SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTIO N SPORTSTOWN P R O F I L E : , N Y SPORTSTOWN P R O F I L E : LONG ISLAND , N Y SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTIO N Long Island: A perfect balance of sports, amenities henhen iitt ccomesomes ttoo hholdingolding a ssportingporting eevent,vent, wwhetherhether iit’st’s a Another AJGA event, the Marsh Junior Tournament, was held at Bethpage State Park, singlesingle ggameame oorr mmatch,atch, oorr a mmulti-dayulti-day tournament,tournament, you’dyou’d bebe Black Course, in Farmingdale, N.Y., in 1991. W hard-pressedhard-pressed ttoo fi ndnd a placeplace withwith moremore featuresfeatures andand benefibenefi tsts In 2000, the event moved to Rockaway Hunt- ing Club, and in 2001, to the Bethpage State thanthan LLongong IIsland,sland, NN.Y..Y. Park, Red Course. After all, not only does Long Island enjoy a • 2002 Junior Olympics Regional “The key issue for us is our membership tremendoustremendous ttrackrack rrecordecord ooff wworkingorking wwithith aandnd Championships - USATF demographic in the Metro area is welcomingwelcoming eeventvent rrightsights hholders,olders, iitt aalsolso hhasas a • 2001 Regional Jr. Olympics high, so there is a call for us to have an event richrich hhistoryistory ofof offeringoffering tthehe pperfecterfect bbalancealance ooff Cross Country Championships there,” says John Dolan, the AJGA’s northeast facilitiesfacilities fforor ffansans wwithith aallll tthehe aamenitiesmenities tthehe NNewew – USATF regional director. “On Long Island, the quality YorkYork MetroMetro areaarea hashas toto offer.offer. • 2001 NCAA Division I Men’s Bas- of the venues – courses like Eisenhower Park No matter what the sport – whether it’s wa- ketball Championships – 1st & 2nd and Bethpage – is extremely high, so it’s nice terter ppolo,olo, ,lacrosse, golf,golf, swimming/diving,swimming/diving, pro-pro- Rounds East Region) we can host an event at those clubs.” fessionalfessional bbeacheach vvolleyball,olleyball, wrestlingwrestling oror mmanyany • 2001 NCAA Division I Women’s On average, an AGJA event (there are othersothers - oorganizationsrganizations ssuchuch aass tthehe NNCAA,CAA, Swimming & Diving Championship 75 annually nationwide) brings about 250 USAUSA SSwimmingwimming aandnd tthehe AmericanAmerican JJuniorunior • 1999 Empire State Games people to the area, with an economic impact GolfGolf AssociationAssociation bringbring ttheirheir eeventsvents ttoo LLongong • 1997 US Figure Skating Association of about $150,000. “Remember, our members IslandIsland fforor bbothoth tthehe vvenuesenues aandnd tthehe lluxuriesuxuries ooff Eastern Sectional Championships are not just playing golf,” Dolan says. “Mem- high-qualityhigh-quality hhotels,otels, rrestaurantsestaurants aandnd eeasyasy aaccessccess bers and their families are also shopping, toto tthehe mmediaedia ccapitalapital ooff tthehe wworld.orld. Addition-Addition- With that impressive track record, it is little eating at restaurants, etc. And Long Island ally,ally, apartapart fromfrom thethe Island’sIsland’s premierpremier facilities,facilities, wonder why more and more sports organiza- has it all.” it’sit’s greatgreat location,location, itit alsoalso offersoffers tthehe LLongong IIslandsland tions fi nd Long Island the perfect combination Another returning organization, USA SportsSports CCommission,ommission, whichwhich pplayslays a pivotalpivotal of facilities and amenities and either plan to Swimming, will hold its 2007 Spring Cham- rolerole iinn eensuringnsuring tthathat eeachach eevent,vent, aalonglong wwithith iitsts return to the Island (USA Swimming, NCAA, pionships from March 27-31 at the Nassau constituents, are treated as a top priority. AJGA) or are coming to the Island for the fi rst County Aquatic Center, one of the nation’s Regina Zara, director of sales and sports time (EVP Tour). premier aquatic centers and among the top in development for the Long Island Sports the world. Commission, a division of the Long Island EVP Beach Volleyball’s First Event USA Swimming held the FINA World Cup Convention and Visitors Bureau (www. In 2007, the Extreme Volleyball Professionals competition at the Nassau County Aquatic discoverlongisland.com), points out that Long (EVP) Tour (EVPtour.com) will hold its fi rst- Center in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006 Island is home to a unique concentration of ever stop on Long Island in August. Accord- and also held its U.S. Open there in Decem- varied athletic facilities that meet the highest ing to Ross Balling, EVP commissioner, the ber 2001. So the organization has plenty of competitive standards for a variety of popular one-day Long Island event will take place at experience with what Long Island has to sports. But apart from that, visitors, especially Nickerson Beach in Nassau County. offer. those who come to Long Island for multi-day “We have been primarily West Coast-based “We like going to Long Island,” says Dean events, are able to enjoy all the feature-rich, tour, but our goal is to become a national tour,” Ekeren, national events director for USA exciting amenities and experiences of the New says Balling. “Long Island was very excited to Swimming. “Of course, it offers a great, York Metro area. host an