Lawrence Sports Corporation’s Junior Olympic January Update

The Lawrence Sports Corporation (LSC) now has two interns contributing to the Junior Olympics (JO) effort. The students, Alexis Emert and Nikki Adams, are both KU students majoring in Sports Management. They are a welcome addition and have contributed immediately.

I worked with Rock Chalk Park’s (RCP) facility team to revisit the parking control plan and had a conference call with the vendor, the same group that handles parking for the Kansas Relays. We agreed to meet again during the Relays for any updates or changes. After sharing this information with city staff during the latest JO meeting, they enthusiastically approved this decision.

Again after working with RCP’s facility team, we identified the key areas where hired crowd control staff will be stationed when RCP is open. These stations are mainly entries to and exits from RCP and entrances to the RCP offices and press box.

We are currently reviewing several proposals from vendors to handle ticket sales. These services would include online advance purchases and credit card transactions at the ticket window. Lawrence would be the first JO host to offer advance online ticket purchases.

I conducted the final walk-through with the JO tent vendor, All Seasons, to measure and place tents in locations that will allow ample walkway clearance for spectators. We are using this information to update the site map for the operational plan and create large “you are here” maps to be placed in keys areas at RCP, including packet pickup in Sports Pavilion Lawrence.

LSC hosted three staff members from the USA Track & Field (USATF) National Office during the JO Summit:  Robin Brown-Beamon, Director of Outreach & Grass Roots Programs; David Gadis, Chief Revenue Officer; and Adam Schmenk, Managing Director of Events & Entertainment Properties.  Robin, David and Adam were part of the JO Summit program. They provided the 90 or so attendees an in-depth presentation on USATF, why Lawrence was selected to host the 2017 JO, team activities at the track, and how Lawrence and area businesses can market to the athletes, coaches and families. I am now putting Adam’s information on marketing opportunities into a presentation that will be sent out by February 3. Opportunities include the live webcast, USATF emails to members, social media, and distribution of printed and digital material during the competition.

The LSC is also discussing the final site visit to Lawrence by USATF and newly appointed youth officials, I have recommended that their visit occur during the Kansas Relays in April, when RCP is in action. This final site visit is a condition stipulated in the LSC/USATF agreement.

Respectfully Submitted,

Bob Sanner

Lawrence Sports Corporation