CVB Travel: Team effort needed to bring athletic events to Springfield

Susan Wade is the public relations manager with the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau.

When Springfield was selected as Sports Illustrated's 50th anniversary Sportstown in Missouri, it wasn't because of one event, sport or athlete. It was for community spirit and pride about sports.

That's easy to see when restaurants are filled with kids wearing sports jerseys, attractions experience a boost in attendance and hotel rooms are booked across the city because a youth sports tournament is in town.

Much like the team effort necessary for winning a game, getting a sporting event booked in the city takes teamwork. The difference is that instead of players visible on the field, the people responsible for booking amateur youth sporting events and the economic benefits that come with them are found behind the scenes.

They often include Larry Krauck, sports sales manager at the Convention & Visitors Bureau since 1999. Krauck works closely with Lake Country Soccer, the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, the Greater Springfield Area Sports Commission and many others groups to bring sporting events to the city.

"I enjoy being part of a team that make things happen," Krauck said. "I'm just one of many people who help bring these events to town."

Josh Fuller, executive director of the nonprofit Lake Country Soccer, said bringing big soccer tournaments to Springfield wouldn't be easy without the teamwork and network available.

"It could be done," he said. "But it would be more stressful."

That teamwork and having quality sports facilities is one reason so many youth sports events are booked in Springfield. Some successful bids in which the CVB assisted include:

The Amateur Athletic Union 10-and-Under Boys National Basketball Tournament is expected to bring more than 5,000 people to Springfield in 2004 and 2005;

The Snickers State Cup soccer tournament will bring more than 10,000 people to the city in 2004;

The USA Hockey National Championships for boys 17 and under will bring about 500 people in 2005; and

The 2004 Missouri State Women's Bowling Association Annual Tournament that will bring hundreds of people to Springfield each weekend from March through May.

Though an economic impact study is not available, it's obviously good to have those sports enthusiasts renting hotel rooms, dining, shopping and enjoying the city's amenities. They are, after all, tourists who spend about $90 per person per day while visiting Springfield.

That's one reason sporting events, particularly amateur youth team sports in which hundreds participate, are aggressively pursued. "My job is to have a positive impact on tourism," Krauck said. "It just happens to be through amateur sports."

Getting sports associations to select Springfield for an event is a complicated and competitive process that includes first finding local individuals or facilities affiliated with a sports association, determining what events are available, finding out whether Springfield has proper facilities to host those events and then preparing a bid.

The bid process is where the CVB often plays a big role, serving as mediator and facilitator between local facility managers and tournament organizers.

Once a local organizing committee decides to go after an event, Krauck goes to work gathering a variety of information and materials for a bid tailored to the group's specifications. That can include shooting photos of facilities and obtaining support letters from dignitaries, groups and facility managers. A request also is sent to hotels for their support in obtaining enough rooms to host the incoming athletes and families for the event.

After the sales materials are gathered, they're placed in bid books that are sent to the decision-makers selecting locations for tournaments. If facility tours are necessary for the event planners, Krauck often organizes them. He also produces PowerPoint presentations, videos and other materials necessary for a professional, compelling sales pitch that will bring an event to town.

Sometimes Krauck makes the sales presentation on behalf of the local group. Other times the bid is presented by the local representatives themselves.

Fuller said the bid preparation and presentation are where the CVB's resources are especially appreciated. Telling potential tournament organizers about Lake Country Soccer facilities is easy for Fuller, but when it comes to telling them about Springfield, he's not confident about how that should be done. Krauck, on the other hand, knows how to prepare sales materials that will make Springfield appealing.

As a team working toward the same goal, they each use their skills to create a unified offense move resulting in a sales pitch that is better than if they did it individually.

Once a group selects Springfield for its event, the CVB steps back and a local organizing committee and tournament directors take over.

Even then, the CVB plays a role in assisting groups with hotel bookings, informing the community the event is taking place, providing information about the city to the athletes and their families.