According to The Sports Facilities Management (SFM), new youth and amateur sports venues must be built and managed with a multi-generational customer in mind to be successful.
Sports tourism is a $9 billion market, according to the April National Association of Sports Commissions industry report. Run-of-the-mill soccer fields and basketball courts suffer when competing for millennial parents’ expendable income, compared to communities and facility owners who have invested in the trends of consumer behavior. A 2015 Nielson report on millennial purchasing behavior finds that millennials (born between 1977 and 1995) want a personalized experience, won’t sacrifice quality, expect a seamless integration of technology and crave authenticity – demands that have not gone unnoticed in the sports and recreation industry.
“The obvious change is timeliness,” explained Lori McMahan Moore, general manager of Rocky Top Sports World. In the digital age, clients are accustomed to a swift, if not immediate, response. Information and services are expected to be delivered at light speed.”
Leading smart sports operations, The Sports Facilities Management (SFM) has created a network of youth and amateur sports facilities by sharing industry best practices and millennial sports-parent preferences.
Jason Clement, CEO of SFM, stated, “We assist communities to tap into the two key ingredients required to capitalize on the economic growth powered by the exploding sports tourism industry: sports and recreation assets and unique character. Combine those assets with a strong vision, mix with emerging financing solutions, leadership, planning with purpose and proven operating systems to create a recipe for unique sports tourism destination to provide a world class guest experience.”
