Volusia remains a team player in drawing sports

By Al Everson
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Dec 29, 2008 - 8:43:28am

Convinced it's a wise investment, the Volusia County Council voted Dec. 18 to pay $95,048 for another year of membership in the Central Florida Sports Commission.

"Economic development for sports" is how Sam Stark, president and chief executive officer, described the commission's work.

"The Central Florida Sports Commission promotes the Central Florida area as a world class sporting destination," reads a summary given to the County Council. "The commission works to attract numerous international, national, and regional sporting related events and business to Volusia County and the Central Florida area."

The dues for the next year are 5 percent lower than for the year now ending, a goodwill gesture by the Sports Commission in recognition of "these tough economic times."

The commission is supported by five counties — Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole in addition to Volusia — and the City of Orlando.

In exchange for Volusia's dues, the commission promised to assign a dedicated staff member to serve as marketing sports manager for all sports-related activities within Volusia County. The commission also will "prepare and submit bids to national and international organizations for potential events that could be held" in the county.

County Council Member Andy Kelly asked Stark how the commission decides which county gets which events.

"We want to support each county fairly," Stark answered, adding the commission chooses venues suitable for the specific competitions.

Volusia County pays its Sports Commission dues from tourism taxes paid to support the Ocean Center and the county's three tourism-advertising authorities: Daytona Beach-Halifax area, West Volusia and Southeast Volusia.

Between 1997 and 2007, Stark said, the Sports Commission helped bring 83 athletic events to Volusia County, with an economic impact of more than $36 million, including more than 81,000 hotel-room nights.

During 2008 alone, Stark said, 19 sports events were brought to Volusia County with help from the Sports Commission.

The events usually are in Daytona Beach or DeLand, and include golf, volleyball, tennis and figure skating. The Mascot Games, held annually in Stetson University's Edmunds Center and featuring costumed players representing major-league sports, is an example of a DeLand event.

Stark said five events are already planned for the first five months of 2009. The first of these comes in the run-up to the NFL Super Bowl, and it is the National Football Events Weekend, slated Jan. 17-19 at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium in DeLand. Ten adult semiprofessional football teams will play five games.

Yet another event the Sports Commission takes credit for bringing to DeLand is the Atlantic Sun Women's Golf Championship. Ten golf teams from colleges and universities in Florida and other Southeastern states will play at the Victoria Hills Golf Club April 12-15.

Still other events with a Sports Commission connection will be played in Daytona Beach: the Orlando Volleyball Academy Classic, set for the Ocean Center Jan. 24-25; Amateur Athletic Union Regional (youth volleyball), scheduled at the Ocean Center May 9-10; and the Let It Fly Flag Football, set for Mainland High School and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University May 23-24.

The Sports Commission estimates the five events will bring more than $2.3 million into the local economy.

Former County Council Member Dwight Lewis serves on the agency's board of directors.

— al@beacononlinenews.com

Comment on this article

Commenting is closed for this article.

If you would like to contribute a letter to the editor, please click here.

Did you find this story interesting or informative? Subscribe to The DeLand-Deltona Beacon to read more stories by Al Everson, along with others from our award-winning writers. Subscribe now!