CONCLUSION
The City’s Administration has been invited by the Alliance for Events Conventions and Tradeshows (Events Alliance) to participate, on behalf of the community, in the preparation of a bid to host the 2019 Volleyball Canada National Championships.
The purpose of this report is to recommend support to host the 2019 Volleyball Canada National Championships should the bid be successful.
The Events Alliance is led by Economic Development Regina, and consists of representation from senior leaders at the City of Regina, Regina Hotel Association, Evraz Place, Tourism Saskatchewan, Wascana Centre Authority and the University of Regina. The Events Alliance mandate is to provide strategic, long-term guidance, and oversight in the identification of major city-wide and regional event prospects that are an ideal fit within our community, facilities and hotels. The Events Alliance has recently secured several events for 2017 and 2018. These include 2017 Skate Canada International, 2017 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling Tour Challenge, 2018 LPGA Canadian Pacific Women’s Open and the 2018 Tim Horton’s Brier. The Events Alliance is now focussed on securing events for 2019 and 2020.
It is important to note that the City’s support and involvement in these events is contingent on SVA’s strength and capacity to deliver the event and recognition that the City accepts no obligations for deficits, loans or guarantees for the proposed event. These terms will form part of the Contribution Agreement.
BACKGROUND
Volleyball Canada is seeking interested local hosting partners to assist in the hosting of the 15 and under (15U), 16 and under (16U), 17 and under (17U) and 18 and under (18U) 2019 Volleyball Canada National Championships. Volleyball Canada will designate age groups to selected host communities based on the amount of court space the community can provide and in a manner that best suits the Championships needs.
SVA submitted a bid for Regina to be one of the Championships host sites. Preparation of the bid for this event is made possible through a collaborative process including SVA and the Events Alliance.
SVA submitted its bid on October 6, 2017 and the successful host site(s) will be announced on December 1, 2017. SVA is proud to promote Regina as a major sport and event-hosting destination. The proposed dates for the Regina edition of the Championships are
May 17 - 19, 2019.
The hosting opportunity provided by the Championships has been assessed by the Events Alliance for its economic impact, legacy, contribution to community pride, community engagement, potential for media exposure, availability of partnerships, and an assessment of the SVA’s strength and capacity to deliver the event.
This analysis concluded that hosting this event will: (i) contribute to Regina’s calendar of sports events that have the potential to add additional life and vibrancy to the City of Regina, (ii) provide significant national tourism exposure for the City of Regina, and (iii) provide economic benefits to the community.
DISCUSSION
Volleyball Canada is proud to have hosted successful National Championships since 1953. The Volleyball Canada National Championships operate with an open format meaning that any team from across the country has the opportunity to participate without restriction. The open format has made these true national events with participation from nearly every province and territory.
Unlike previous years where groups could request to host specific age categories, Volleyball Canada is asking interested parties to submit the maximum event space capabilities for their respective venue(s). From the information received, Volleyball Canada will designate age groups to selected hosts based on the available court space and in a manner that best suits the Championships.
SVA submitted a bid for Regina to be one of the Championships host sites. In collaboration with community partners such as Tourism Regina, SVA concluded that the facilities at Evraz Place, including the Eventplex, the Co-operators Arenas and the new International Trade Centre, has the capacity to host 38 courts. Volleyball Canada’s minimum requirement to place a bid is 20 courts.
Hosting an event with 38 courts would mean approximately 300 teams, 4,400 participants and 6,100 spectators, 94 per cent of whom would be visitors to the Regina and 85 per cent of whom would be visitors to Saskatchewan. Visitors are estimated to stay for an average of 3.5 nights. The economic impact of the event has been estimated to be between $2 million to $4 million depending on the number of age groups awarded to Regina. Based on the number of courts the community is able to provide, SVA is of the opinion that the Championships could be the largest single-sport team event ever hosted in Regina.
SVA estimates that the budget for this event at approximately $750,000. SVA is seeking $115,000 in support in the form of grants with the balance of the budget covered by entry fees, corporate sponsorships and admission fees. Any surplus generated by the event will be directed towards the development of SVA athletes, coaches and referees through promotion of provincial level teams and coach/referee mentorship programs.
In four of the past five years, SVA has successfully hosted a 15U National Championship consisting of 17 courts. In order to ensure the 2019 edition of the Championships are successful, SVA has enlisted the support of the three major volleyball clubs in Regina. The Regina Volleyball Club, the Queen City Volleyball Club and the Cougars Volleyball Club will support the event as participants, host committee members and in other volunteer capacities.
The Championships will provide other benefits to the community such as:
· expose Regina and area to participants and spectators;
· provide an opportunity for volunteers to contribute to “pride of place” by playing a critical role in welcoming visitors from across Canada to Regina for the event;
· promote the values of sport and healthy living to the community; and
· support for inclusion.
The Events Alliance, which includes representation from the City’s Community Services Department, has assessed this opportunity based on its economic impact, legacy, contribution to community pride, community engagement, potential for community exposure, availability of partnerships and an assessment of the SVA’s strength, and capacity to deliver the event. This opportunity was rated favourably as a result of its economic benefits, opportunity for positive exposure for Regina and the strong community support to host the event.
The Administration also believes that the Championships will be beneficial to the community and recommends a cash grant of $50,000. SVA estimates that a total of approximately $750,000 in funding will need to be raised to support this event only $115,000 of which will be raised in the form of grants from provincial level organizations such as Sask Sport and Tourism Saskatchewan. The balance will come from entry fees, admission revenue and local corporate sponsorships. SVA submitted its bid on October 6, 2017 and the successful host sites will be announced on December 1, 2017.
As a condition of the City’s financial support of the Championships, the City will negotiate and execute a Contribution Agreement with SVA. The Contribution Agreement defines the terms and conditions of the City’s total contribution of $50,000 cash in support of the Championships. The Contribution Agreement will include terms and conditions such as but not limited to the following:
· SVA’s demonstration of their ability to plan and host the Championships through a plan which outlines the proposed organizational structure, human resource plan, operations and financial plan, evaluation plan and risk management plan;
· that the funding provided by the City shall only be used for operating costs associated with the Championships as outlined in SVA’s approved operating budget;
· a commitment by SVA to provide a follow up report that identifies how the City’s funding was utilized in the hosting of the event; and
· that there is recognition by SVA that the City will accept no obligations for deficits, loans or guarantees for the Championships incurred or made by SVA.
RECOMMENDATION IMPLICATIONS
Financial Implications
The City’s proposed contribution support the Championships is a cash grant of $50,000. Administration recommends that a one-time expenditure of $50,000 be added to the 2019 General Operating Budget to account for the City’s support of the Championships.
Environmental Implications
None related to this report.
Policy and/or Strategic Implications
This funding supports the City’s Vision and aligns with its community priority to embrace built heritage and invest in arts, culture, sport and recreation.
Other Implications
None related to this report.
Accessibility Implications
The Championships and their competition venues will be accessible.
COMMUNICATIONS
The Contribution Agreement will include a requirement for SVA to work closely with the Communications Department to ensure that the City of Regina receives the appropriate level of recognition for its contribution to the Championships. Communications will provide support to promote the event as part of the agreement.
DELEGATED AUTHORITY
The recommendations in this report require City Council approval.
Respectfully submitted, Respectfully submitted,
Laurie Shalley, Director Kim Onrait, Executive Director
Community Services City Services
Report prepared by:
Jeff May, Manager, Sport & Recreation