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Today’s Agenda

• Calendar/Website• Marketing• New Event Grant Program• Facilities Development

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Website and Calendar

SportsEngine

Website and CalendarWhy SportsEngine?

The following local organizations are already on the SportsEngine platformMAYBA (Royals)MAGFA (Peppers) Mankato Area Youth Hockey Mankato Area LaCrosseMankato Basketball Association

Mankato United SoccerMankato Area Youth Wrestling ClubCaswell SportsMNMYF Football (coming soon)

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Website and CalendarWhat does this allow us the Sports Commission to do?

Seamlessly and with little effort pull events off each organizations calendar and into the calendar on the Sports Commission website, to create one comprehensive calendar that shows all area tournaments and major sporting/competition related events.

Website and CalendarWhy do we want your events on our calendar?

To make it easier on all of us to know what is going on without having to search multiple websites. To more easily find major events happening at a given time. To make it easier on our hotel and especially restaurant partners to see what’s coming up allowing them to staff most effectively.

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Website and CalendarWe know they want it!

The initial driving factor in the Sports Commission moving to the SportsEngine platform was the calendar functionality. Numerous restaurants and hotels requested that Sports Commission look into developing a way for them to more easily find the events they wanted to know about!

Website and Calendar

What are we asking from you our local organizations?

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Website and Calendar

Help us get your tournaments and major events on our calendar!

Website and CalendarHow?

If you are not on SportsEngine platformvs

If you are on SportsEngine platform

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Website and CalendarIf not on the SportsEngine platform

1. Go to www.GreaterMankatoEvents.com, create a username and password for your organization and manually enter events2. Email Chris Willaert at cwillaert@VisitMankatoMN.com to notify him of any events that you have added

Website and CalendarIf your organization is on the SportsEngine platform

1. Create your event in your SportsEngine website calendar just as you are already doing. 2. Click the “Sports Commission” tag when you create the event

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Website and Calendar

What Sports Commission tag?

The one we are asking you create with our assistance.

Website and CalendarAll local organizations will have a dedicated page on the Sports Commission website. If your organization does not already have one we are working on

getting one built out for you. Check in the “Local Sports” tab.

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Website and Calendar

By having a page set up for each of you we are able to tag you on our website.Want to find just the events being held by Mankato Area Lacrosse? There’s a tag for that!

Website and Calendar

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Website and Calendar

Create a page and tag for the Mankato Sports Commission on your website

Website and Calendar

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Website and Calendar

Creating the page is a one-time set-up and can even be done by the Mankato Sports Commission for you. We will provide you with the graphics, text and preferred layout that will allow you to create this page in a matter of minutes!

Website and Calendar

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Website and Calendar

3 minute initial set-up1 additional click when creating an event

Marketing

Marketing

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MarketingThe Mankato Sports Commission as part of Visit Mankato is supported by full time

Marketing and Sales personnel

Carrie KijenskiMarketing and Communications DirectorVisit MankatoW: 507.385.6666ckijenski@VisitMankatoMN.com

Social MediaLike/Follow us!

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Marketing

FacebookAlmost 6,000 follows and 5,800 likes between Visit Mankato and Mankato Sports Commission combined

Marketing

Facebook LiveEvery Thursday at 4pm, Visit Mankato goes live on Facebook!

Averaging approximately 1,000 views per week with an average reach of almost 3,000!

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Marketing

Marketing

Other avenues for exposure• Radio

• “Sports Commission Minute” • TV

• Monthly KEYC Noon Spotlight• Print

• Features in MN Valley Business News • Articles and columns in Mankato Free Press• Features in Mankato Times

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Marketing

To help market your events we simply need to know the events are occurring and be provided with the appropriate informationWho, what, where and when!

Marketing

What can YOU do to most effectively promote your events?

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Marketing

Facebook boostingBoost events and posts and get them in front of your target market!

