June 2010 Industry News
NAIA Track & Field Event Goes To Indiana
MARION, Ind.—The 59th Annual Men’s and 30th Annual Women’s National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Outdoor Track and Field National Championships took place May 27-29 in Marion, Ind. The event was hosted by Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) and is held at the Outdoor Sports Complex on the IWU campus. It is the first year the Indiana Wesleyan hosted the championship. The championship featured more than 1,400 student-athletes on 241 teams from across the U.S. and Canada competing in 48 different events contested over three days.
“The best sources of information about a tennis resort are the players who visit there,” said Roger Cox, founder of Tennis Resorts Online. “But, these aren’t ordinary players. They spend an average 100 days on a court, which means that they have high expectations of the staff and programs.”
Tennis Resorts Online surveyed players to assess resorts in 17 categories, including many aspects of the complete tennis resort experience like quality of lodging, restaurants, children’s programs and value, etc.
Tour Of Missouri Cancels 2010 Event
ST. LOUIS, Mo.—After a seven-month negotiation with Missouri State Tourism, which included a bi-partisan state senate and house approval of $1 million in support for the Tour of Missouri sponsorship, the United States’ second biggest professional cycling event and one of the top stage races outside of Europe, will be officially cancelled should earmarked funds not be released by tourism and the governor.
“This may be a win for the Missouri Tourism Commission and the governor, but a huge loss for the state of Missouri and its citizens,” said Mike Weiss, chairman of the Tour of Missouri Inc. “It has been an insanely complicated battle for something so beneficial, and it’s left all of us absolutely baffled.”
In three years years, the event has been broadcast to 150-plus countries, attracted visitors from more than 40 states, and had an economic impact of more than $80 million.
Pinball Players Battle For Number Top Slot
COKATO, Minn.—In May, pinball players from 13 countries and the world’s top 64 players competed at the Minnesota Pinball Hall of Fame to take the title of the number one pinball player in the world.
The IFPA7 World Pinball Championship showcased the best of the best and more than 2 1/2 days players played for more than $14,000, including a brand new pinball machine from Stern Pinball. World Pinball Player Rankings includes more than 7,500 players from 27 different countries.
Michigan Senior Olympics Slated For July
OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich.—The Senior Summer Olympic Games will be held July 7-21 in various locations in Oakland County, Mich., and Oakland University. The games include 30 medal events such as softball, tennis, pickleball, track and field, and golf. Ribbon events range from kayak to dancesport, with this year’s new sport, disc golf.
IronKids National Triathlon Series Goes To Texas
ROUND ROCK, Texas—IronKids, the Triathlon for children 6-25 years of age, came to Round Rock June 12-13. With more than 40,000 participants in the 25-year history, IronKids has included biking, swimming and running.
Nancy Yawn, Round Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau Director, said, “We are expecting to attract 300-400 participants to the city from all over the country. There are only 12 IronKids competitions per year and one of them is right here.”
Each of the 12 IronKids Triathlons throughout the country, including Round Rock, serve as a qualifier for the National Championship in Oro Valley, Ariz., Oct. 2-4. The top five male and female finishers in each age group will qualify.
KeyStone Games Return To Harrisburg In 2011
HARRISBURG, Pa.—The Keystone State Summer Games are returning to Harrisburg from 2011 to 2013. The games, a sports festival modeled after the Olympics, has competitions in more than 30 sports. It is touted as Pennsylvania’s largest amateur sport festival.
BASS Hosts College Classic Event
WAGONER, Okla.—BASS added the 2nd Bassmaster College Classic coinciding with the final Elite Series regular-season event, the Sooner Run, in June.
The event featured six two-angler college bass fishing teams, the University of Arkansas Bass Team, the Oklahoma State Bass Fishing Club and the OU Bass Fishing Team. The competition took place on Oklahoma’s Fort Gibson Lake.
“This was an excellent opportunity to provide some ancillary competition, in the form of schools with strong rivalries and passionate fan bases, surrounding our Elite Series regular–season finale,” said Jamie Wilkinson, BASS’ senior director of event operations and business development.
Tulsa Sports Commission Chief Resigns
TULSA, Okla.—Tulsa Sports Commission Executive Director Mike Dobson resigned from his post. He held the position since 2004 and successfully won bids to host this year’s Conference USA basketball tournament and a 2011 NCAA Tournament Men’s regional.
The Tulsa Metro Chamber has begun the process of identifying Dobson’s successor.
Osceola County To Build Sports Complex
ORLANDO—Florida’s Osceola County has decided to build at least a 125-acre sports complex for baseball, soccer and lacrosse fields as well as structures for basketball, martial arts and other indoor sports, according to a local news report.
Full details of the project have not been ironed out, but as of June three properties had made presentations vying for the project.
The proposed $60 million project could create more than 200,000 room nights annually and 150 jobs.
Tulsa Sports Commission Chief Resigns
TULSA, Okla.—Tulsa Sports Commission Executive Director Mike Dobson resigned from his post. He held the position since 2004 and successfully won bids to host this year’s Conference USA basketball tournament and a 2011 NCAA Tournament Men’s regional.
The Tulsa Metro Chamber has begun the process of identifying Dobson’s successor.
Osceola County To Build Sports Complex
ORLANDO—Florida’s Osceola County has decided to build at least a 125-acre sports complex for baseball, soccer and lacrosse fields as well as structures for basketball, martial arts and other indoor sports, according to a local news report.
Full details of the project have not been ironed out, but as of June three properties had made presentations vying for the project.
The proposed $60 million project could create more than 200,000 room nights annually and 150 jobs.
Grass Volleyball Event Adds New Junior Division
OSHKOSH, Wis.—The US Open of Grass Volleyball/Waupaca Boatride Volleyball Tournament has added a Junior Division at this year’s event, said event organizers.
The tournament will offer a grass four-person format for boys and girls with age brackets of 18 and under and 16 and under to be held July 9 at Ford Festival Field. “With the world of outdoor volleyball primarily reserved for adult grass tournaments and junior beach events, it is wonderful that the tournament has opened its doors to juniors,” said Jon Ellmann, club director the Wisconsin Volleyball Academy.
The tournament will feature more than 3,000 players from around the country to compete on more than 200 courts, making it the largest open volleyball tournament in the world. The event is being held July 7-11 at the festival park.
Milwaukee Hosting 2010 Malibu Open
MILWAUKEE, Wis.—Malibu Boats and Milwaukee County parks have teamed up to bring the 2010 Malibu Open to Veteran’s Park.
The world-record capability slalom and jumping event, sanctioned by USA Water Ski, will be held Aug. 6-7. A cash prize purse of $50,000 is at stake.
In addition to the slalom and jumping competitions, show skiing, freestyle jumping and barefooting demonstrations are also being held.