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Sport Tourism Essay Sports tourism presents an opportunity for the City of Kent, Kent State University and City of Kent schools to leverage existing sports and recreation facilities to create new economic and community value by hosting amateur sporting events at Kent venues. These events bring new dollars into the Kent economy, showcase Kent’s assets, and provide opportunities for Kent’s kids to compete against some of the best student athletes in the nation in their own home town. This report provides an overview of how other cities have combined local resources to create a competitive sports tourism strategy. July 17, 2006 Office of the City Manager 1 Table of Contents I. II. III. Sports Commission Missions Sports Commission Membership Sports Commission Practicing Models Big City 1. Cleveland, Ohio 2. Columbus, Ohio Small Cities with Universities 1. Cortland New York 2. Gainesville, Florida 3. Huntsville, Alabama 4. Lehigh, Pennsylvania 5. Southbend, Indiana 6. Yakima, Washington Small City without a University 1. Read more:  Wallace good people  essay Kingsport, Tennessee Greater Cleveland Sports Commission Greater Columbus Sports Commission page 3 page 4 page 5 page 5 page 8 Cortland Regional Sports Council Gainesville Sports Organizing Committee Huntsville Sports Commission Lehigh Valley Sports Commissio Southbend Regional Sports Commission Yakima Valley Sports Council page 13 page 25 page 27 page 30 page 34 page 36 Kingsport Convention and Visitors Bureau page 38 IV. National Association of Sports Commissions page 48 V. Economic Impact of Sports Events 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. A Review of Economic Impact Study on Sport Events Greater Chattanooga Sports Committees Estimated Economic Impact Surpasses $15 Million Kingsport Sports Tourism Dollars in 2005 Cortland Sports Tourism Dollars Economic Impact of Amateur Softball Events Cities Compete to Host Sporting Events Economic Impact Calculation Examples Comparative Economic Impact Analyses page 53 page 53 page 55 page 59 page 60 page 62 page 64 page 66 page 67 2 I. Missions Summary To make Greater Cleveland the nations foremost destination for sporting events and activities. The mission of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission is to provide leadership, guidance and marketing expertise in attracting regional, national and international sporting events and activities to benefit Greater Columbus economically and socially. The mission of CRSC is to promote Cortland County for sports related business, events, competition and education. CRSCs goal is to create a positive economic impact through sporting/recreational events within the Cortland community. Our mission is to be a leading voice of the sports and tourism industries in Alachua County; to foster economic development and add to our quality of life through sports utilizing public and private sector resources; to recruit and create sports, recreation and entertainment opportunities for the community that produce a positive economic impact; to build an understanding in the community of the importance of sports and tourism; and to do so with skill, while meeting all industry professional standards. By recruiting and retaining events, the organization seeks to increase tourism, create a significant economic impact and provide for an improved quality of life for Lehigh Valley residents. The mission of the Lehigh Valley Sports Commission is to attract sports events to the Lehigh Valley through effective marketing, bid coordination and hosting activities. The sports commission will develop a fundraising mechanism for bid fees, and foster relationships with national governing bodies, sponsors and local media. Our mission includes building a volunteer base to support amateur sports events throughout the Lehigh Valley. The South Bend Regional Sports Commission exists to attract and retain international, national, regional, state and local sports events to St. Joseph County and surrounding communities. To promote the South Bend region as a world-class sporting event destination and to pursue and assist sports-related activities which stimulate the local economy, enhance the area’s image, provide outstanding entertainment and participatory opportunities while contributing to the community’s quality of life. To advance the mission of the Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau by stimulating economic growth through sporting events that generate economic impact for the Yakima Valley. Emphasis is placed on promoting the Yakima Valley as a premiere sports destination to event planners, participants and spectators while providing exception customer service. 3 II. Membership Summary Columbus Board of Commissioners Brian Ellis, Chair Nationwide Realty Investors Nick Ashooh American Electric Power †¢Paul Astleford Experience Columbus Irwin Bain Schottenstein Stores Corporation †¢Butch Moore The Dispatch Printing Company †¢Michael Priest JMACRhett Ricart. Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority †¢Gene Smith The Ohio State University Gainesville Sports Organizing Committee Wende Blumberg, the 2006 GSOC President, leads the twenty-five member GSOC Board of Trustees. The Board comes from a broad cross section of Alachua County citizens. Trustees are area business people with an interest in sports and economic development. The board includes people from sports facilities including the Stephen C. OConnell Center, various Alachua County cities, Gainesville Raceway, local banks, insurance companies, and local print, radio and television companies. Huntsville Sports CommissionRonald Evans Von Braun CenterCharles Winters Huntsville Madison County Conventions and Visitors Bureau Greater Cleveland Sports Commission VISION To make Greater Cleveland the nations foremost destination for sporting events and activities WHY BOOK A VENUE WHEN YOU CAN BOOK A CITY? There are so many reasons why Cleveland is an outstanding place to host your sporting event. We can help make your event a success! The Greater Cleveland Sports Commission is dedicated to making Cleveland the nations premier destination for amateur sports events and activities. The Sports Commission offers a wide array of services and assistance to not only attract events to Cleveland, but to ensure their success. Sponsorship Event Management Marketing Public Relations Facility and Site Selection Volunteers Hospitality Vendor Referrals Connections to the Cleveland Community If you would like to discuss bringing YOUR event to Cleveland, please call us at 216. 621. 0600 Host Commission of: 2004 International Children’s Games 2004 NBC Gravity Games 2007 NCAA Women’s Final Four Basketball Championships 2004 U. S. Short Track National Speedskating Championships U. S. Gymnastics Championships McDonald’s All-American High School Basketball Game U. S. Olympic Trials Box-Offs. David E. Gilbert is President CEO of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, whose goal is to make Greater Cleveland the nation’s foremost destination for amateur sporting events and activities. The organization is responsible for attracting, promoting and managing major amateur athletic events and to create sporting opportunities for youth and amateur athletes. Since its refounding in late 1999, the Sports Commission has already had significant success by securing more than 50 events for Cleveland including the NCAA Women’s Final Four, NBC Gravity Games, U. S. Gymnastics Championships, International Children’s Games, McDonald’s All-American High School Basketball Game, and U. S. Olympic Trials Box-Offs. These events represent an economic impact of more than $160 million for Cleveland’s economy. Prior to this position, David served as Director of Community Affairs and Special Projects for the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland where he was responsible for advancing Cleveland’s travel and tourism service standards and related developments. Highlights of his tenure with include funding and development of two new, full-service visitor information centers and spearheading the funding, creation and operations of the Spirit of Hospitality Career Training 5 Program, an innovative, new welfare-to-work initiative that received national recognition and acclaim. Prior to his work with the CVB, David served as executive director of North Coast Harbor, Inc. , a local development corporation responsible for the master planning and marketing of Cleveland’s downtown lakefront development district. He also held the position of director of corporate development for The Cleveland Play House. David Gilbert We are bringing people to town for reasons other than conventions, he said. Our mission is to make Cleveland a national capital for amateur sports. With the Commissions event schedule at 41 (one-third having already taken place, including the Gravity Games and the U. S. gymnastics and figure skating championships), Gilbert estimated the economic impact at $160-162 million. Without the capital to pay a $200,000 bid fee for a typical event, the non-profit Commission won the figure skating championships, for example, by paying only part of the bid fee but taking responsibility for hospitality, transportation, arena rental and other aspects off the shoulders of the event organizers. With creative tactics such as this, and the support of our partners, Gilbert said were beating the pants off other locations. 