Event Management
Case Studies
USA Masters Games
Since at least 2000, the idea for an Olympic-style event for Masters (adult) athletes had been talked about. It took an experienced expert at large multi-sport events like Sports & Properties, Inc. to make it happen. SPI led the planning and direction of the first-ever USA Masters Games (USAMG) held July 21-31, 2016, in Greensboro, NC.
The USAMG featured 24 sports ranging from badminton and baseball to water polo and weightlifting. The event received raves for its convenient set-up as 12 of the sports plus the Games Village, Heath and Fitness Expo, and Opening and Closing Ceremonies, were all hosted on the Greensboro Coliseum Complex campus.
The significant effort required to launch the Games, and the quality of the athletic experience, led to the Best New Event Award at the World's Best Sports Events Awards, October 2017 in Orlando. The World's Best Sports Events Awards are presented annually by SportsTravel Magazine and are considered the "Oscars" of the sports events industry.
ACC Baseball Championships
Sports & Properties, Inc.wrote and produced the award winning bid that resulted in a first-ever clean sweep of the bid opportunities and landed the Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Championship in Durham for four years.
SPI was then called upon to help execute the Championship and to position the city and host organization as a potential permanent home for the event. Towards that end, SPI developed and executed the first-ever ACC Baseball Championship FanFest and the first-ever Youth Classic. These new additions to the ACC Baseball Championship have greatly enhanced Durham's position as a host and have become essentials for future Championship host communities according to the ACC.
2015 U.S. Figure Skating Championships
The 2015 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championship were produced by Sports & Properties, Inc. The Championships took place at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex in Greensboro, NC, January 18-25, 2015. The event presentation featured three sheets of ice all within the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, together with a best-in-class FanFest, all in one building, under one roof. The quality of SPI's production was recognized at the 2015 World's Best Sports Events Awards where the Championships received the Best Multi-Sport/Multi-Discipline Event Award, and the highest honor of all, Event of the Year - beating out the NCAA College Football Playoffs, Women's World Cup Soccer, and the Super Bowl!
2014 Africa Youth Games
The U.S. Olympic Committee was requested by the National Olympic Committee of Botswana to lend an assist in the organization of the second Africa Youth Games (AYG), scheduled for May 22-31, 2014. Because of SPI’s extensive multi-sport experience, the USOC turned to Sports & Properties, Inc. to serve as the USOC’s event management consultant to the Games.
The 2014 AYG was the continental edition of the IOC’s Youth Olympic Games. The AYG featured 2500 high-school aged athletes competing in 20 sports, with a total official delegation of over 4000.
SPI provided consulting expertise to the Botswana Africa Youth Games Organizing Committee (BAYGOC) in all aspects of organizing and managing the Games, from developing the Games Master Plan and hiring staff to venue selection and sponsorship marketing. During the Games, SPI's CEO joined the Senior Management team of the Games and helped lead the day-to-day execution of event operations.
The AYG received very positive reviews from Thomas Bach, IOC President, and the 8 other IOC members in attendance. Thanks to the success of the Games, Botswana has become a genuine player in major continental and international sports.
2011 AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships
Sports & Properties, Inc. served as the host organization for the 2011 AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Greensboro, NC, January 22-30, 2011. SPI wrote and directed the bid for the Championships, and then assembled and led a collaborative partnership among the Greensboro Convention & Visitors Bureau, Greensboro Coliseum Complex, and Greensboro Sports Commission to successfully stage the eight-day National Championships.
The 2011 U.S. Championships were the first in the 97-year history of the event to feature the three main components of the event – competition, practice, and FanFest – in one venue. This highly convenient set-up resulted in rave reviews from participants and national and international award nominations for the Championships. Overall attendance which exceeded 161,500 set the all-time event attendance record for an event at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex.
SPI directed all major management, financial, marketing, and operational aspects of the Championships.