Chapter 15

15

Sport Facility and Event Management

Robin Ammon, Jr., Slippery Rock University David K. Stotlar, University of Northern Colorado

C H A P T E R

Introduction

• Rise in construction and renovation of sport and entertainment facility in U.S. and worldwide

• Impact of financial state

• Distinction between sport and entertainment

Types of Facilities

• Designed for only one sport: single purpose

• Designed for specialized events but might not be single-purpose facilities

• Designed to host a variety of events

• May or may not have roof, walls, spectator seating areas

Table 15.1

Facility Management

• Managerial numbers, titles, and duties vary

• Management positions and responsibilities

– Facility director

– Operations manager

– Event coordinator

• Professional Profile: Mike Rock

Event Management

• Every event is a product, an outcome, and an occurrence

• Events come in many shapes and sizes

• Event management includes planning, coordinating, staging, and evaluating

• See figure 15.1 for event management structure

Event Management Personnel

• Executive director

• Operations division manager

• Public relations, marketing, and hospitality division manager

Seven Basic Steps of Event Management Plans

• Scheduling

• Negotiating

• Coordinating

• Staging

• Settling with the promoter

• Cleaning up

• Evaluating

Preevent Management Tasks

• Scheduling the event

• Negotiating the event

• Coordinating the event

Staging the Event

• Parking and seating

– Crises

– Risk management: stadium disasters in Africa

• Customer service

• Alcohol policies

• Crowd management

Crowd Management Plan

• Staff training

• Emergency planning

• Ensuring accessibility for disabled

• Procedures for ejecting disruptive people

• An efficient communication system

• Effective signage

Postevent Tasks

• Event cleanup

• Evaluating the event

Practical Application

• Critical thinking in sport facility and event management

– Confederate flag

• Ethics in sport facility and event management

– Pepsi Center’s code of conduct

Three Review Questions

1. What is the nearest major single-purpose facility in your area? List the personnel who would be involved in the management at this type of facility.

2. Why do the management team members need to meet to evaluate the overall production after the event ends?

(continued)

Three Review Questions (continued)

3. Why is employing trained people to reduce facility risks a less expensive alternative than reacting to potential disasters or litigation without such people?