6 Red carpet treatment for skaters By MAYA R. PAYNE 2:21 pm, April 5, 2006. Cleveland is in the running to host the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships, and area leaders are betting that a bit of North Coast hospitality will give the city an edge over two other cities hoping to host the event. The U. S. Figure Skating Association site selection committee visits Cleveland today and Thursday and is seeking information to help its members narrow the field of potential sites. The association’s representatives will appraise the ice rinks at Quicken Loans Arena and the Wolstein Center. They also will meet with Cleveland leaders and the local figure skating community, which includes a dozen separate skating organizations comprising the Greater Cleveland Council of Figure Skating Clubs. A U. S. Figure Skating Association spokeswoman declined to identify the two other finalist cities. She said the organization won’t comment on the selection process until mid-April, when it makes its recommendation to the International Skating Union, the sport’s governing body. But Spokane, Wash. , also is in the hunt, according to the Spokesman-Review in Spokane. The city’s business and community leaders had a red carpet rally along Post Street in Spokane to demonstrate their support of the event. Cleveland has its own plans for wooing the event that is expected to bring its host city $30 million. It begins with showing that Clevelanders will embrace the skating championship and not simply host it, said David Gilbert, president and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. The organization promotes amateur sports events and activities in the region. â€Å"When this event is here, it will mean everything to this community,† Mr. Gilbert said The sports commission and assorted community leaders, including Mayor Frank Jackson, will drive home this point with discussion of past successes such as the International Children’s Games and the U. S. Figure Skating Championships that Cleveland hosted in 2000, he said. The skating championship still holds the record for highest attendance in a non-Olympic year, Mr. Gilbert said. They can also list financial and in-kind support among Cleveland’s strengths. Mr. Gilbert said the commission has secured $900,000 in commitments already. He declined to name the donors. The International Skating Union will select the city and has already said the United States will host the 2009 event. 7 2. Greater Columbus Sports Commission Greater Columbus Sports Commission 45 Vine St. Columbus, OH 43215 614-221-6060, 800-331-0092 fax: 614-224-7301 www. ColumbusSports. org The mission of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission is to provide leadership, guidance and marketing expertise in attracting regional, national and international sporting events and activities to benefit Greater Columbus economically and socially. The Greater Columbus Sports Commission is a member of the National Association of Sports Commissions. Board of Commissioners Brian Ellis, Chair Nationwide Realty Investors Nick Ashooh American Electric Power Paul Astleford Experience Columbus Irwin Bain Schottenstein Stores Corporation Butch Moore The Dispatch Printing Company Michael Priest JMAC Rhett Ricart Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority Gene Smith The Ohio State University Interns needed to work with the Greater Columbus Sports Commission. View the general job posting or one for a specific project with the National Softball Association. The Advisory Council, comprised of high-profile sports and community figures, is directly involved in sales and marketing efforts to attract regional, national and international sporting events to Greater Columbus. Bret Adams Blaugrund, Herbert Martin, Inc. Mark Bivenour Columbus Distributing Steve Germain Germain Motor Company Archie Griffin The Ohio State University Alumni Association John Hicks MVP Tours Stephanie Hightower Columbus Board of Education Jim Lorimer Arnold Fitness Weekend Mark McCullers Columbus Crew Clair Muscaro Ohio High School Athletic Association (retired) Mike Reynolds Thrifty Car Rental. 8 Wayne Roberts Columbus Recreation and Parks Department Jack Ruscilli Ruscilli Construction Co. , Inc. Ken Schnacke Columbus Clippers Todd Sharrock Columbus Blue Jackets Dan Sullivan HNS Sports Group, Inc. Rob Wallace Accor/Red Roof Inns Robert Werth Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP Visitors bureau plans launch of sports commission Business First of Columbus May 10, 2002 by Kathy Hoke Business First Forget the Olympics. Think youth soccer and basketball tournaments. Under a new marketing program to begin in late June, Columbus will go after youth athletic events as well as adult amateur matches such as the popular mens and womens NCAA Final Four basketball tournaments and USA Volleyball National Championship. The Columbus Sports Commission expects to add new power to ongoing efforts to attract sporting events, which can draw thousands of participants and fans and generate millions of dollars in spending for cities. The commission will begin operations June 28, a day after a planned fund-raiser at Nationwide Arena aimed at promoting the citys amateur sports history to a local crowd. Sponsored by the Greater Columbus Convention Visitors Bureau, the Columbus Celebrates Sports event will pay tribute to the history and future of sports in the area. Ballots for the greatest or most memorable sports moments in Columbus will appear beginning May 15 in newspapers and on a variety of Web sites. Our goal is not to determine who are the best athletes from Columbus, but rather to recognize the top sports moments that captivated our community and really put us on the map, said Paul Astleford, president and CEO of the bureau. Sports celebrities expected to attend are Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal, two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, OSU football coach Jim Tressel, U. S. national soccer team and Columbus Crew standout Brian McBride and former Buckeye greats Jim Jackson and Keith Byars. More than 1,500 people are expected to attend the event, to be emceed by Greg Gumbel of CBS Sports. 