Planning A Sporting Event

CEF Rep With Chris Berman of ESPN

View from 45 Yard Line

Super Bowl Circle

Planning a successful sporting event like the Super Bowl require lots of patience and as much planning and coordinating as other Special Events.  If planning Super Bowl XLVII isn't in the cards for you planning a smaller scaled sporting tournament may be. Planning a sporting tournament is a fabulous way to help raise funds for charity, create a "fun" way for your company to brand itself, and participate in your local community and is pretty simple to facilitate. 

Here is a quick "how to":

You will need the appropriate sporting equipment (basketballs, basketball courts--Basketball Tournament, tennis balls, tennis courts--Tennis Tournament--you get my drift) poster boards with markers, registration, a few fabulous prizes, refreshments, and of course your volunteers.

1.  Choose a location, time, and sport.  Acquire the appropriate permits from your city parks and recreation departments in order to ensure that your location and time is secured.  This is also a great time to make sure that there are no other competing events taking place.

2.  Based on registration determine how many teams you will have playing in the tournament.  This is the time that you will figure out tournament semantics depending on how many teams are signed up (will there be single elimination, best of 3, best of 5 etc.)  Logistical timing is key to running a smooth sporting event.

3.  Determining budget-what is your entry fee, what is the cost of renting location, equipment, referee officials, sponsorships, charitable donations etc.  Depending on what your "end game" (no pun intended) will help determine your cost structure.

4.  Advertise--this is especially important if this is a charitable event.  The more exposure the better!  Hit all of your local papers, invite some of the local sports editors to participate, internet, create a Facebook page; all of these are fabulous avenues to get the word out.

5.  Plan on inviting local food merchants/vendors (charging them a fee may also help out with number 3 your overall budget).  Having refreshments at your tournament may not only be helpful towards your event budget but will be an added benefit to your tournament participants, and helps create an overall "family fun" atmosphere...who doesn't like a good hot dog at a baseball game?

6.  Create tournament brackets and make sure it is visible to all those attending.  After all aren't we really there to see who is winning??

7.  Volunteers--your event is only as good as the people who are helping out.  This is also where your referees or umpires fit in assuming you want to hire professionals to oversee the tournament. 

8.  Choose prizes for your winners! Gift cards, trophies, cash are all great options for your tournament players.

In 8 easy steps you can plan a fun and innovative sporting tournament that people will not only be psyched to participate in, but will be talking about long after the last trophy is passed out.

Want to plan your next sporting tournament...ask a CEF Representative how we can help??!!

Hope you have an eventful day.
Zaiba