B/CS seen among top sports brands in nation
Bryan-College Station’s location in relation to major Texas cities, excellent facilities and reputation in the sports event industry are just a few of the strengths the National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC) audit revealed Thursday.
The audit highlights a major economic impact due to the BCS CVB and local communities’ efforts to attract these events.
“Bryan-College Station is one of the country’s biggest sports brands,” said NASC executive director Don Schumacher in his presentation. “And this new University facility agreement is just going to bear more fruit in more tournaments, more players, and more of an economic impact.”
“I’ve been a lot of places. A lot — here and overseas. And so I don’t classify anything as exceptional unless it meets those standards. And exceptional is not a loose term I throw around,” Schumacher explained before revealing the facilities to the crowd. “Ellis Field could literally host professional level soccer games if you were to put ten thousand seats around that field.”
Listed as exceptional in the audit were: George P Mitchell Tennis Center, Penberthy Recreation Complex, Ellis Field, Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park, McFerrin Athletic Center, Texas A&M Natatorium, Veterans Park, Bryan Regional Athletic Complex, Brazos County Expo, and a handful of the newest high school facilities.
The NASC audit also revealed that the area and the CVB are top contenders when attracting sports events because of its location between Dallas, Austin, Houston and San Antonio as well as a strong selection of hotels, restaurants and attractions for the out of town visitors.
“We’re pleased by the findings in this audit,” said BCS CVB president Shannon Overby. “It shows the versatility of our community, that we have so much to offer to all types of visitors, including the ones coming here to play in a sports related tournament. And based on how often these major tournaments return, I think it aligns with the audit’s findings that people do enjoy hosting their events here.”
Schumacher highlighted a few weaknesses that may prevent some sports groups from bringing their tournaments to the twin cities, including overuse of the available fields, limited direct airplane service into Easterwood and only a few outdoor multi-field complexes like Veterans Park. But Schumacher said the CVB and area are doing all the right things to impact the local economy in the right ways.
And he even hinted at what just a little more improvement could mean.
“If you could bring in five new events, which brings in roughly 150 teams, those could have a potential impact of up to $10 million in local spending,” Schumacher said in his presentation. “And we know from another recent audit that A&M home games bring in roughly $17 million. So we’re talking an impact as large as the A&M football team, for a perspective I think we all can relate to.”
“This audit is going to hopefully help the CVB go out with renewed information and knowledge to try and bring more of those sports events into our city limits, so we can continue to show the state and nation why Aggieland is indeed the best,” Overby said.
Schumacher is no stranger to what it takes to boost visitors to an area through sports events — he has spent the last thirty years managing sports facilities, bidding on and promoting sports events, conducting market and feasibility studies and consulting with convention and visitors bureaus. He was also named one of “25 Influential People You Should Know” by Sports Events magazine.
The BCS CVB commissioned the audit through the NASC. A copy of the audit powerpoint presentation is available to the public by contacting the CVB.
The audit highlights a major economic impact due to the BCS CVB and local communities’ efforts to attract these events.
“Bryan-College Station is one of the country’s biggest sports brands,” said NASC executive director Don Schumacher in his presentation. “And this new University facility agreement is just going to bear more fruit in more tournaments, more players, and more of an economic impact.”
I don’t classify anything as
exceptional unless it meets those standards. And exceptional is not a
loose term I throw around. Ellis Field could literally host professional
level soccer games if you were to put ten thousand seats around that
field.
{"Module":"quote","Alignment":"right","Quote":"I
don’t classify anything as exceptional unless it meets those standards.
And exceptional is not a loose term I throw around. Ellis Field could
literally host professional level soccer games if you were to put ten
thousand seats around that field.","Author":"NASC executive director Don
Schumacher"}
During Schumacher’s hour-long presentation, he outlined his review process, which included visiting all sports facilities available to host public tournaments. He listed 10 facilities as being “exceptional” based on a number of quantifiers of their quality.“I’ve been a lot of places. A lot — here and overseas. And so I don’t classify anything as exceptional unless it meets those standards. And exceptional is not a loose term I throw around,” Schumacher explained before revealing the facilities to the crowd. “Ellis Field could literally host professional level soccer games if you were to put ten thousand seats around that field.”
Listed as exceptional in the audit were: George P Mitchell Tennis Center, Penberthy Recreation Complex, Ellis Field, Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park, McFerrin Athletic Center, Texas A&M Natatorium, Veterans Park, Bryan Regional Athletic Complex, Brazos County Expo, and a handful of the newest high school facilities.
The NASC audit also revealed that the area and the CVB are top contenders when attracting sports events because of its location between Dallas, Austin, Houston and San Antonio as well as a strong selection of hotels, restaurants and attractions for the out of town visitors.
“We’re pleased by the findings in this audit,” said BCS CVB president Shannon Overby. “It shows the versatility of our community, that we have so much to offer to all types of visitors, including the ones coming here to play in a sports related tournament. And based on how often these major tournaments return, I think it aligns with the audit’s findings that people do enjoy hosting their events here.”
Schumacher highlighted a few weaknesses that may prevent some sports groups from bringing their tournaments to the twin cities, including overuse of the available fields, limited direct airplane service into Easterwood and only a few outdoor multi-field complexes like Veterans Park. But Schumacher said the CVB and area are doing all the right things to impact the local economy in the right ways.
And he even hinted at what just a little more improvement could mean.
“If you could bring in five new events, which brings in roughly 150 teams, those could have a potential impact of up to $10 million in local spending,” Schumacher said in his presentation. “And we know from another recent audit that A&M home games bring in roughly $17 million. So we’re talking an impact as large as the A&M football team, for a perspective I think we all can relate to.”
This audit is going to hopefully help the CVB go out with renewed information and knowledge to try and bring more of those sports events into our city limits, so we can continue to show the state and nation why Aggieland is indeed the best.
{"Module":"quote","Alignment":"left","Quote":"This audit is going to hopefully help the CVB go out with renewed information and knowledge to try and bring more of those sports events into our city limits, so we can continue to show the state and nation why Aggieland is indeed the best.","Author":"BCS CVB president Shannon Overby"}
The audit concluded that focusing on new opportunities was key to continued success, and that the community needs to continue to develop new facilities and events with residents and visitors in mind, not just students.“This audit is going to hopefully help the CVB go out with renewed information and knowledge to try and bring more of those sports events into our city limits, so we can continue to show the state and nation why Aggieland is indeed the best,” Overby said.
Schumacher is no stranger to what it takes to boost visitors to an area through sports events — he has spent the last thirty years managing sports facilities, bidding on and promoting sports events, conducting market and feasibility studies and consulting with convention and visitors bureaus. He was also named one of “25 Influential People You Should Know” by Sports Events magazine.
The BCS CVB commissioned the audit through the NASC. A copy of the audit powerpoint presentation is available to the public by contacting the CVB.
Major tourneys that CVB and B/CS attract regularly:
- 7-on-7 — estimated 15,000 players, coaches, parents, and just spectators/media. One economic impact estimate put the tournament at $900,000.
- Great American Shootout tournament — 140 high schools from around the state, estimated 3,600 attendees and parents
- McDonald's Invitational basketball tournament — estimated 50 teams and 1750 attendees/visitors
- Brazos Valley Bowl game (for junior college)
- American Junior Golf Associational tournament
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