EVP Tour event, and that excitement world-class facility. But it also has a really When it comes to the events themselves, caught our attention. Like any business or proj- good group of people and plenty of ho- Long Island has hosted high-profi le events ect, when people are really energized to host tels and restaurants. Long Island is such a such as the U.S. Open Golf Championship an event, it’s a very important success factor.” destination for our athletes and their families, (the prestigious tournament returns in 2009 Balling says the organizations like the Long because when they come to Long Island, they for the seventh time) and the Belmont Stakes Island Sports Commission, in partnership with often combine it with a visit to New York City (the third leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown). offi cials of Nassau County, displayed a real and enjoy all the other aspects to being in the And, of course, the NHL’s willingness to make the EVP stop special, and New York Metro area.” call the Nassau Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum that, along with the Island’s history as an ex- Wayne Burrow, director of championships home. Yet, those globally recognized events and perienced sporting event host, convinced him for the NCAA, says that Long Island offers teamsteams aarere oonlynly ppartart ooff tthehe sstory.tory. LongLong IslandIsland that the EVP Tour would make Long Island its facilities and amenities that often are the per- alsoalso hhasas pplayedlayed hosthost toto dozensdozens ofof eexcitingxciting inaugural East Coast stop. fect fi t for some of the NCAA’s championship sportingsporting eeventsvents iinn tthehe ppast,ast, iincluding:ncluding: “It’s on the ocean and at a beach, as are 90 events – a major reason why the NCAA has percent of our events,” Balling says. returned to Long Island over the years (and • The Breeders’ Cup – 1990, 1995, 2001, Balling explains that each EVP event features will be back in the future as well). ‘05 professional volleyball players of both genders, “Many of our events aren’t on the scale • Big East Swimming & Diving – 1999, but it also has an amateur division, which is of the Final Four or Super Bowl, but all the 2000, ‘01, ‘02, ‘03, ‘04, ‘05 fi lled with local teams. A typical EVP Tour event same success factors apply. The athletes and • FINA World Cup (Swimming) – 2001, draws between 5,000-10,000 people during the fans expect a high-quality experience,” says ‘02, ‘04, ‘05, ‘06 course of the day. “Long Island not only has Burrow, noting that the NCAA Division I • Annual Commerce Bank Champion- facilities,” Balling says. “They have promised Lacrosse quarterfi nals were held at Long Is- ship - PGA Champions Tour they really will roll out the red carpet, and that land’s Stony Brook University in 2006. “Apart • Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show will make our event more than just us renting from the sports venues, the folks at the Long • 2006 NYSPHSAA Boys Lacrosse the beach.” Island Sports Commission really know how Championships to get the best possible hotel room rates and • 2006 Lessing’s AJGA Classic (Junior Returning for More manage other critical aspects of hosting an Golf) For nearly a decade, the American Junior event. And not only do they have the facilities • 2006 National Beach Tennis Tourna- Golf Association (AJGA), which helps young and hospitality, but we also have access to a ment men and women earn college golf scholar- great group of volunteers, and they are com- • 2006 ECAC Men’s Tennis Invitational ships through competitive junior golf, has been pletely enthusiastic about hosting.” • 2006 NYSPHSAA Wrestling a steady patron of Long Island’s impressive Zara says Long Island’s powerful message Championships courses. During the past few years, for example, to events rights holders is that the Island’s • 2006 EISL Men’s Swimming & Diving the Lessing’s AJGA Classic has been held fi ne athletic facilities combined with it’s The EVP Tour brings professional beach volleyball Championships on various well-known Long Island courses, close proximity to the media capital of the to Long Island’s Eugene Nickerson beach this sum- • 2006 NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse including The Links at Shirley, Shirley, N.Y., in world, a strong transportation infrastructure mer; the Nassau County Aquatics Center is one of North Quarterfi nals 2003 (the qualifi er was held at Tallgrass Golf and a host of accommodations that offer the premier facilities of its kind in the world; The • 2005 USA Gymnastics American Cup Club in Shoreham, N.Y.), the Rockaway Hunt- rates at every price point have competitively Hofstra Arena hosts school sports events, but also • 2004 NCAA Division I Men’s Swim- ing Club in Lawrence, N.Y., in 2004, (qualifi er positioned the Island in the national and exhibitions, trade shows, concerts and other special ming & Diving Championships was held at Eisenhower Park Red Course in international sports marketplace. events; Stoney Brook University Stadium is the • 2003 FINA Water Polo World League East Meadow, N.Y.), and the Eisenhower Park “Event rights holders can expect a high home of the Seawolves football team. Super Final White Course in 2005 and 2006. Continued on next page.

