Lee County Sports Authority

1
Lee County Sports Authority

• Department Introduction

2
Lee County Sports Authority

• Lee Countys dedicated sports development agency
• BoCC Directed
• Created on July 9, 2002 by BoCC
• Department began in February, 2003
• Comprehensive Plan Required
• The Lee Plan, Chapter XI, Policy 158.2.6 Lee
  County, in coordination with the Tourist
  Development Council and other appropriate
  entities, will promote the development of the
  sports market and sports facilities for future
  economic development. (Added by Ordinance No.
  07-09)

3
Mission Statement

• The mission of the Lee County Sports Authority
  (LCSA) is to attract and retain sporting events
  and activities that will provide economic
  stimulus through sports tourism.

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How Are We Funded?
Stadium 20
LCSA

• 100 bed tax funded
• 3.3 of TDC budget
• 16.7 of Stadium portion
• Assuming projected TDC revenues at 21.7 million
  and Stadium portion is 4.3 million

Advertising Promotion 53.6
Beach Shoreline 26.4
TDC BUDGET
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Core Programs Services

• Partner with the Lee County VCB using sports as a
  vehicle to diversify Lee Countys tourism
  industry.
• Solicit state, regional, national and
  international sporting events, thus creating an
  increase in economic impact from sports tourism.
• Increase the level of customer service to our
  sports visitors, including organizers, athletes,
  coaches, parents, spectators and sponsors.
• Diversify the types of sports events held within
  Lee County, including the solicitation of summer
  events that can utilize indoor facilities such as
  Germain Arena, Harborside Event Center, Lee
  County Civic Center and Alico Arena.

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Core Programs Services (cont.)

• Enhance the image of Lee County as a premiere
  sports destination.
• Work in partnership with municipal parks
  recreation departments to identify the need for
  new sports facilities.
• Increase the quality of life in Lee County by
  providing outstanding entertainment and
  participatory opportunities through sports.
• Create relocation opportunities for sports
  businesses in Lee County.
• Work with other county departments to maintain
  excellent relationships with Major League
  Baseball teams that train in Lee County.

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Key Partnerships

• Lee County Parks Recreation
• Sports Organizing Committee
• Municipal Parks Recreation depts.
• FGCU
• Lee County School Board
• Southwest Florida Attractions Assoc.
• Various youth and adult sports clubs

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Lee County Sports Authority

• Where Have We Been?

9
5-Year Economic Impact Analysis

• Prior to the creation of the LCSA, Lee County
  generated approximately 30,000 hotel room nights
  through sports.
• Does not include impact from Major League
  Baseball Spring Training

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5-Year Analysis Room Nights

• We hosted the North American Roller Hockey
  Championships (NARCh) in FY 04/05 and 06/07

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5-Year Expense Analysis
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5-Year Budget Expense Analysis
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2007 Clerk of Courts Audit

• Conclusions
• The LCSA has been successful, since its
  inception, in accomplishing their goal to attract
  events to Lee County.
• Management and performance by LCSA and Parks
  Recreation employees was assessed and determined
  to be very satisfactory.
• Recommendations
• Development of short and long-term strategic and
  business plans.
• Employment of additional staff during the LCSA
  peak season.
• Development of an LCSA web site.

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Lee County Sports Authority

• Where Are We Now?

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Todays Cumulative Impact Since 2003

• 430
• Sports Events Hosted in Lee County
• 531,011
• Hotel Room Nights
• 320 Million
• Total Economic Impact

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Return on Investment

• Each dollar of our budget generates 85 of
  economic impact in Lee County.

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Current Budget

• Total Budget 728,984
• 4.5 decrease from FY 08/09 budget
• Personnel 339,109
• Slight decrease from FY 08/09 budget
• Operating 389,875
• 7.7 decrease from FY 08/09 budget
• Travel (32,500) decreased 12.5
• Promotions (284,956) decreased 6.4

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FY 09/10 Budget Breakdown
39
46
5
10
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Department Challenges

• Increased competition
• Over 350 destinations in the U.S. are marketing
  themselves as a place to host sports events
• Aggressive spending from those entities
• Florida alone has 21 sports commissions
• Lake Myrtle in Polk County (8 soccer fields 5
  college baseball fields)
• North Collier Regional Park (8 soccer fields 5
  softball fields)

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Department Challenges (cont.)

• We rely on many others for our success
• Lee County Parks Recreation Hosts 76 of Lee
  Countys events. Provides event management staff
  facility maintenance
• Lee County Facilities Performs CIP and major
  maintenance of facilities
• City of Cape Coral - Hosts 24 of Lee Countys
  events (17,400 room nights 10.1 million in
  economic impact in 06)
• Sports Organizing Committee Helps secure
  50,000 VIK value in hotel rooms annually for
  tournament staff and VIPs

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Department Challenges (cont.)

• Focus on what we can control
• Build more facilities that can be used for both
  local citizens and sports tourism event. What if
  City of Cape Coral closes or limits access to
  facilities due to budget constraints? Can we
  accept a loss of 24 of our business?
• We rely on superior facilities in marketing Lee
  County against the rest of the country so upkeep
  of those facilities is critical.
• We rely on superior customer service (from
  ourselves and Parks Rec staff) to ensure the
  return of nearly 100 of our customers, so
  maintaining appropriate staff levels are
  critical.

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Lee County Sports Authority

• Where Are We Going?

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3-Year Budget Projection
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Options for Reductions

• With only 3 employees, most reductions will come
  from either travel or promotions.
• If we reduce travel, we will solicit and bid for
  fewer events.
• If we reduce promotions, the direct impact is
  fewer events.
• Long term impact is loss of reputation and
  relevance in the industry.

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Action Requested from BoCC

• Agreement that sports tourism is a core program
  of Lee County
• Agreement that LCSA plays a vital role in Lee
  Countys effort to diversify tourism
• Agreement that LCSA will continue to receive
  adequate funding from bed tax
• Acknowledge need to protect assets we can control
• Lee County Parks Recreation budget
• Maintenance and upkeep of superior facilities
• Facility Inventory

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Lee County Sports Authority

• Thank you for your continued support.
• Questions?