Marketing

Facebook boosting is a primary tool of the Visit Mankato marketing staff for the marketing of the Mankato Marathon

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Marketing

Marketing

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Marketing

Marketing

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Marketing

Marketing

Cost?As little as $5 per boosted post

Choose how much your organization wants to spend and how long you want it boosted for

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Grants

Event funding grants$$$

Grants• Grants

• Approximately $12,000 total• New Grant Program earmarks up to $6,000

• Seeking out new events to fill specific weekends in the calendar year• Seeking out new events in general

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GrantsNew Event Grant Program

Up to $6,000 of Sports Commission grant dollars. Maximum of $2000 per event To qualify for grant dollars under this proposal the event must meet the following criteria• Event

• Brand new (not held in greater Mankato area in past 3 years)• Improvement to already established event (must have ability to significantly increase in hotel room nights)

• Time of year• November through January – blackout periods apply please inquire before submitting application • March through April – blackout periods apply

• Hotel Room Nights • 150 room nights = $1000• 250 room nights = $2000

• Renewability • Apply for renewal up to 3 years • Renewal not guaranteed

GrantsWhat kind of impact can this have?

Example of Hotel and Economic Impact of a tournament based on DMAI calculations• 8 team YOUTH tournament with team roster size of 12• 7 of 8 teams staying in a hotel• Tournament starts Friday, ends Sunday (or at least requires teams to arrive in town on Friday)

Estimated Hotel Room Nights: 181Estimated Economic Impact: $88,000

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Facilities Development

Facilities Development

Facilities Development

The purpose of the Facilities Development Committee is to provide a supporting role in facilities development by serving as a resource, consultant, connector/facilitator and advocate of projects it has vetted as needed and feasible.

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Facilities Development

This committee will be comprised of representatives that have primarily served in one of the committees previously involved in this work including: • Regional Recreation Facilities (RRF) Steering Committee

• RRF Technical Advisory Team• Local Option Sales Tax Education Committee • Sports Commission Facilities sub-committee.

Committee members will represent either the general community, major community facilities management and/or the Sports Commission.

Facilities DevelopmentSTAFF OF MAJOR FACILITIES• John Kind, YMCA• Paul Ostoff, Verizon Center (Arena)• Paul Vogel, City of Mankato• Ryan Kragh, Bethany Lutheran College• Phil Tostenson, City of North Mankato*• Kevin Buisman, MSU – Mankato Athletics*

SPORTS COMMISSIONERS• Brett Skillbred, Coughlan Companies – Chair• Stephanie Loeffler, Mayo Clinic Health System• Greg Weis, Mankato MoonDogs• Bob Madsen, AgStar Financial

COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION• Julia Corbett, Blethen, Gage & Kraus• Jason Femrite, Bolton & Menk• Dave Schooff, Fisher Group/Mankato Area Foundation• Mike Mitchell, Retired

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Facilities Development

Relationship Development with Elected Officials• Ensure local elected officials are familiar with the Sports Commission, its mission and work in the community.

• Provide support for bills considered for legislative action that would support the development of new facilities.• Understand expectations from City Councils related to approving funding for projects for new facilities.

• Provide an authoritative voice to the City Councils on behalf of new facilities proposals that have been properly vetted and shown feasibility.

Facilities Development

First meeting of new committee was held March 31The Sports Commission will not endorse, but rather facilitate the process of proposal development for investment decisions. It is important to be aware of the things that Mankato and North Mankato are already working on.

Sales tax proposals for both cities are in the House and Senate Tax Bills. Legislature adjourns on April 22.

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Facilities Development

Review of previously collected information City of Mankato and North Mankato have information that they have collected after talking with sports groups, and various inventories done of current facilities. It will be important to look at current assets that can be enhanced before turning to new facilities to meet local needs.

Facilities Development

A rubric was developed by the Technical Advisory Team to vet potential projects. This should be examined next to the City of Mankato’s investment policy as well as what the City of North Mankato develops.

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Facilities Development

Next steps• Matching rubric with city investment policies • Analzying inventory of all current assets/facilities

• Comprehensive • Investigate usage and possibilities for enhancements to meet local needs

• Analyzing data previously supplied by organizations• May determine more or updated information is necessary• Last compiled fall of 2015

Q & A

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Chris WillaertSports Commission DirectorOffice: 507.385.6663Cell: 507.382.0988Email: cwillaert@visitmankatomn.comwww.VisitMankatoMN.com