2017 Annual Report 155 W. Nationwide Blvd., Ste. 125 Columbus, OH 43215 614-221-6060 CELEBRATING 15 YEARS WITH YOU Dear Partners, In 2017, the Greater Columbus Sports Commission celebrates its 15th anniversary. We are proud of the leadership role we have played as our sports scene has grown and prospered over this timeframe, with the future promising to be even brighter. Columbus has become a successful and ever-growing sports destination because of the continued support and engagement of our community. Thanks to the collaborative spirit of our city and county leaders, civic and hospitality partners, community-minded corporations, sports teams and institutions, as well as the cadre of boots-on-the-ground volunteers, the events we host are nothing short of spectacular. The entire nation is watching when we land NCAA national events like the upcoming Women’s Final Four in 2018 or host high-profile professional events like the NHL All-Star Game, the MLS Cup or the MiLB Triple-A Governors’ Cup. The entire world is watching when we welcome prestigious international events like The Presidents Cup, a FIFA World Cup Qualifier or the Arnold Sports Festival. Annually, crowds flock to the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide, the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon, the OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon, the 20 OHSAA State Championships and hundreds of amateur tournaments like Ohio Valley Region volleyball. It’s clear, since the founding of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission in 2002, Columbus has grown into a sports city with no offseason! We appreciate the unwavering support we receive from the City of Columbus, Franklin County and the State of Ohio, along with that of our board of directors and corporate partners who invest in our mission. We proudly mark this milestone anniversary and boldly look toward the future. Here’s to the next 15 years! Linda Shetina Logan, CSEE, CTA Since 2002, the Greater Columbus Sports Commission has booked 427 new sporting events for theThe Columbus Greater Columbus Region, generating region is recognized an estimated as a $535 PREMIER million DESTINATION in visitor spending. for state, regional, national*Tourism and Economicsinternational has provided professional, us with the visitor collegiate, spending percentages amateur in and each category.youth SPORTING EVENTS. DEFINING MOMENTS For more defining moments visit columbussports.org. INITIAL BID FOR NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN’S FINAL FOUR I think the defining event for the Sports Commission was our first bid for the Women’s Final Four. Yes,“ the bid we lost. That effort got the community really engaged – both public and private sector. There was a recognition that Columbus could compete on the national stage. The process set the stage for our many future successes.” — Brian Ellis, Nationwide Realty Investors FIRST TIME HOSTING NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S BASKETBALL FIRST/SECOND ROUNDS While we have hosted many great sporting events in a variety of sports delivering tourism dollars to the“ city, to me that event said “We have arrived”. No longer could Columbus not compete for the biggest events on the biggest stages. Then to make the experience such a memorable one for all those attending (Including the NCAA) – I knew we could pull off any event we set our mind to.” — Butch Moore, WBNS 10TV HOSTING THE NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S FROZEN FOUR For me, my favorite moment in the Sports Commission’s first 15 years occurred in 2005 at the NCAA“ Frozen Four finals at the Schottenstein Center. I saw a sign that referred to the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, which to that point I did not know even existed. From that point Retail forward to today, it has been a thrill and I am so thankful to be part of the amazing ride skyward that the Commission has been on. Food & Beverage ” Retail — Brian Hall, Porter Wright Transportation Food & Beverage Retail RecreationTOP FIVE industry sectorsRetail that benefit most from visitor spending numbersTransportation generated throughFood & Beveragesports: LODGING FOODFood & Beverage & BEVERAGE RETAIL RECREATION TRANSPORTATION Lodging Recreation Transportation $48.5M • 9%* $91M • 17%* Retail$117.7M • 22%* $53.5M • 10%* $69.6M • 13%* Transportation Food & Beverage Lodging Recreation Recreation Transportation Lodging Lodging Recreation Lodging 15 YEARS OF IMPACT ON COLUMBUS 2002 2003 2004 It’s Official U.S. Soccer NCAA DI Men’s Basketball On June 27, the Greater Columbus Sports The FIFA Women’s World Cup was played at Since 2004, the NCAA DI Men’s Basketball Commission (GCSC) was established and Crew Stadium and brought soccer fans and First/Second Rounds have been in Columbus introduced to the community at a special media from all over the world to Columbus. four times. This event represents $10 million event at Nationwide Arena called ‘Columbus in visitor spending each time it comes to Celebrates Sports.’ Columbus and will be back in 2019. 