Sports Tourism Management

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Bahamas sports tourism representatives sought out business and networking opportunities at the IMG World Congress of Sports in Laguna, California. Pictured (from left) are Tyrone G. Sawyer, Director - Sports Tourism, Ministry of Tourism; Virginia Kelly, Senior Manager, Sports Tourism, Ministry of Tourism; Ben Sutton, President - IMG College and Leroy Archer, Chairman, Sports Authority.

Nassau, Bahamas - In the ongoing effort to promote The Islands Of The Bahamas as a destination for world class sporting events, the Ministry of Tourism & Aviation’s Sports Tourism Unit represented by Tyrone Sawyer, Director of Sports Tourism Development and Virgina Kelly, Senior Manager – Sports Tourism, attended the 11th Annual IMG World Congress of Sports in Laguna Niguel, California. They were accompanied by newly appointed Sports Authority Chairman, Leroy Archer.

The Sports Congress attracted over 400 of the top decision makers in sports. Participants made up a “Who’s Who” of the top thinkers and leaders in sports marketing. Represented organizations included Major League Baseball, the NFL, NBA, Ultimate Fighting Championship, and major sporting venues such as Madison Square Garden and the New Barclay Center Arena in Brooklyn, New York. The Congress was also attended by major corporations such as Cisco, Citibank, Nike, PepsiCo, Visa, Capital One, Quiksilver and Ticketmaster, and major TV networks that included ESPN, Fox Sports, Turner Sports and NBC Sports.While the 2011 Sports Congress took place amid major concerns over possible NBA and NFL lockouts, there was consensus at the 2012 gathering that the outlook for sports events is very bright.

The Bahamas team is pictured at a spring training game in Port St. Lucie, Florida between the New York Mets and World Champions, St. Louis Cardinals.

One of the main issues now emerging is the need to improve the “in stadium” experience, in order to offset the growing tendency on the part of some fans to stay at home and watch the event on HD TV while using their Blackberrys and other devices. Several panels addressed ways to successfully overcome this challenge.Between sessions, the Bahamas team took the opportunity to meet and network with key participants at the conference.“I found the IMG World Congress of Sports to be very useful, ” stated Sports Authority Chairman, Leroy Archer. “It gave me a better appreciation of the actual challenges faced by other arenas, and of the opportunities to bring world class events to our new Thomas A Robinson Stadium and other venues throughout the country.” During the brief South Florida stay, the team did a site inspection visit to the Delray Beach Tennis Center, comprised of an 8, 000-seat Centre Court and 21 total courts. This was arranged courtesy of the Sports Facilities Advisory Group.

The Bahamas team, through its partnership with the Florida Treasure Coast Sporting Commission, took part in a site inspection of the new $8 million swimming complex under construction in Stuart, Florida. The team also attended a Spring Training baseball game in Port St. Lucie, Florida between the New York Mets and World Champion, St. Louis Cardinals.“We are very confident about the unlimited prospects for growth of sports tourism to The Islands Of The Bahamas, ” added Tyrone Sawyer, Director of Sports Tourism Development at the Ministry of Tourism. “We will continue to build upon a focused strategy of attracting sporting events that generate incremental air stopover arrivals and room nights.”