MAAC Basketball Championships: MGM Springfield provides family entertainment at FanFest

By Zachary Baru

SPRINGFIELD - While the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Basketball Championships are in full swing with teams battling for a berth in the NCAA tournament, there is a much smaller game going on within the MassMutual Center at the MGM Springfield FanFest.  About two hundred yards away in the Exhibition Hall, the evening's lesser-known event is underway at the FanFest, the much anticipated "Mascot Game".

Okay, maybe most adults are more excited for Monday's championship games.  But for any children who are attending the weekend-long tournament, the choice of which game to attend on a Saturday night is simple, with the mascots coming up on top.  This game is just one of many events planned on the auxiliary court inside the Exhibition Hall, as part of the FanFest.

Other events on the auxiliary court include free throw contests, three-point contests and every kid's favorite - "open court", which is open to the public.  The court is a full court set-up, which is a former floor from the Glen Falls Civic Center in Glen Falls, New York, along with two baskets.  In other words, paradise for kids who are not necessarily focused on the two college teams playing in the arena.

As if the auxiliary court is not enough excitement for the kids, the FanFest includes many large inflatables for kids to play on.  Booths are also set-up for adults including the tournament's schools and the Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The FanFest is a perfect example of how a tournament can use promotions to provide family entertainment, keeping kids engaged and having fun, while not having to walk far from the arena floor.

Zach Baru also blogs for Sports Business Boston.  He can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.

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MAAC Basketball Championships: Fans making the trip up to Springfield

SPRINGFIELD - As the first rounds of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Basketball Championships come to an end, it's the member schools who are carrying the weight in attendance. The local fans appear to be absent, something that will most likely change as the weekend progresses.

Thursday's first round women's games opened the tournament with 575 fans. As the women's first round continued, Friday's afternoon games brought in 1,855 fans.

Marist was the clear winner for bringing in a crowd, as their "Red Fox Nation" filled buses headed for the MassMutual Center, igniting the arena for their men's first round game Friday night. The boisterous crowd was primarily responsible for the evening's attendance of 2,038.

What is missing is the crowd from a much closer destination - Springfield. While the member schools are providing a good base for attendance, what is needed are local fans to fill the remaining seats.

As shown by the Marist fans, when a fan-base comes in to support their team, the MassMutual Center can become a somewhat hostile environment.  The question is, can Western Massachusetts fans add to the crowds that the member schools are bringing in?

Zach Baru also blogs for Sports Business Boston.  He can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.

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MAAC Basketball Championships: Economic impact of tournament strong for region

By Zachary Baru

SPRINGFIELD - For any tournament, economic impact is a main factor in determining the success an event has on its host city.  At the 2013 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Basketball Championships, the impact the tournament has on Springfield becomes immediately evident upon entering the building.

The MassMutual Center may not be packed with fans - or anywhere near capacity for that matter - but during the early rounds, the economic benefits from the teams themselves can clearly be noticed.  Situated around the arena are groups from the ten different teams represented in the weekend-long tournament.  And while a team of basketball players may not be a significant impact on an economy, when combined with coaches, trainers, staff, parents and fans from the ten different schools, including both men's and women's teams, the economic affect on Springfield starts to emerge.

Fortunately for Springfield, many of these teams and their groups are not camped out inside the arena watching games on a Thursday afternoon.  Instead, there is the potential for them to support local restaurants, stores or any establishment that may attract visitors in the area.  Springfield comes out a winner even before the thousands of fans who will enter through the arena's turnstiles show up.

More than 16,000 fans attended last year's tournament, which greatly aids the region's hotels, restaurants and shopping destinations.  Local hotels have experienced high demand for this weekend, reassuring the city of great benefits that are still yet to come.

There is no doubt that the tournament will need good numbers at the box office, including strong local support, but it is hard to argue that the tournament is a success for the region regardless of any final attendance numbers.  The trick will be to keep it here, and ultimately that will be defined by support of local fans right here in the Pioneer Valley.

Zach Baru also blogs for Sports Business Boston.  He can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.

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Coverage of the MAAC Basketball Championships

The 2013 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Basketball Championships are coming to Springfield Thursday, and Western Mass. Sports Biz will be at the MassMutual Center all weekend to cover the tournament which concludes Monday.  Check back for analysis and pictures from the event.  Coverage will include all business aspects of the tournament, including attendance, game presentation, and the venue, among others.

The tournament is in its second of a three-year commitment to Springfield, a year in which more local support has been asked upon.  The event brings ten men's and ten women's teams from around the Northeast to compete for an automatic bid to their respective NCAA tournaments.  Last year, decent support was drawn from the member schools, yet crowds lacked neutral fans from Western Mass.

The tournament will be giving back to the community by partnering with the Jimmy Fund to support the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.  For every ticket sold at the tournament, a contribution will be made to the Jimmy Fund, along with a "text-to-give" campaign that will be promoted within the arena.  Spectators can text "JIMMY" to 22122 to contribute $5.  Additionally, a large canister will be placed in the MassMutual Center as another option for fans to make a donation.

Community events planned include the MAAC Restaurant Program, benefiting local restaurants where visiting fans can be part of a reward program.  This is a perfect example of how the tournament will be impacting locally-owned businesses, and the rest of the Pioneer Valley's economy.  Other events include a one-mile "Bounce to the Arena" from the Basketball Hall of Fame to the MassMutual Center, and MGM Springfield FanFest.

The tournament will be co-hosted by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and played at the 6,663-seat MassMutual Center.  Two women's games will be broadcasted live on ESPN3, available on WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app, while the final will be televised on ESPNU on Monday at noon.  On the men's side, 6 games will be broadcasted on ESPN3, with the final live on ESPN2 on Monday at 9.  If you can't make it to the MassMutual Center this weekend, check Western Mass. Sports Biz all weekend for coverage from the tournament.