9 Logan in charge The sports commission fulfills a plan laid out when Linda Logan joined the bureau in 1997 as its first sports marketing sales representative. Logans prediction that it would take five years to form a sports commission was accurate. She will head the two-member commission, which will be structured as a charitable nonprofit in which donations are tax deductible, rather than the not-for-profit association status of the bureau, whose downtown Columbus office will house the commission. Within two years, the commission is expected to grow to a staff of seven, about even in size with many sports commissions in other cities but far smaller than the sports commission in Indianapolis, which has a staff of 30 and has operated for more than two decades. Its a very competitive market, Logan said. Over 200 cities are going for the same events we are. Logan, secretary to the National Association of Sports Commissions, knows what other cities are doing to attract athletic events. The Columbus commission is long overdue, she said, and will allow her staff more opportunities and resources to attract sporting events. A staff of two compared to a staff of seven or a staff of 30 is not an even playing field, she said. About 80 percent of the commissions work is expected to focus on attracting youth, collegiate and amateur sporting events to Columbus. The commission also will work toward luring professional events, although contributions for that work will not be tax deductible. City can compete Your city should not have a concern about its ability to compete in this industry, said Don Schumacher, a sports marketing consultant who heads the national association and who once ran a now-defunct sports commission in Cincinnati. Schumacher cited Columbus central location for drive-in visitors and its sports and hotel facilities as key factors for drawing athletic events. Logan will need support from corporate donors to fulfill the commissions potential, Schumacher said. You cant do this without the proper funding, he said. You need sufficient operating money to find events and bid on them, and raise support behind the events. 2-21-2005 By: Joni Bentz Seal 10 OSU ATHLETICS CONTRIBUTE $100. 5 MILLION TO ECONOMY Each year, nearly 1,000 athletes clad in scarlet and gray tackle, shoot and swing more than $100 million into greater Columbus coffers by drawing millions of fans for matches in 36 varsity sports. Those fans contribute to  the economic vitality of central Ohio by driving radio and television ratings, purchasing Ohio State merchandise and game tickets, and patronizing area hotels and restaurants. One of the largest and most diverse athletics programs in the nation, Ohio State is among the first to measure its impact with a study conducted by a joint effort of the Department of Athletics, the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, SportsImpact of St. Louis and local public relations firm Paul Werth Associates. Athletics Director Andy Geiger presented â€Å"An Analysis of the Economic Impact of Ohio State Athletics on the Greater Columbus Region† at the Feb. 2 Columbus Metropolitan Club forum on the topic. Geiger and President Karen Holbrook also introduced the department’s Good Sports community outreach initiative, which will serve as an umbrella program for the interaction student-athletes, coaches and staff have with the residents of central Ohio. â€Å"For the past 18 months we’ve been working on a way to tell a different sort of story about the Ohio State athletics program — about some of the many things we do that don’t make the headlines,† Geiger told forum attendees. â€Å"We want to share our ideas with you — and to get your reactions to — what we have in the works to share the accomplishments of our student-athletes and staff — off the field and in the community. † Applying an economic impact equation, the team studied the spending habits of event attendees and participants — which include visiting student-athletes, coaches, team officials, referees/umpires/officials, NCAA representatives and media — from outside greater Columbus during the 2002-03 academic year. The report also indicated that, of the revenue generated, 36 percent, or $36. 