Spring and summer in Northwest Indiana are always full of outdoor activities and events. South Shore Convention and Visitor Authority is a not-for-profit hospitality group working to keep and develop events and attractions throughout the Region year-round.
An essential part of South Shore Convention and Visitor Authority is its Sports & Leisure team.
Providing professional expertise and promotion resources, South Shore Sports & Leisure has multiple events throughout the spring and summer around the Region.
These events are fun for locals and visitors alike. Events throughout April alone are estimated to bring in almost $400,000 in economic impact.
“The South Shore Sports & Leisure team offers sports and event planners: the necessary tools to plan events and tournaments of any size,” said Megan Goodan, chief sports & leisure officer.
In addition to extensive planning tools, the South Shore Sports & Leisure team provides extensive background in all aspects of organized sporting events.
“We help with the marketing, the promotion, and the event planning,” Goodan said. “This includes facility/venue inspections and visits, housing services, organizing special events, coordinating and designing marketing campaigns, and securing sponsors. We're the number one resource for securing, planning, and executing youth, amateur, collegiate, and professional events in the Region.”
Goodan and her colleagues provide their expertise at no cost. Their main goal is to help plan tournaments and sporting events in our area.
“Visitors are coming here for tournaments, and they're getting to experience what we sometimes take for granted on a daily basis,” Goodan said. “Additionally, these visitors are bringing in economic development that is helping everybody around us.”
This work goes beyond providing tools and resources. South Shore Sports & Leisure helps event and tournament organizers throughout the entire process.
“'I’m really here to just help elevate the experience by helping with promotions and marketing,” Goodan said. “We want to make sure that the fan experiences the best it can be so that these event owners keep coming back.”
South Shore Sports & Leisure members continue their support during the event as well.
“We try to go to as many events as we can,” Goodan said. “During the event, we provide welcome signage and welcome bags. Inside the bags, we include flyers and coupons from our business partners so that they can feel the economic benefits of these events as well.”
Experienced and connected, South Shore Sports & Leisure works with the top national, state, and local organizations.
“This weekend kicks off the baseball/softball season at the Crown Point Sportsplex and several other complexes throughout the Region,” Goodan said. “We work with national youth organizations such as the National Softball Association, Baseball Players of America, USSSA Baseball/Softball, Game Day Baseball, and Premier Girls Fastpitch just to name a few.”
Currently, South Shore Sports & Leisure is immersed in softball and baseball season, but it supports teams and organizations throughout the entire year.
South Shore Sports & Leisure not only supports planning these events, but the group also promotes local sporting events on its website and social media.
For more information about South Shore Sports & Leisure visit https://www.southshorecva.com/sports or contact Goodan at mgoodan@southshorecva.com or 219-989-7770.