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What Mohegan Sun Palmer can do for sports and entertainment in the Pioneer Valley

By Zachary Baru

With four developers competing for one license to build a resort casino in Western Massachusetts, the stakes are certainly high.  While the Massachusetts Gaming Commission continues the process to award the sole regional license, the Western Mass. sports and entertainment industry anxiously awaits the early 2014 announcement.  

A resort casino in the area will not exactly hurt sports franchises and venues in the Pioneer Valley, it can easily team-up with the industry to create new partnerships, and more likely than not attract a larger clientele to market to.  Any attraction that brings additional people to the region can benefit local franchises and venues in a positive way.  The opportunity would be simple: bring in more people to the region, fill more events, and pump more money into the local economy.  Sounds halfway decent, but can it work?

Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut has spent over a decade of bringing the most popular touring acts to it's 9,323-seat arena.  In addition, Mohegan Sun Arena has won multiple awards for its unique, modern and intimate concert setting, including being ranked 3rd in the U.S. by Billboard Magazine.

Should this proposal be granted the Western Mass. license, this is far from a threat to sports and entertainment in the region, but rather a way of creating an entertainment buzz in the area.  There would be no competition for sports at the MassMutual Center, and this proposal could help an already strong relationship between Mohegan Sun and the Basketball Hall of Fame.  

The two organizations are partners for events such as the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena, held in November.  Recently, Mohegan Sun Palmer has announced a Basketball Hall of Fame retail store would be part of the proposed resort casino.

Should Mohegan Sun be granted the resort casino license, is sports and entertainment guaranteed to flourish in the Pioneer Valley?  Not guaranteed, but Palmer would have the potential to become a catalyst for an increase in Western Mass. entertainment.  This could create a ripple effect on the entire region, which could possibly see a smaller example of the sports and entertainment success Mohegan Sun has had for over a decade.

Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru, and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.

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Pompea annouces Springfield Falcons Charitable Foundation at press conference

By Zachary Baru

Charlie Pompea, owner of the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League, announced the formation of the Springfield Falcons Charitable Foundation during a press conference at the MassMutual Center before Sunday's game against the Portland Pirates.

Pompea announced the foundation to media and fans, but also to discuss the state the franchise.  The foundation adds to an already impressive resume of charitable work from the Springfield Falcons, who have focused on giving back to their community ever since the franchises' inception in 1994.

At the press conference, Pompea presented a check to Sarah Pompea, president of the new Springfield Falcons Charitable Foundation.  Pompea also discussed the Falcons' past and future charitable efforts.

Inevitably, the current state of the franchise had to be brought up.  Pompea mentioned that the Falcons need more support from the region.  Pompea talked about the Falcons on-ice success this seeason, but added that the franchise is near the bottom in attendance.

The Falcons are currently in first place in the AHL's Northeast Divison, and are tied for first in the Eastern Conference.  As great as their on-ice performance is, the same cannot be said off-ice, as they currently are 27th out of 30 teams.  The Falcons current average attendance through 22 home games is 3,815, while the league average is 5,591.  Pompea stated that he was approached by a potential buyer of the franchise, but explained that forming the new foundation expresses his commitment to keeping the franchise in Springfield.

The Pioneer Valley is fortunate to have people like Pompea and president and general manager Bruce Landon who are passionate about the history of hockey in this region, and who would like to see this franchise continue to provide competitive hockey to fans in Springfield.  This region should also be proud to say that the National Hockey League's top development league plays right here in Springfield, and that this is arguably the second-best hockey league in the world.  What will it take for more fans to understand how fortunate they are to have such a competitive league right in their own backyard?

Pompea, Landon and the Falcons front office cannot keep this franchise in town all by themselves, they need the region to show some support.   No one wants support to come from a plead, but there comes a point when reality sets in.  This franchise has been trying hard for years to stay in this city, it is time we as the community do our part.

Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.

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Hard Rock could change the entertainment scene in Western Mass.

The 5,500 seat Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood.

By Zachary Baru

Hard Rock International's proposal to build a resort casino on the campus of the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield could be a game-changer for entertainment in the region.  Music is not just a part of Hard Rock's name, it is in the brand's DNA.

Hard Rock International owns the global trademark for all Hard Rock brands.  They own 177 venues in 58 countries, including 8 casinos.  So where does sports and entertainment fall into all of this?  Three of their properties include live music venues called Hard Rock Live, which attract top performers with intimate stage views.  These venues are located in Hollywood, Florida, Orlando and Biloxi, Mississippi.

Plans for the 38-acre site at the Eastern States Exposition include an anticipated live music venue, for which further details have not been released.  If this venue were to be the fourth Hard Rock Live in the United States, it would instantly become a major player in the region's entertainment industry.

The most popular of the three Hard Rock Live venues is just outside of Fort Lauderdale, Florida located at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood.  Think of a smaller, even more intimate Mohegan Sun Arena.  The 5,500 seat venue has attracted top events, including Eric Clapton, Billy Joel and Aerosmith.

Should Hard Rock International's proposal be awarded the one resort casino license in Western Mass., there could potentially be a new sports and entertainment facility in West Springfield.  Hard Rock Live Hollywood has hosted boxing events and was the former home of a franchise in Arena Football 2, which was the Arena Football League's development league until the restructuring of the AFL in 2009.

The bottom line is that with now four resort casino proposals in Western Mass., this region's sports and entertainment industry will undoubtably be changed.  Each of the four proposals has different advantages and disadvantages for the industry, and also for the local economy.  Entertainment has always been a part of Hard Rock International's brand, and that would not likely be any different in West Springfield.

Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.

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