1 million, is retained long term as valueadded revenue to Columbus, meaning it boosts regional income, property-type income and local taxes in an amount sufficient to annually fund 989 full-time jobs paying market wages. But Geiger explained there is an impact made on the community that transcends dollars and cents: â€Å"It is the way we touch the lives of others. We have nearly 1,000 studentathletes and 300 associates of the department who are using the power of sports to touch people of all ages and in all corners of central Ohio and campus community,† he said. The Good Sports program endeavors to demonstrate the human impact Ohio State student-athletes and staff have on the community. For example, Geiger said studentathletes contribute thousands of volunteer hours to hundreds of community groups. Many on the athletic staff lead nonprofit boards in the community and serve as leaders of major charitable fundraisers. And throughout the year, Ohio State makes its world-class athletic venues available to youth organizations, providing children with the thrill of competing in the same facilities as their sports heroes. â€Å"Good Sports is our way of further institutionalizing our mission and values within our own staff, on campus and throughout our community,† Geiger said. â€Å"We operate our department based on six core values — and we want everyone to know them well — Education, Excellence, Integrity, Innovation, Respect and Tradition. † 11 In her opening remarks, Holbrook reminded forum participants that many Ohio State student-athletes will settle in the Columbus area and continue to be contributors to the social fabric of the region long after their competitive days end. â€Å"We believe the many meaningful things our people are doing in the community will be energized and grow by placing them under the umbrella of the Good Sports program, where we can measure the impact more clearly and develop synergies between various outreach programs in our city,† she said. 12 1. Cortland Regional Sports Council About the Cortland Regional Sports Council More affectionately known as the CRSC, this agency was formed as a result of hosting sporting events in Cortland for the 2002 Empire State Games. The economic impact that these events had on the Cortland Community was tremendous and thanks to a partnership between SUNY Cortland, TC3 and local community members, a focus on attracting sporting events to our community was launched. The mission of CRSC is to promote Cortland County for sports related business, events, competition and education. The possibilities are endless! So far, three events have been associated with CRSC New York State Girls High School Lacrosse Championships, Section III High School Soccer Championships and the NYS Volleyball Tournament. Combined, these events have produced over $600,000 in revenue for the Cortland business community. CRSCs goal is to create a positive economic impact through sporting/recreational events within the Cortland community. We look forward to being the recognized clearinghouse for Cortland County Sporting and Recreational events via printed and electronic media. Over the next few months there are several CRSC events slated to take place in Cortland County. There will be opportunities for local businesses to participate in these events either as volunteer or as sponsors. If there is an event you are particularly interested in, please call 756-1864 for additional information or e-mail us at [emailprotected] org. 13 Current 2005 Events Section III Soccer SemiFinals (November 5, 6 2004) Site: SUNY Cortland Economic Impact: $209,438. 00 NYSPHS Volleyball (November 12, 13 2004) Site: SUNY Cortland Economic Impact: $137,060. 88 CNY Powersports SnoCross Race (February 5, 6 2005) Site: CNY Powersports Economic Impact: $207,130. 00 ATV Special Events 2004 Season Banquet (February 12, 2005) Site: Holiday Inn Economic Impact: $5,030. 30 AAU Basketball Tournament Cortland Shootout (March 25 26, 2005) Site: SUNY Cortland Park Center and Luske Field House Economic Impact: $42,373. 87 New York State YMCA Gymnastics Competition (April 15th 16th, 2005) Site: JM McDonald Sports Complex 14 Economic Impact: $19,727. 50 Crown City Soccer Friendlies (April 30 May 1, 2005) Site: SUNY Cortland Stadium Complex Economic Impact of $7,693. 55 Crown City Lumberjack Invitational (May 21, 2005) Site: JM McDonald Sports Complex Economic Impact of $14,795. 00 NYSPHSAA Girls Lacrosse Championships (June 4, 2005) Site: SUNY Cortland Economic Impact of $68,453. 05 North/South Lacrosse Game and Banquet Economic Impact of $73,976. 00 Bull League Lacrosse Opening Day Economic Impact of $321,939. 00 BonTon Roulet Bicycle Tour Economic Impact of $26,631. 00 NYS Junior American Legion Baseball Championships Economic Impact of $25,408. 88 Celtic Festival / Heavy Athletics Economic Impact of $184,464. 18 Southern Tier Bowhuners Championships Economic Impact of $8,877. 00 TOTAL = $1,352,998. 