52 STREET & SMITH’S SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL ❘ WWW.SPORTSBUSINESSJOURNAL.COM DECEMBER 4-10, 2006 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTIO N SPORTSTOWN P R O F I L E : LONG ISLAND , N Y SPORTSTOWN P R O F I L E : LONG ISLAND , N Y SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTIO N

Major Sports Facilities on Long Island • BaseballBaseball HHeaveneaven SportsSports ComplexComplex • MitchelMitchel AthleticAthletic Complex,Complex, TrackTrack & FieldField car race tracks in the country and was built in The complex consists of seven fields Stadium 1949. It is a one-quarter mile asphalt, high- and is equipped with all the amenities of a A versatile state-of-the-art sports complex banked oval that includes a Figure 8 course. professional ballpark. that provides a spectacular, professional set- Riverhead Raceway is part of the NASCAR ting for a full range of popular sports includ- Winston Racing Series circuit and has been • Belmont Park Racetrack ing baseball, field hockey, football, rifle/pistol, for most of its existence. Belmont Park is the site of the annual rugby, soccer, softball, track and field. Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple • Sports Plus Crown. The park encompasses more than • Nassau Community College This facility features a 170,000-square foot 400 acres and is available year round. The indoor complex, which includes a 48-lane beautifully landscaped park includes large • Nassau County Aquatics Center BowlingBowling CCenterenter aandnd ffullull sserviceervice ppro-shop,ro-shop, anan open spaces suitable for a variety of sporting One of the most premier aquatic venues in NHL Regulation Size Ice Rink with lockers events. the country and among the top in the world. and a full-service pro shop. The facility can host national and interna- • Bethpage State Park tional events in all aquatic disciplines. • State University of New York at Old Bethpage State Park is best known for its five Westbury world-class golf courses, but visitors flock • Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum & to the park to use its picnic facilities, bridle Exhibition Center • Stony Brook University, Indoor Sports paths, hiking and biking trails, playing fields, The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum Complex tennis courts and cross-county skiing trails. complex consists of an 18,000 seat arena, a 60,000 sq. foot exhibition hall, and 15,000 sq. • Suffolk County Community College • Citibank Park feet of additional exhibit space. Sports & Exhibition Complex Citibank Park, a $20 million, 6,002-seat state- of-the-art minor league ballpark, is home to • The Red Course at Eisenhower Park, • The Rinx the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League East Meadow Located on 93 acres in beautiful Hidden Pond of Professional Baseball Clubs. Home to the Commerce Bank Park in the town of Islip. Offers two ice rinks, Championship-PGA Champions Tour. three outdoor pools, tennis courts, ball fields, • C.W. Post Campus, Long Island picnic area, skating school, hockey school, University hockey leagues, pro-shop, physical therapy • Riverhead Raceway and a conditioning center. • Riverhead Raceway is one of the oldest stock

Continued from previous page. representing their interests to our constitu- For more information about holding your HistoricHistoric BBelmontelmont PParkark isis homehome toto tthehe BBelmontelmont SStakes,takes, ents on a local level and most importantly events on Long Island, contact the Long the third leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown; in level of professionalism and most impor- working in partnership to ensure that we Island Sports Commission at 877-FUN-ON- March 2007, USA Swimming will hold its Spring tantly attention to detail from our staff,” Zara overextend ourselves to achieve the success LI (386-6654) or 631-951-3900, ext. 315, or Championships at the Nassau County Aquatics says. “The fundamental foundation of our of each event and surpass the expectations of e-mail us at [email protected] Center. success is based on serving our clients’ needs, our clients.” or visit discoverlongisland.com/sports.

DECEMBER 4-10, 2006 STREET & SMITH’S SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL ❘ WWW.SPORTSBUSINESSJOURNAL.COM 53