Tim Newman, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority
Sports, Plus…
By Jill Santuccio
              
Charlotte Rotary's very own Tim Newman took to the lectern and "pinch-hit" as our speaker Tuesday when Greg Economou of the Bobcats was unable to fill his speaker's slot. As the CEO of the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA), Tim spoke passionately about sports and the impact they have on the economic vitality of Charlotte and the surrounding region.
 
He illustrated his points through various upcoming sporting events this spring during "Hoop Dreams Month," from February 25 - March 29. The wildly-successful CIAA tournament has broken down racial trust barriers and opened the floodgates to sports and entertainment in the Queen City, with the first tourney in 2006 generating a $15 million impact and the second tournament in 2007 generating a $27 million impact.
 
While this spring's ACC Tournament will be the last in Charlotte until the mid 20-teens, Newman emphasized that strong support and good turnout for this, and other events, are what will increase the likelihood of the tournament coming back to the Queen City. The same is true for the NCAA Regional Finals, which will be here this year and broadcast on CBS television, increasing our visibility to the world.
 
He spoke of the upcoming Olympic trials in canoe and kayak that will be held at our US Whitewater Center. Again, international athletics and world-wide television coverage elevates Charlotte's prominence on the global stage. Newman said the Whitewater Center has also become a deciding factor for meeting and convention planners holding their events here, so their attendees can visit the one-of-a-kind aquatic facility.
 
As cultural tourism becomes more important, Newman pointed out that according to industry standards, a person in town for a sporting event will spend about $200/day, a conventioneer will spend about $350/day and a cultural tourist will spend about $550/day while visiting our city. Using formulas such as that, as well as the dollars spent in hotels and restaurants allow him and his team to calculate that sports, conventions and other CRVA-related activities have a $4 billion annual economic impact on our region.
 
Looking on the horizon, supporting the new uptown baseball arena with capacity attendance for AAA Charlotte Knights games will help bring MLB to town. An additional 500 - 700 hotel rooms in center city would also give the CRVA a "sweet spot" of 2,500 rooms generally needed for larger conventions that we currently might be out of reach for.
 
Attracting a national political convention (either Democratic or Republican) could be in our near future, as well as the potential for a NC-SC football rivalry showdown in the Queen City. ACC baseball and football championships may not be far behind.
 
With Charlotte currently the 26th most-visited city in the United States, Newman underscored that it isn't so much bringing the sports and events to our town, it's the residual effects of the money that is spent here and people having a good time and wanting to return to the Queen city to play, work or live.
 
Head Table: Mike Crum, Rick Handford, David Zimmerman, Ron Kimble, Tim Newman, Dan Rajkowski, Tom Bartholomy;
Invocation: John Tabor;
Visitors & Guests: Carroll Thomas; Health & Happiness: Leland Park; Song: Gregg Walker; Piano: Thomas Moore; Photos: Bert Voswinkel

• Bob Elliott introduced the club's newest member - Karen Steffens. Karen was a member of Top-of-the-Week, currently serves as the Inbound Chair of the Rotary Youth Exchange Program, and provides personal financial, estate and tax planning services for senior level executives at Bank of America. Contact Karen at Karen.steffens@ustrust.com.

• Congratulations to Mindy Elgin and Alan Adler, who were married over the weekend; Natalie English launched her world-wind European Tour this week and has met many interesting people, toured Brussels and Brugge, and is learning about the structure of the European Union. You can contact Natalie at Natalie.english08@gmail.com; Cindy Wolfe has been named president-elect of CREW Charlotte, Inc., the local arm of the national Commercial Real Estate Women network; Covered in the Business Journal's special report on Nonprofits: Carol Hardison and Crisis Assistance Ministry; Leigh Derby and LifeSpan; Michael Elder and Goodwill Industries; and Janet Fortner and Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region; Joan, Robert and David Zimmerman and hard at work preparing for the Southern Spring Home & Garden Show.

• Coming to the CPCC Theatre February 15 through 24 - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Tickets are available at the CPCC Box Office.

• Regina Patton introduced outbound Group Study Exchange (GSE) team members Jennifer Pearsall and JT Pinckney. Jennifer, JT and the rest of the team will head to Taiwan April 10th. The inbound team from Taiwan will be hosted by Charlotte Rotary March 15-19. Contact Regina if you are interested in hosting or entertainment opportunities.

• Condolences are extended to Jane and Paul Schmidt upon the death of Jane's Father; Former club member, Royce Angel, passed away this week in Wilmington.

• Rotary District 7680 Annual Conference: Rotarians and family members are invited to the Annual Conference held at the Marriott Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes, oceanfront Myrtle Beach. April 4-6. Registration forms available at the Rotary office or on the District's website: rotarydistrict7680.org. Friday evening's entertainment will be a "Rotary Idol" talent show and all clubs in the District are asked to provide a contestant. If you can represent the club - and there's lots of talent in this club - call the Rotary office ASAP.

• Davidson Basketball tickets: CORRECTION….Rotary Night at Davidson Basketball is next Tuesday, February 19 (not Friday the 19th). Contact the Rotary office if you need a resend on ordering information.

• Habitat for Humanity: Registration for this year's Habitat project is available here. Eight to 10 volunteers are needed each day and there is also a need for in-kind donations. Contact Chris Kemper with questions.

Should you question the eligibility of any nominee, contact the Rotary office by 2/18/2008.