ROCHESTER AMATEUR SPORTS COMMISSION The Rochester Amateur Sports Commission (RASC) has been administering events in Rochester since 1991. Over time, the RASC has grown from one staff person organizing a handful of events annually to four full-time staff working on 54 events in 2010. The RASC has also evolved into a nationally recognized premier sports organization—with citations of excellence from The National Association of Sports Commissions in the areas of website, locally created events, and marketing/advertis- ing. Plus, in 2009, the Association named RASC Sports Commission of the Year.
MISSION To provide leadership, guidance, and expertise in attracting and administering amateur sporting events for the Rochester Minnesota area.
EVENTS
Everything from traditional sports like basketball, soccer, volleyball, etc. to nontradi- tional sports like baton twirling, tug-of-war, and table tennis.
EVENT AND ECONOMIC IMPACT EXAMPLES 2010 AAU Girls Basketball 7th Grade National Championship 3,000 attendees
2,868 hotel room nights $1.7 million economic impact
2011 United States Figure Skating Association • 5,000 estimated attendees • 7,000 estimated hotel room nights • $4.2 million estimated economic impact
HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUES The city of Rochester plays host to a number of high school sports league playoffs and championships throughout the year thanks to sponsorship by the RCVB. The team members, coaches, parents, and fans not only bring enthusiasm and spirit to the city, but they create economic impact in the local tourism and hospitality industry whether they are here for a weekend, an overnight, or the day. Recent league play- offs and championships hosted include: • Team Wrestling (all three sections) • Individual Wrestling (all three sections) • Girl’s Class A & AA Basketball • Boys Class A & AA Basketball • Soccer • Volleyball • Football
DAN NELSON GENERAL MANAGER HAMPTON INN & SUITES— ROCHESTER NORTH
Years in Rochester: 17 Hospitality role: Rochester Area Sports Commission Board.
On working in the hospitality industry: I grew up in Minnetonka, and I’ve been in the hospitality business for 35 years in Minneapolis, Blooming- ton, Duluth, Moorhead, and Brainerd. I love helping people enjoy their visit and providing support for their visits to Mayo Clinic.
Why Rochester? Rochester is safe, affordable, just the right size, and an easy community in which to get around. And the people exude “Minnesota Nice”—we have patience for all of the patients. Plus, it feels like a bigger city, and we offer a lot of theatre, sports, shopping.
On Rochester hotel room nights: In Rochester, we have a large hotel room inventory—one of the largest per capita behind Las Vegas and Or- lando. We have more rooms than St. Paul. We need all of those rooms mid- week to serve the medical market, but we really need events and groups for the weekends. We really need incremental events to fill up the rest of the week.
The RASC: It’s certainly come a long way from what it was in the begin- ning. The sports really provide a great service and economic impact to the hospitality industry, but also to the community. There is so much to see, even international events like the Tug-of-War contest and many national championships of all ages and all sports. It’s cool that we get to host sports events and that Mayo Clinic sports medicine is on the sidelines. Where else can you get that?
Rochester favorites: Golfing the spectacular back nine of the Eastwood Golf Course, listening to summer concerts in the park.
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