21 15 Cortland Venues JM McDonald Sports Complex The Cortland Sports Complex is a 80,000 square foot facility with the following components. Indoor NHL size ice rink (200 x 85) with seating capacity of 700 Large indoor soccer field (210 x 110) with seating capacity of 200 Smaller indoor soccer field (110 x 50) with bleachers Raised observation area Full service concession stand Indoor walking track Five locker rooms and two changing rooms Meeting rooms including a Party Room Paved parking for over 200 cars Space to provide additional overflow parking for large events Floor seating for special events like graduations and concerts will allow significant additional capacity. SUNY Cortland – Outdoor Venues For more information you can visit http://www.cortland. edu. Stadium Complex . Stadium Field Sprinturf surface with 6,5 00 seating capacity Auxiliary Field Sprinturf surface with 1,500 seating capacity with 8 Lane Track with long jump, high jump, pole vault, hammer throw, discus and shot put areas 5 Additional Natural grass fields available All fields suitable for Field Hockey, Football, Lacrosse and Soccer Wallace Field †¢ Natural Grass Baseball Field 800 seating capacity Holloway Field †¢ Natural Grass Soccer Field 1000 seating capacity Dragon Field †¢ Tennis Natural Grass Softball Field 150 seating capacity †¢ 22 Newly resurfaced Tennis courts. SUNY Cortland – Indoor Venues 16 For more information you can visit http://www. cortland. edu. Corey Gymnasium †¢ †¢ Maple Hardwood Flooring with the option of one full size, 18,000 sq. ft. and 3,500 seating capacity OR 3 separate smaller gyms Suitable for Basketball, Volleyball and Badminton Holstein Pool †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ 6 Lane 50 meter pool with removable bulkhead State of the art timing system 15 Diving area with 2 one-meter diving boards, 1 three-meter diving board water agitation system underwater viewing deck Alumni Arena †¢ †¢ 15,275 sq. ft. facility with 2,000 seating capacity Suitable for Ice Hockey and Skating. Gymnastics Arena †¢ Fully equipped gymnastics gym with seating capacity of 500 in the balcony Auxiliary Gym †¢ †¢ †¢ 5,158 sq. ft. which houses 1 Basketball or Volleyball Court 4 Badminton Courts Project Adventure with High Ropes Course and Climbing Wall Wrestling Room †¢ 3,200 sq. feet of padded space Racquetball †¢ Squash 10 Regulation size Courts †¢ 8 Regulation size Courts Lusk Field House †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ 40,000 sq. ft. 6 lane indoor track with long jump pit and pole vault area Netting to allow for Baseball, Softball and Lacrosse practice Space can be used as 3 Basketball courts, 6 Volleyball courts or 24 Badminton Courts. 17 City of Cortland Recreation Facilities Park Beaudry Location Scammell St. Basketball 2 Courts Soccer 4 Fields #1 U12 #2 U12 #3 U10 Tennis Softball/Baseball 3 Fields Beaudry 1 Youth Adult Softball Youth Baseball Beaudry 2 Youth Adult Softball Park Randall Location Elm St. Basketball 1 Court Mult-Field (Soccer, Lacrosse, Field Hockey) 1 Field Field #1 Regulation Tennis 2 Courts Softball/Baseball 1 Field Softball Field with lights Park Armory Location Randall St. Basketball 1/2 Court Mult-Field (Soccer, Lacrosse, Field Hockey) 1 Field Field #1 Regulation. Tennis 4 Courts Lights Softball/Baseball 1 Field Meldrim Field with lights Park Barry School Location Wheeler Ave Basketball Mult-Field (Soccer, Lacrosse, Field Hockey) 1 Field Field #1 Youth Tennis Softball/Baseball 1 Field Youth Baseball/Softball Location Raymond Ave. Basketball Mult-Field (Soccer, Lacrosse, Field Hockey) 2 Fields Field #1 Tennis Softball/Baseball 2 Fields Field #1 Jr. Sr. Baseball Field #2 Jr. Sr. Baseball Park Suggett Regulation Field #2 Regulation Location Homer Ave Basketball 2 Courts Mult-Field (Soccer, Lacrosse, Field Hockey) 2 Fields Field #1 Tennis. Softball/Baseball 2 Fields Williamson Youth Softball/Baseball Suggett Youth Adult Softball/Baseball Park Yaman Youth Field #2 Youth Location Basketball Soccer Tennis Skate Park 1 Park Open to Skateboards, rollerblades and 20 inch bikes. Kennedy Pkwy 1/2 Court 18 Cortland University Department of Sports Management CORTLAND, N. Y. For over 20 years, Cortland Sport Management professor Dr. Ted Fay built many solid relationships as an Olympic coach and administrator. This year, he brought one of the relationships home with him. Thanks in great part to Fays connections and tireless efforts, U. S. and international team handball officials visited the State University of New York at Cortland campus on Tuesday May 11 to announce their intentions to locate a USA Women’s Team Handball National Training Center at the Central New York campus. This is an extremely significant announcement, not just for the college, but for the entire Cortland community, Fay said. A lot of hard work went into this, and there will be a lot more in the future to grow the sport to where it needs to be on an international level. Dr. Hassan Moustafa of Egypt, the president of International Handball Federation (IHF) Federation, and Michael Cavanaugh, executive director of USA Team Handball, the national governing body for the Olympic sport of team handball, spoke at a press conference coordinated by SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum at the SUNY Cortland Stadium Complex. SUNY Chancellor Robert King and Cortland Regional Sports Council Chair Joseph Reagan, a local businessman, also addressed the media. â€Å"It is my pleasure to announ.