2015 Report to City of Cleveland Greater Cleveland Sports Commission Introduction The mission of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission is to measurably enhance the economy, image and quality of life in the Greater Cleveland community by attracting and creating significant sporting events and activities. The philosophy of the Sports Commission sets it apart from others by operating as an economic and community development organization utilizing sports as a vehicle to forward other community agendas. The organization takes the unique approach of becoming a management and financial partner in each event with the goal of producing events that are more successful in Cleveland than other locations in which they have been held. Since 2000, the Sports Commission has been responsible for attracting, creating and/or managing over 160 sporting events resulting in estimated economic activity of more than $460 million to the region. The Sports Commission has an operating budget of nearly $1,000,000. 2015 was another extremely impactful year for the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. The organization hosted a total of nine events that produced over $16 million of economic activity. The Sports Commission also secured six events for future years. These six major events are expected to bring an additional $18 million of economic activity in upcoming years. The Sports Commission also launched bids for several events that will bring an international spotlight and an immense economic impact to Cleveland. The MLB and NBA All-Star Games highlight this list of exciting bids. The Sports Commission’s work in 2015 improved Cleveland’s image by placing the city in the regional, national and international spotlight. Events like the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Midwest Regional and Web.com Tour Rust-Oleum Championship were broadcast to millions of viewers nationally and internationally. These broadcasts prominently featured Cleveland as a vibrant destination location. Those who visited Cleveland for Sports Commission events are now ambassadors for a great region, telling their networks about their outstanding experience. The Greater Cleveland Sports Commission contributed to the quality of life of Cleveland residents by stimulating employment opportunities and revenue streams in several important economic sectors, attaching extensive community engagement programs to events and exposing Clevelanders to exciting and inspiring sports and athletes. The Sports Commission’s Urban Youth Initiative impacted the lives of more than 500 Cleveland youth through seven different programs. The Sports Commission continues to grow and provide tremendous economic and civic results and an impressive return on the investment made by its many supporters. 2015 Achievements Economic Activity The Greater Cleveland Sports Commission generated over $16 million of economic activity through events it hosted or attracted in 2015. All events were held in or utilized Cleveland-area hotels, restaurants or attractions. Events included: Economic Activity Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Championships .................................................................................................... $350,000 ACHA Division 1 National Championship............................................................................................................... $600,000 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Midwest Regional ........................................................................................$5,000,000 Mid-American Conference Baseball Championship ............................................................................................. $360,000 UWW University and FILA Cadet National Championships ................................................................................$1,000,000 Web.com Tour’s Rust-Oleum Championship ......................................................................................................$4,000,000 Continental Cup International Youth Sports Festival .........................................................................................$3,600,000 US Masters Swimming Long Course Nationals ..................................................................................................$1,000,000 NEOCycle ................................................................................................................................................................. $400,000 Total Economic Activity .....................................................................................................................$16,310,636 2015 marked the ninth time in the past 10 years the Sports Commission has hosted or attracted three or more events that created over $1,000,000 in economic activity. The Sports Commission also secured six major future events during 2015. These events will result in $18.37 million of economic activity in Northeast Ohio over the next several years. Economic Activity Junior Volleyball Association (January 2016, 2017 & 2018) ............................................................................$7,500,000 World Yo-Yo Contest (August 2016) ....................................................................................................................$1,500,000 USA Fencing March North America Cup (March 2017) ....................................................................................... 1.370,000 Corporate Games (June 2017) .............................................................................................................................. 8,000,000 Total Future Economic Activity .......................................................................................................................... $18,370,000 The Sports Commission also laid important groundwork for several future mega-events last year, including the MLB All-Star Game and NBA All-Star Game. These events would bring tens of millions of dollars of economic activity and the spotlight of national and international media. 2015 Achievements IMAGE The image of Cleveland has been rapidly improving for many years in a row and Sports Commission events are a major factor in that improved image. The Sports Commission hosted events that were broadcast to tens of millions throughout the United States and across the world. Furthermore, Sports Commission events allowed tens of thousands to experience Cleveland first-hand, improving the region’s image with every great trip. The Sports Commission’s efforts to improve the image of Cleveland were highlighted by the hosting of the city’s first ever NCAA Men’s Basketball Division I Regional - better known as the Sweet 16 and Elite 8. The regional final between Kentucky and Notre Damewas the most watched college basketball game in cable history and the most watched program in the history of TBS. The game averaged 14.7 million viewers and peaked with 19.7 million viewers at the end of the game. Another Sports Commission event - the Web.com Tour’s Rust-Oleum Championship - was broadcast on Golf Channel across the United States and distributed around the world by the PGA Tour. Both the NCAA Midwest Regional and the Rust-Oleum Championship featured significant messaging promoting Cleveland and extolling it as a great visitor destination. Additionally, Sports Commission recruitment efforts for events like the Continental Cup International Youth Sports Festival and NEOCycle placed Cleveland’s tremendous assets on an elevated platform. Between the two events, athletes from more than 25 states and 11 countries traveled to Cleveland to compete and experience our region. The Greater Cleveland Sports Commission is confident visitors who came to Northeast Ohio in 2015 are now telling all they meet of their excellent experience. 2015 Achievements Quality of Life The Greater Cleveland Sports Commission takes great pride in elevating sporting events to the next level, ensuring that Sports Commission activities not only infuse tourist dollars into the region, but enhance the quality of life in Greater Cleveland as well. In 2015, the Sports Commission’s events impacted youth across the region, consisted of opportunities for cross- cultural exchange and provided unique and outstanding entertainment to Clevelanders. Highlighting these ancillary events was the Sports Commission’s Urban Youth Initiative. The Urban Youth Initiative was created by the Sports Commission as part of its NEOCycle event and was expanded to include programs with many other events in 2015. The program is supported locally by GE Lighting, University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital and the City of Cleveland. In 2015, the Urban Youth Initiative impacted 500 Cleveland youth. The Urban Youth Initiative’s NEOCycle program began with a kickoff event at GE Lighting’s Nela Park campus, where youth learned about personal health and wellness and energy efficiency. Participants were then required to complete a week-long program that included tracking their daily health, wellness and energy efficiency activities. Upon completion of the program, youth were given a bike, bike helmet and lock at a special bike giveaway event at Gunning Park Recreation Center. All youth were properly fitted for bikes and helmets and given a bike safety education session by Ohio City Bicycle Co-op. In all, 150 Cleveland youth were given new bikes as part of the Urban Youth Initiative and several youngsters learned how to ride for the first time at the bike giveaway. The Continental Cup International Youth Sports Festival featured Urban Youth Initiative programming