2009 Conference Report
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With attendance topping 240, USIndoor's Ninth Annual Facility Operators Conference & Trade Show made its mark at the Flamingo Hotel & Casino on the famous Las Vegas Strip, June 22-26. Experienced operators, startups and vendors took in the bright lights of Las Vegas, mixed education with fun, and created USIndoor's best-attended conference to date.
Certified Arena Operator Class
The Conference kicked off with USIndoor's 3rd Annual Certified Arena Operator (CAO) Program. Since 2007, close to 100 attendees have taken the intense 2-day course designed for general managers. For both existing operators and startups, the Program provides measureable skills and specialized knowledge that can be immediately applied to enhance a career in recreational sports. This year's event was sponsored by Medallion Athletic Products.
Under the direction of Jim Cline (The Goals Group, Westerville, OH), the Program is instructed by leading industry authorities. For the third year in a row, the CAO class received great feedback. The final requirement for becoming CAOs for this year's attendees' will be passing a take-home exam. Exams are due by August 1 and results are expected by September 1.
General Session
Sportexe Select sponsored Wednesday's General Session and State of the Industry Keynote Address, led by USIndoor's professional consulting team of Jim Cline, Bryan Finnerty, Norm Gill and Kent Gold, along with USIndoor insurance agent and recent facility owner, Mark Grossman. With over 100 combined years of industry experience, our presenters focused on the economy, including statistical comparisons across a variety of market segments, along with current and emerging trends and issues affecting financing, technology, competition and management, just to name a few.
Trade Show
Wednesday ended on a high note with the 2009 President's Reception and opening of USIndoor's annual Trade Show, sponsored by The Monument Sports Group. The Exhibit Hall quickly filled with attendees visiting nearly 40 vendors, gathering information and exchanging ideas and business cards. Throughout the two days of the Trade Show--Thursday's session sponsored by Arena Sports (Lil' Kickers and Sports I.T.) -- there was a positive buzz from vendors and attendees alike, as current operators and startups got an up-close look at the latest technology and innovations to help take their facilities to the next level of utility and profitability. Vendors from every aspect of the indoor facility industry were represented: from turf and board providers, to netting and roofing, scoreboards, software and insurance. Vendors of soccer programs also provided fresh ideas for attendees to take back to their home facilities.
Core Programming for Existing Operators & Startups
The Conference's core program consisted of two tracks of educational sessions for existing operators and for startups. Wednesday's Existing Operator Track kicked off with discussions on building a redemption program and an insightful nuts-and-bolts presentation on concessions . The Startup Track offered an industry overview, along with guidance for maximizing the conference experience. Over the two-day period, existing operators were encouraged to attend sessions on the true cost of managing employees, customer relations, alternate revenue streams, and roundtable discussions featuring social media and other "hot topics." Startup topics included: decision factors for opening a sports facility, the feasibility study, establishing a business model, financing, and risk management.
Social Events
Thursday evening's event option was an excursion to Old Las Vegas, sponsored by Universal Fabric Structures. The evening began with cocktails and a four-course dinner at the famous Triple George Grill, followed by a sight-and-sound experience under canopy-covered Freemont Street, with live musical entertainment and "Viva Vision," the largest LED display show in the world.
On Friday, a group travelled to the world-renowned Hoover Dam-one of the "Seven Wonders of the Industrial World."
Referee Clinic and Sponsorship Symposium
A Referee Clinic at Las Vegas Sports Park, led by USIndoor's Said Sanhoury and David Simmons, and Sponsorship Symposium at the Flamingo, led by Chris Moler of STARR Solutions, put the wraps on the 2009 Conference. Attendees of the Referee Clinic gained eligibility to become certified referee instructors, while the symposium attendees received a variety of methods and materials for immediate use in selling sponsorships back in their local markets.
Comments and Feedback
Response from attendees was overwhelmingly positive regarding Conference dates, its location, choice of hotel, schedule of events, moderators, format, affordability and Trade Show. Recommendations from existing operators called for more small and informal roundtable sessions (limited to ten participants) to encourage more depth, disclosure and familiarity among attendees. One thing is for sure: Las Vegas will be in our future plans. Your association is always looking for feedback and your comments are always welcome at lou@usindoor.com.
Looking Ahead
As indicated in announcements leading up to the Conference and during Wednesday's General Session, we expect that the biggest turn of event in the short term will be the completed unveiling and launch of USIndoor Sports, including a reinvigorated, interactive website ready by September. For players, fans, coaches and refs, USIndoor Soccer won't be going anywhere, but for facility owners, operators and providers, USIndoor Sports will be exclusively dedicated to you and specially adapted to follow the trends of the indoor sports industry. This brand division and focus will help USIndoor Sports better to fulfill its role as your industry resource-not just for soccer-for services, equipment, programming, education and future events like our annual conference and tradeshow. Furthermore, this fresh face will enable us to attract to our niche community even more valuable resources and intelligence as our membership widens its scope of programming and interests.
That said, USIndoor begins, forthwith, the planning and production of next year's conference in Chicago, where we last visited in 2004. Just unseated as our most popular conference site, the "Windy City" will need to reassert itself if it is to reclaim the USIndoor Conference's most popular destination. The 2010 Facility Operators Conference and Tradeshow (our Tenth Anniversary Event!) will be held at the Hilton's Indian Lakes Resort and Golf Club, June 16-20. At the very least, we'll see in 2010 the return of USIndoor's popular Bus Tour, which will certainly sell out. So it will surely get off on the right foot!
On behalf of the USIndoor leadership and staff, I would like to thank again all of our generous volunteers and Conference sponsors. Sponsors nott previously mentioned include EZFacility.com, Zoom Media Corp., Becker Arena Products, ActiveCommunities, Lime Energy and Bollinger Insurance. It is their support, along with USIndoor's other exhibitors, that help us serve you. We hope you will, in turn, support them as a show of your appreciation. Thank you for your commitment to all that USIndoor represents and for your involvement and support where possible.
Respectfully submitted,
Don Shapero
President
