Updated 02/10

Developing Tourism with Entertainment, Sports, and Recreation Destinations

Contents

• Developing Sports and Entertainment Tourism
• Economic Considerations
• Organizations Related to Sports and Entertainment Facilities
• Sports Commissions and Councils to Promote Sports Activities
• Examples of Entertainment,Sports Activities, and Facilities
  • Entertainment and Sports Facilities Examples
  • Outdoor Recreation and Sports Examples
  • Competitions, Races, and Tours Examples
  • Festivals and Special Events Examples
• MRSC Related Pages
  • Cultural and Heritage Tourism
  • Economic Impact - Siting Facilities (see Economic Impacts of Specific Projects- Studies, Sports Facilities)
  • Ecotourism
  • Fairs in Washington State 
  • Golf Course Facilities
  • Public Facilities Districts
  • Special Events Permits: Provisions Regulating Street Fairs and Other Special Community Events

Developing Sports and Entertainment Tourism

• The Arts Festival Work Kit, by Pam Korza and Dian Magie, Arts Extension Service, Division of Continuing Education, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, 1989 MRSC Library Loan
• "The Art of Entertainment Districts," by Michael Davidson, Zoning News, June 2001 MRSC Library Loan
• Developing Retail Entertainment Destinations, Urban Land Institute, 2001 MRSC Library Loan
• “Event Planning/Looking to sports for development dollars,” by Jack Kelly, American City & County,
  Oct. 2000  
• Outdoor Recreation Research - University of North Carolina Natural Resources Research Information
• "Setting the Stage for Special Events," by Maya Avrasin, Parks and Recreation, July 2005 - Coordinating special fitness events is a complicated task for park and recreation departments but can reap huge benefits
• SportQuest - SIRC Sports Bibliographic Databases
• Sport & Tourism Journal - Some free articles available
• Whitewater
  • "The Way of the Whitewater Park: Artificial Whitewater Parks Riding Wave of Popularity," by Risa Shimoda and Paddler Editors, Paddler Magazine, May/June 2005
  • "Whitewater Woes," by  Robert B. Kauffman, Ph.D., and Ed Councill, Parks and Recreation, May 2005 - Paddling through the river rental business can be challenging for any agency.
• "The Wide World of Sports Tourism," Parks and Recreation, September 1998 MRSC Library Loan.

Economic Considerations

• "Addressing the Contribution of Sport to the Economy" (Australia)( 154 KB), by Phillip Hone, School of Accounting and Finance Working Papers, No. 2005-11, Denakin University, 2005
• "Economic Impact of Hosting ASA Tournaments," by Brian McCall, Reprinted from USA Balls & Strikes Magazine 2001 Season Preview, Central California Amateur Softball Association
• “The Economic Impact of Sports Facilities,” by Robby Robertson, The Sport Digest, Vol. 17, No. 1, Winter 2009
• "The Economic Impact of Sports Tournaments and Events- city survey," by John L. Crompton, Parks & Recreation, September 1999 via BNET Business Network
• Economic Impacts of Park and Recreation Services, in Selected Articles, by John L. Crompton, Texas A&M University, Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences - Articles on economic impact of sports facilities and events, and festival events
• "Economic Impacts of Guided Whitewater Rafting: A Study of Five Rivers" ( 605 KB), by Donald B.K. English and J.M. Bowker, Water Resources Bulletin, Vol. 32, No. 6, December 1996
• "Economic Values of Professional Sport Franchises in the United States," by Soonhwan Lee, The Sport Journal, Fall 2002, United States Sports Academy
• "Is Smaller Better? A Comment on “Comparative Economic Impact Analyses" ( 59 KB), by Michael Mondello and Patrick Rishe, Victor A. Matheson, November 2004, College of the Holy Cross, Department of Economics, Faculty Research Services, Working Paper No. 04-07
• "Comparative Economic Impact Analyses,” by Michael Mondello and Patrick Rishe, Economic Development Quarterly, Vol. 18, No. 4, 331-342 (2004) (Summary) Purchase article from Sage Publications or obtain from a library
• Kent, OH Sports Tourism Research Report ( 2.26 MB), Office of the City Manager, July 2006 - Report provides an overview of how other cities have combined local resources to create a competitive sports tourism strategy
• GOLF 20/20, Measuring Economic Impact - Golf 20/20 is an initiative of the World Golf Foundation, a nonprofit organization of the golf industry that supports programs to promote and enhance growth of the game of golf worldwide
• "A Review of Economic Impact Studies on Sporting Events," by Soonhwan Lee, The Sport Journal, United States Sports Academy, Spring 2001
• "Upon Further Review: An Examination of Sporting Event Economic Impact Studies" (Comment on article by Soonhwan Lee), by Victor A. Matheson, The Sport Journal, United States Sports Academy, Spring 2002.

