Sports Destination Management Magazine

Sports requires great athleticism but it also demands unparalleled strategy. Whether athletes are on the field, in the pool, in the ring or on the court, whether they’re with a team, with a partner or all alone, they need a game plan in order to win.

Athletes are, by nature, creatures of habit. We like to work out certain ways, at certain times, in certain places. We have pre-competition routines we like to follow in order to reach what we feel will be the best possible outcome. And we like to play in the same locations, in and on facilities where we feel comfortable.

In browsing photos for use with an article in this issue, I came across a series of shots taken at a boxing match. One athlete was getting pounded mercilessly by his opponent but each shot showed him fighting his way upright and charging back toward the center of the ring. It was an action that in every way, mirrors our experiences...

“Be prepared to overcome obstacles.” It’s probably the best advice I ever got, and it came from a race director who was in favor of advance planning, since as he said, things will always happen on race day, and the more you’ve done in advance, the better off you’ll be.

There's not a lot of news that comes out about the sports tourism industry that makes me upset. At this point, however, I'm really upset about what I see as a boneheaded move on the part of the IOC. The omission of wrestling from future Olympics is, as far as I'm concerned, one of the most boneheaded moves I have ever seen. Not that I like to point fingers or anything.

We're starting a new year, and health clubs are filling up with what has become known as 'the resolution crowd.' A lot of resolutions have to do with people making a commitment to a new and healthful trend in their lives. And when it comes right down to it, the landscape of sports is all about keeping tabs on emerging trends. In fact, we've dedicated this issue of Sports Destination Management to what we see as some of those important changes.

Often, the things that it takes to put on a successful event are not just the things we see: the athletes, the spectators and the facilities. Sometimes, it goes beyond that. In this issue, we'll examine several things that might be largely invisible -- yet totally essential. The first is the value of a sports event to a community. We can talk about economic impact, but there's more to it than that. There's the civic pride, the morale boost that comes from a successful event and the ancillary benefit of spectators who become volunteers, and volunteers who become athletes.

Planning a sports event -- of any type -- demands a number of skills outside of an understanding of our chosen sport. We need to understand negotiations, budgeting, logistics and the intricacies of travel arrangements -- and that's just for starters. One of the great things about this industry the body of knowledge that surrounds us in the presence of our colleagues.

Athletes, in addition to being spokespersons, celebrities and more, have the sometimes difficult job of being role models. It's not always easy, but it can pay dividends by helping to instill good values in the generation coming up through the ranks. This month’s issue contains a great article on “Engaging the Community in Sports Events,” and I’m pleased to see an emphasis on the positive interaction between athletes and communities. Since our athletes may also be traveling abroad and competing in other countries at some point, it’s essential they be good role models there as well. The article on passports and visas can help organizations have the right paperwork ready when travel time comes.

This summer's Olympic Games in London will put a spotlight on the very best the sporting world has to offer. Athletes might win gold medals and glory, but for our industry, it translates into something a lot more valuable and lasting: increased participation. There is a positive correlation between extensive media coverage of the Olympics and people showing an interest in being more active and taking an interest in a given sport that year or the next. I'm pleased to see the insights this issue gives us into some of the sports the Olympics will offer.

As more and more individuals with mobility limitations take advantage of the recreation options available to them, the need to keep to have open, accessible events will keep on growing. Making your event not just friendly but downright welcoming to athletes and spectators with mobility limitations can mean an athlete not only returns next time, but brings family and friends. This issue's feature will provide some inside information from an industry expert who knows how to make that happen.

As the business of sports continues to evolve, sports themselves do as well. In this issue, we take a look at what is needed to provide great facilities for athletes with developmental challenges. Hint: It goes a lot deeper than just following ADA rules, and it applies to your event, no matter whether you're working with traditional competitive athletics or performance sports (like gymnastics or cheerleading).

I'm a statistics geek. Give me some numbers and percentages and I'm all over it. And as the editor of a magazine that focuses on sports travel, it's even more fascinating when those numbers apply to your subject matter. That's why I was especially glad to see hard evidence that more kids than ever are playing high school sports. The best news of all? It's a trend that has been going strong for two decades now.

Everyone has a horror story. I'm not talking about the kind with the zombies and vampires. I'm talking about the kind that event planners, CVBs and others have dealt with. We all have them, and I'm guessing you've had one too. Maybe yours is about a pipe that burst and flooded the facility that was going to host your basketball tournament. Maybe it's about a school-system-wide flu epidemic that left you with a lot fewer athletes than you were counting on for your tournament. Maybe a big weather event closed the airport and left you unable to get to your tournament -- or maybe it's something else entirely that came out of left field and disrupted your well-laid plans.

It's summer again and chances are good you're working at top speed. Kids are out of school, so summer sports camps, team tours and rec programs are in full swing, as are everything from tennis tournaments to 5Ks to swim meets. It all adds up to a full schedule for planners. But in the midst of our crunch season, it's essential we remember how we got here, and what (or actually, who) keeps us here: the athletes. We love their ever-developing skill, their enthusiasm and their competitiveness. We love the way they've embraced their sports. And (need we say it?) we love the way they keep us busy.

As the economy ebbs and flows, everyone is looking for incontrovertible evidence that the recession is over. And while it hasn't really presented itself, the members of the hospitality and tourism industry all remain optimistic that the era of the 'stay-cation' (and haven't we all come to hate that term?) is over.

Our focus for the issue is on cycling, swimming and baseball, summer sports that campers and others will be enjoying during the warm months ahead. You can also learn a great deal from Chris Huot's insights into what to expect when working with CVBs (Convention and Visitor Bureaus) and Sports Commissions. Finally, we take an in-depth look at speedways, focusing on their unique attributes for hosting events, some of which might surprise you.

For many of us, sports play a dominant role in our lives. While we may have many other obligations, we still find time to make the game. Whether it's in the form of watching it on television, attending it in person, or actually participating in it, the sports-minded individual makes sacrifices in order to make it happen.

With most organizations, the end of the year brings a brief time to reflect and review where the organization has been, and more importantly, where it's going. This is a great opportunity to evaluate what worked, what didn't, and how to do it better next year. In this issue of Sports Destination Management, we take that same approach and offer excellent insight into improving your events while looking at what works, the pitfalls to avoid, and how to stay on top.

Recently, I read an interesting article talking about the demise of softball at the international level due to its removal from the Olympics. Even in the U.S., funding for these top-level athletes has dwindled as the USOC no longer has the level of resources to dedicate to this sport. I find all this news a bit ironic, as softball participation in the U.S. is at an all-time high. Events surrounding this sport generate generous revenues to the rights-holders and the locations that host them. And yet, at the highest level, we cannot find the resources to keep these athletes in the sport.