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Our First Annual Recreation Forecast
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161 Million
Number of Americans, age 16 and older, who participated in at least one
of 22 active outdoor activities during 2005, according to the Outdoor
Industry Foundation.
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STADIUMS AND ARENAS
Brand Justice
Our new century human economy demands an immersive experience when
attending any sporting event. From concessions, club seats, sideline
activities right down to the rest rooms, we have become so visually
sophisticated that the "action" off the field is playing a bigger role
in creating the successful "Guest Experience." For a stadium or arena
experience to be complete, the team brand and the facility brand have
to live in harmony.
The Green Bay Packers "live" within Lambeau Field. The Miami
Dolphins "live" within Dolphin Stadium and the Boston Bruins "live"
within the TD Banknorth Garden. Each franchise as unique as their
stadium.
The point is "life." You must infuse it in every corner of your
facility right down to the soap in the soap dish. I call it "Visual
Passion," and it works to connect all of the dots of an emotional guest
experience. If you can create an individual emotional experience for
your guests at any level, you will have them for life.
To be successful in any kind of entertainment facility you must
create emotional visual magic for your guests to live within. They
develop a kinship to you, and you reward them with an experience of a
lifetime. It works.
Mark Schmitz
Principal and Creative Director of ZD Studios
www.zebradog.com
YOUTH SPORTS
Positive Growth
The past 25 years have been good for youth sports, as an increase in
training and education for the coaches, parents, administrators and
officials in youth sports has made youth sports safer and more positive
overall for everyone involved. This year, the National Alliance For
Youth Sports (NAYS) is celebrating its 25th Anniversary of being one of
America's leading advocates for positive, safe youth sports, and we've
done it through our innovative, comprehensive training and youth
development programs. But there's much more to be done.
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As the startling statistic that 70 percent of kids drop out of
organized sports by age 13 "because it stops being fun" shows, park and
recreation professionals need to be more proactive when it comes to
making sure their youth sports programs emphasize fun and teamwork in
an environment free of excessive competition. This can be accomplished
by recommending and mandating training and education for coaches,
parents, administrators and officials. NAYS offers comprehensive
training and membership programs for everyone involved in youth sports,
including: the National Youth Sports Coaches Association (NYSCA),
Parents Association for Youth Sports (PAYS), National Youth Sports
Administrators Association (NYSAA), Academy for Youth Sports
Administrators and National Youth Sports Officials Association.
National Alliance For Youth Sports
www.nays.org
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