Organizations Related to Sports and Entertainment Facilities

• American Whitewater - National nonprofit membership organization whose mission is to conserve and restore America's whitewater resources and to enhance opportunities to enjoy them safely
• Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance 
• ESP Entertainment Specialty Projects - News report for entertainment and specialty projects
  •  Entertainment Centers  - ESP September 1998
• International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions
• International Association of Fairs and Expositions
• National Association of Amusement Ride Safety Officials 
• National Association of Sports Commissions
• Washington Festivals and Events Association (WFEA) - Nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the common business interests of the festivals and events industry in Washington State, including an annual conference and other professional education and leadership development 
• World Waterpark Association.

Sports Commissions and Councils to Promote Sports Activities

• National Association of Sports Commissions
• Seattle Sports Commission - Nonprofit agency dedicated to creating economic development through sports and recreation, supporting the local sports community, and promoting health and fitness in the Puget Sound area
• Snohomish County Sports Commission
• Spokane Regional Sports Commission
• Tri-Cities Sports Council - Project of the Tri-Cities Visitor & Convention Bureau
• Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Commission
  • Tacoma Resolution No. 37108 ( 74 KB) authorizes a two-year agreement with the Sports Commission to provide assistance in attracting amateur athletic events, passed 2-07
• Wenatchee Valley Sports Council
• Yakima Valley Sports Commission
• Whatcom Sports Commission  - Northwest Soccer Park
• Outside Washington State
  • Kingston Sport Tourism Initiative, Tourism Kingston, ON. 

Examples of Entertainment, Sports Activities, and Facilities

Entertainment and Sports Facilities Examples

• Seattle Center - City of Seattle - Seattle Center is a 74-acre campus, home to cultural and educational organizations, sports teams, festivals, community programs, and entertainment facilities
  • Seattle Municipal Code Chapter 17.04 - Seattle Center Department
• Spokane Riverfront Park - City of Spokane Parks & Recreation (Park Board) - Located in the heart of downtown Spokane on the site of the Expo '74 World's Fair, this urban 100-acre park offers natural meadows and a cascading river, gondola rides over Spokane Falls; IMAX theatre, mini-golf, and a historic carrousel
• Tacoma Dome - City of Tacoma Public Assembly Facilities Department - The 6.1-acre Tacoma Dome Entertainment Complex, which includes the Exhibition Hall and Shanaman Sports Museum, hosts a variety of concerts, home and auto shows, and professional sporting events
• Yakima Valley SunDome - Managed by Central Washington Fair Association and located within the fairgrounds.

Outdoor Recreation and Sports Examples

• Area Sports Promotion
  • Sports in the Tri-Cities
  • Tri-Cities Recreation
  • Yakima Valley Sports Commission 
• Bicycling
  • Marymoor Velodrome (located in King County's Marymoor Park) - Operated by Marymoor Velodrome Association
• Raceways
  • Washington Race Tracks - Race Review
  • Spokane Raceway Park
• Water Activities
  • "Making a Splash in Local Recreation," American City & County, September 1998
  • Edmonds Underwater Park
  • Kayaking on the Kitsap Peninsula - Kitsap Peninsula Visitor & Convention Bureau
  • Spokane Whitewater Park - Friends of the the Falls
    • Spokane Whitewater Park Conceptual Design Report, prepared by Recreation Engineering and Planning and David Evans and Associates
    • Spokane Whitewater Park - Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition.

Competitions, Races, and Tours Examples

• Bellingham Ski-to-Sea
• Bicycle
  • Washington State Bicycle Racing Guidelines ( 547 KB), Washington State Department of Transportation, January 1998
  • Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic (STP) - Cascade Bicycle Club
  • Ride Around Washington (RAW) - Cascade Bicycle Club
• Spokane Bloomsday Run 
• SunDome Volley Ball Festival - Yakima Valley Sports Commission.

Festivals and Special Events Examples

• Dayton Festivals
• Ellensburg Rodeo
• Long Beach, Washington State International Kite Festival
• Omak Stampede
• Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
  • Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Economic Impacts and Visitor Profile (103 KB), prepared by Dean Runyan Associates for Washington State Trade and Economic Development Department, April 2000
• Washington Festivals & Events Calendar - WFEA.  

Return to Developing a Local Tourism Industry

Related Resources
MRSC Index – Entertainment centers, urban entertainment centers, retail entertainment destinations, sports and recreation destinations
MRSC Index – Tourism, Tourist Promotion Area (Ch. 35.101 RCW), resorts