A hard question to answer. When it comes to sports events what is it that makes the participants think they are getting value for money? now they have so many choices when it comes to the variety of events to choose from.
Over the past few years this has changed significantly, when I started NDuro Events in New Zealand nearly nine years ago it was very simple. Make sure the event was fun, well run, course clearly marked and you have loads of great spot prizes.
Now it is way more than that! Not only are people looking for a well defined (arrows) and marshaled courses, well run event, spot prizes, prize money, fast prize giving, quick results, etc, etc. They are looking for an overall experience!
For the first timer this could mean guidance and help throughout the day, a certificate, a finishers shirt, and for the experienced it mean a course that allows them to achieve a PB, or access to results and the ability analyze everything. As long as all sports event management professionals understand it’s different for everyone then our numbers should stay consistant or grow.
As more and more eventscontinue to come on stream, participants will vote with their feet! To prevent this from happening to your event, what can add value to your event for very little cost?
Over the past few weeks I have noticed more and more inaugural events finding their way into the Irish events calender.
These events range from Sprint Triathlons to good old MudRuns. Where will it end?
As someone who has worked in the industry for the past 10 years, I have to say it is a very exciting time for the Irish participants. It can only mean good things:
- Choice of events for participants will be endless
- Race organisers are going to need to step up there game in order to remain competitive in a busy market place.
Yes, that’s correct! Sports Events are very much an industry, and there are only so many participants.
Having experienced similar growth in the New Zealand market nearly 5 years ago, it’s going to get a little busier yet. Race organisers beware, participants do vote with their feet.
So are events giving you value for money?
I was lucky to have been associated with 88Bikes through my role as the event director for the Kiwi Bikes SSCWC10nz.com. If you like mountain bike events then take the chance to compete in maybe the only world champs most of us will ever qualify for!
The SSWCNZ event recently donated 8 bikes to them and I would like to see more donated from around the world. A recent 88Bikes twitter posting lead me to a link to TimeforKids, take the time to have a read. Go on back a great cause…..
I have been thinking about our tag line for some time now, currently this sums up Sportstiming.ie
With more and more people realising 20mins of exercise every day does you good, more events keep popping up every week around the world. So how does this effect us, well interest is high in what we have to offer. I would see our first timing job in Ireland is not far away.
If you would like to know more about what we can do for your event don’t hesitate to contact us.
Well, some people would think of it as a challenge. To me its a little mad!! Though this weekend we are helping Active Timing provide timing services and safety tracking for the Tarawera Ultra Marathon.
We will be trackign the runners from start to finish, using the MyLaps ProChip and interim tracking points so we know were the all the participants are for safety.
GPS tracking services can be provided, check back soon and we will tell you more!
Heading to Taupo tomorrow to work with Multisport Australia on IMNZ, looking like the weather will hold which means good fats racing for the 1250 competitors. We are using the MyLaps ProChip system. Easy for the big events as we often have to change timing points around during the day. The best part is the active system means accuracy is way easier to achieve.
The past two months I have been working back in New Zealand timing events with Active Timing, both the Men’s Tour of NZ (days UCI 2.2) and and Women’s Tour of NZ (UCI 2.2) Both events were 5 days in length, and had a range of events from road stages to time trials.
Next event we are working on is the NZ Ironman, always fun working the team from Multipsort Australia
hope the weather stays fine!
Sportstiming.ie in negotiations with MYLAPS for the brand New BiBtag system.
The launch and demonstration of the new MYLAPS BibTag system at the New Yorker Hotel in NYC early in November created a big buzz among timers and race directors..
Not released until Feb 2010, for more information click here
The branding is finished, the business cards have arrived and everything is looking fantastic! Great work Brian from OMF you have helped us achieve goal we were looking for. Work continues on the website which is close to finished, keep up the great work guys at DoubleODesign.
Keeping checking back we should be live soon!
Dean Watson was previously one of the Directors ‘Active Timing’, a sports timing company based in New Zealand.
Dean recently moved to Ireland and has launched ‘SportsTiming.ie’ with a view to introducing a fresh approach and a simple, accurate and reliable timing solution to the Irish / European market.
