Sports Market
Overall Efforts
Assisted with 46 definite bookings, for a combined estimated economic impact of $20.3 million, and 73,000 total hotel room nights.
Signature assisted bookings included:
• 2004 Great American Cross Country Festival
• 2004 CASL Girls Soccer Showcase
• 2004 Pop-Warner Mid-South Football & Cheerleading Championships
• 2004 2Hot4 Ice National Games (Roller Hockey)
• 2004 PONY Softball Fastpitch Nationals
• 2004 Deep South Classic
• 2005 and 2006 NCAA DIII Softball National Championships
Partnered with various local organizations to successfully plan and host the following major sporting events:
• NHL Entry Draft
• NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, First & Second Rounds
• NCAA Women's College Cup (Soccer)
• CIAA Tournament
• NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championships
• Great American Cross Country Festival
• PONY Softball Fastpitch Nationals
• NCHSAA State Championships
Had one-on-one meetings with sports event rights-holders and planners at the following national conventions: Amateur Athletic Union, United States Specialty Sports Association, National Association of Sports Commissions, TEAMS 2003.
Provided financial support to the following events, through GRCVB's Sports Matching Event Promotion Fund:
• 2004 CIAA Tournament
• 2004 adidas Outdoor Track & Field Championships
• 2003 Great American Cross Country Festival
• 2003 Aggie-Eagle Classic
• 2004 AAU Hoops & Dreams Basketball
• 2004 PONY Softball Fastpitch Nationals
• 2003-2004 NCHSAA State Championships
• 2004 Deep South Classic
• 2004 ACC Tennis Championships
• 2004 2Hot4 Ice Roller Hockey Championships
• 2004 NHL Entry Draft
• USA Baseball
GRCVB also provided support for these events during fiscal year 2003-04:
• Jimmy V Women's Basketball Classic
• Bullfrog/STA Junior Designated Tournament (Tennis)
• 2004 Southeast Bowling Championship
• AAU Girls Basketball Spring Tournaments
• WRAL TV-5 Women's Pro Tennis Classic
• Courtyard by Marriott Intercollegiate Golf Tournament
• Jimmy V Softball Classic
• Cary Pro Kick-Off Soccer
• Cary Cup Table Tennis Championship
• AAU Baseball Spring Tournaments
• Chuck Amato Wolfpack Rumble & Wrestling Tournament
• N.C. State Junior Closed Tennis Tournament
• 2004 ACC Men's & Women's Soccer Tournaments
Scott Dupree, the GRCVB's Director of Sports Marketing, was named to the National Association of Sports Commissions' Board of Directors.
What's Ahead
• Launch the GRCVB's official web sites for the area's sports event industry … raleighsports.org and carysports.org.
• Develop and implement marketing strategies to promote the two new web sites.
• Coordinate community effort to submit the strongest possible bid for the 2006-08 CIAA Basketball Tournaments.
• Focus on the GRCVB's "10 Most Wanted" sporting events for 2004-05.
• Increase sales focus on baseball and tennis events, to take advantage of new, state of the art facilities in Raleigh and Cary.
• Increase emphasis on proactive, national media relations, to promote Greater Raleigh as a leading site for major sporting events.
• Work with our local partners to successfully host the major sporting events scheduled for 2004-05.