2007 2008 2009 NHL Draft Turning Point Big Ten Baseball The GCSC in partnership with the Even though we lost the NCAA Women’s The GCSC, along with the Columbus Columbus Blue Jackets hosted a successful Final Four bid this year, valuable Clippers, hosted the Big Ten Baseball NHL Draft that brought the who’s who of relationships were created and proved to Tournament at the new Huntington Park hockey to our city’s front door. be a turning point for the organization. marking the first time the event was held off campus. It remained in Columbus through 2011. 2012 2013 2014 USA Volleyball The Presidents Cup USA Fencing In partnership with Ohio Valley Region, The international golf match, The Presidents The largest tournament of its kind, Columbus hosted the USA Volleyball Girls’ Cup, was held at Muirfield Village Golf Columbus hosted the USA Fencing Junior National Championships that brought Course and was broadcast in 200 countries Summer National Championships in approximately 10,000 athletes and more to more than 600 million households. back-to-back years. We look forward to than 20,000 spectators, which provided The event generated $22 million in their return in 2019. $30 million into the community. visitor spending. 2017 A Year of Championships Columbus hosted the NCAA DII Women’s Basketball Championships, NCAA National Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Championship, USA Track & Field Half Marathon Championships, first-ever OHSAA State Lacrosse Championships and USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships. Photos Courtesy of: U.S. Soccer, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), National Hockey League (NHL), USA Volleyball, The Presidents Cup, USA Fencing and OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon 15 YEARS OF IMPACT ON COLUMBUS 2004 2005 2006 NCAA DI Men’s Basketball NCAA DI Men’s Ice Hockey U.S. Olympic Trials Since 2004, the NCAA DI Men’s Basketball The NCAA Frozen Four was held in Columbus Columbus hosted the prestigious U.S. Duet First/Second Rounds have been in Columbus at Value City Arena. This was last time the Olympic Trials – Synchronized Swimming four times. This event represents $10 million event was held on a campus location. at the McCorkle Aquatics Pavilion on Ohio in visitor spending each time it comes to State’s campus. This was the first Olympic Columbus and will be back in 2019. Trial for the 2008 Olympics. 2010 2011 NAGAAA Gay Softball New ColumbUS Brand Columbus hosted the NAGAAA Gay Softball Columbus launched a new image and city World Series that brought $5 million in branding in anticipation for its Bicentennial visitor spending and also provided many in 2012. In collaboration with Columbus legacy programs for the community. civic organizations for the “ColumbUS” This event returned to Columbus in 2015. image project, the GCSC rebranded and created a new logo. 2014 2015 2016 USA Fencing NHL All-Star Weekend NCAA DI Women’s Volleyball The largest tournament of its kind, The NHL All-Star Weekend generated $12 Columbus hosted 17,365 fans at Columbus hosted the USA Fencing million in visitor spending. The Columbus Nationwide Arena for the NCAA Division I Summer National Championships in Blue Jackets and the community rolled out Women’s Volleyball Championship and is back-to-back years. We look forward to the red carpet to athletes and fans, which set to host the event again in 2021! their return in 2019. prompted NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to say that “A+ was not a high enough grade” for Columbus. Photos Courtesy of: National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Ohio State Athletics, North American Gay Amateur Athletic Association (NAGAAA) Gay Softball World Series Local Organizing Committee, Columbus Blue Jackets, USA Volleyball and Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) COLUMBUS HAS NO OFFSEASON As the Greater Columbus Sports Commission looks toward the next 15 years, we recognize the growth of not only the tourism industry but also the city of Columbus. The sports scene in Central Ohio has played an integral part in that growth and has helped transform Columbus into a top sports destination. Now no matter the season, you can experience multiple sporting events happening throughout the city. That’s why we simultaneously launched a new website and Columbus Has No Offseason trail in 2017. The Greater Columbus Sports Commission’s redesigned website, columbussports.org, focuses on showcasing Columbus as a premier host city while engaging locals to experience all that is happening in their backyard. The website content was rewritten to provide quick-hitting information for users while engaging them in dynamic visuals and providing a mobile responsive site to access anywhere. Columbus Has No Offseason trail embodies the vibrant and collaborative spirit of Columbus, representing the city’s passion for sports and encouraging fans to attend various events throughout each season. As our city’s sports scene continues to grow and gain national attention, our community’s fan base grows with it.