Sarasota News Leader

04/12/2013

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Sarasota News Leader April 12, 2013 Page 31 staff] in a situation where they were seriously Patterson countered that while "$5 million considering abandoning the event." sounds like a lot," he should look at how much other Florida counties are spending on tourStill, she said, "I didn't much like the way the ism promotion. request was handled," out of the budget cycle and "without a full explanation" of the organi- During the March 21 Sarasota County Tourzation's budgeting for the event. ism Development Council meeting, Bill Geist, a consultant to Visit Sarasota County, pointed SPORTS PROMOTION out that Palm Beach has an annual promotion Patterson also told her fellow board mem- budget of about $9 million, while Fort Lauderbers, "If we're going to support sports events dale's budget is $18 million and Miami's is $22 more greatly than we are, we need to develop million. a budget where we have a larger amount [for Barbetta responded to Patterson, "In 2013, adthem]." vertising is different. It's not about TV. It's not "I'm all for that," Barbetta said, adding that about magazines and newspapers. It's about the current sports promotion budget is set at YouTube. It's about events. … The person who $150,000. leaves [Sarasota County after an event] is your advertising." Sports tourism, he noted, "brings in tens of millions of dollars into the county." He added, "This day and age, a lot of us skip right by commercials [on TV]." He pointed out that the budget for tourism promotion from TDT funds has grown from GRAND PRIX FESTIVAL $3.2 million in the 2010 fiscal year to $5 million this year. "There's no reason why we can't According to the website, the Suncoast Sutake another look at that and put more money per Boat Grand Prix Festival this year will run into sports tourism … because sports tour- from June 29 through July 7. The boat race ism has carried us through these past several will be on the final day. years." Among the events, the popular Festival Parade Every time he has a speaking engagement, he of Boats is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, July added, he fields questions about the impact of 5, on Main Street in downtown Sarasota. sports tourism on the county's economy. The website also shows the July Fourth fireAdditionally, he pointed out, people who at- works continuing on the Sarasota bayfront tend sporting events in the area prove to be near Island Park. "walking billboards" about Sarasota County Nicandri pointed out on March 19 that when they return home. Suncoast Charities receives no direct fiBarbetta continued, "If we can get an event, nancing from the City of Sarasota for the that can be much better than a TV ad." fireworks show. %

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