid ranging into the thousands. At any given time we are going through 2 or 3 bids for events as far out as 2015.

Examples may include: WIAA State Championships, USA Wrestling Northwest Bigfoot Battle, USA Rugby regional, National Junior Disability Championships, NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships, and more. All of these events (like the Olympics) require a host city to bid for the chance to host.

WIAA 3A/4A Basketball State Championships
Estmated 1.9 million dollar economic impact

b) Creating events from scratch: Just like it sounds, we have an event team that can create large sporting events from scratch. Sometimes a local club will want to create a tournament or invitational event. We can help so long as this event can quantify tourism (hotel night stays). Some examples of events we have helped build in years past are the Twilight Criterium (cycling), the Tacoma City Marathon, Iron Cross (men's gymnastics), the Rainier Dragon Boat Festival, and many more. These events ideally grow to become annual and self sufficient.

2011 Rainier Dragon Boat Festival
Estimated $23,500 economic impact

C) Taking an already existing event and making it bigger: Sometimes if there is an already existing event that is strong and has a great following we will flip it into a 2-day event so that we can meet our goal of increasing tourism. For example, this past month we partnered with a local adaptive sport club and turned their one day wheelchair basketball event into a two day invitational tournament. This event alone brought in more than 50 hotel room nights. We are looking to do this again with an annual wrestling event in hopes of helping the local club make more money while simultaneously increasing the economic impact of the event.

Wheelchair Basketball Fall Classic 11/12-13/11
Economic Impact TBD

No matter how we find and event, create and event, or support an event, we are an event driven organization. In 2011 alone the Tacoma Sports Commission through 26 different events will have had made approximately a 10.5 million dollar impact on the community. That is pretty amazing!

Week 6 - 8: I am Officially an Employee

IT IS OFFICIAL!

The Tacoma Sports Commission Team
Paintballing/ Team building activity 11/4/11
Top Row: Emily (Me), Shellie, Bianca, Tim
Bottom Row: Demetrius & Jon (mentor)

I am the newest employee of the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Commission. It has been a whirlwind since I started hence the reason I have been unable to post. It is all so overwhelming I don't even know where to being. If you have been reading my posts prior to this one you will notice the commission is going through lots of changes. Their budget has more than doubled in the past year and as a result their staff has tripled as well. With new blood in the office and an increase in funds, we are looking to re-brand which means new logos, a new web site, and possibly even a new name; Tacoma Regional Sports Authority.

My job is entitled the Sports Development Coordinator. It was especially designed for me and includes several different dimensions. 1) I am in charge if creating a club sport development program from scratch. The goal is to create an entity or program that supports any and all local club sport programs. From sailing to Judo, we need a program that can assure club sport management best practices in our county. Why? Our events are only as strong as our club! 2) I am to assist 3 other positions in the office; the Director of marketing, the Sports Development Manager, and the Events and Communications Manager. Pretty much I pickup the overflow of work from those three individuals plus I report directly to our Executive Director. 3) I am being used for my strategic brain. I feel as though I have had a huge impact on the strategic plan and direction the organization is going. I am an idea generator and  someone who thinks outside the box in a progressive business-minded manner.

It is a lot to take in. Especially since I was hired to create something from nothing. My background and accomplishments in developing my youth lacrosse business in Phoenix (Wildfire Lacrosse) is what intrigued the commission to hire me. They were impressed at my knowledge within club sport management and really appreciated my diligence and efforts during my internship. As we continue to transition from a 2 person to a 6 person office and begin to implement our strategic plan, I would not be surprised if my position molds and morphs with the organization. It is key that I continue to be driven, innovative, and flexible to change! Tacoma sports are on the rise!! :)