TOUCHDOWN! Quad Cities minor league sports teams score $50M in direct economic impact
The Quad Cities Chamber wants the Quad Cities to be a place where people are excited to invest their lives, and that means having the right amenities to attract and keep a quality workforce. One big feather in the community's cap is being home to three professional minor league sports teams: the Quad Cities River Bandits baseball, Quad City Storm hockey and Quad City Steamwheelers football.
Sporting team jerseys, Quad Cities Chamber Ambassadors, athletes and mascots showed off their spirit Jan. 15 at "AMp Up Morning Networking: The Future of Minor League Sports in the Quad Cities." Event attendees heard from team representatives about their collective impact on the Quad Cities economy and quality of life in the region.
"When you think about, 'What is there to do in our community?', these three teams are really an important part of that story," Chamber President & CEO Paul Rumler said, encouraging the 150-plus person crowd to support them.
The River Bandits, Storm and Steamwheelers draw more than 331,000 people to 100-plus events each year, scoring a direct economic impact of $50.1 million, according to Visit Quad Cities. In 2019 the Sports Business Journal ranked the Quad Cities minor league market No. 11 out of 211 markets in the U.S. The market score takes into account total and average attendance of all teams that have played during the past five seasons.
Visit Quad Cities President and CEO challenged the audience and the rest of the Quad Cities business community to help boost the Quad Cities minor league market to the top of Sports Business Journal's rankings.
"I know everybody here is incredibly competitive, so I think we need to rally behind the organizations and try to move the needle north," he said.
Speaking on stage beside representatives of each team, Ian Frink of Chamber member Crawford Companies shared why his employer has ticket packages with all three of the teams.
"Any time we put tickets out there for our employees they jump at them, and they really enjoy going to the games," Frink said. "Each of these teams puts on a wonderful experience in their own way, and I think it's important to support that."
While event attendees received complimentary tickets to see each team take on opponents at home in 2020, courtesy of the teams and Visit Quad Cities, they also were encouraged to consider organizing group outings at games, buying season tickets or securing sponsorships.
"I think all three of us up here will custom cater a package to your specific needs and what your company is trying to gain in the marketplace," Doug Bland, Owner and General Manager of the Steamwheelers, said.
Chamber members who previously had not experienced the entertainment and sports action during a Storm game at the TaxSlayer Center were asked to give them a shot.
"The Storm play their best hockey at home," said Brian Rothenberger, Director of Communications and Game Operations for the Storm. "If everyone gives us one game we're going to be in terrific shape, and we're going to have repeat customers for many years to come."
Even if they walk away without knowing the final score, fans will remember the experience of going to the game, said Joe Kubly, General Manager of the River Bandits.
"We're all community entities," he said, speaking for all three teams. "We all want to give back and do our part."
The Chamber and Visit Quad Cities are leading efforts to ensure the Quad Cities is a cool, creative and prosperous place where people want to live, and these sports teams provide another reason for people to stay in the region.
"I want you to think about what the future of the Quad Cities is and how we can support these teams. They can't just do this on their own," Rumler said in closing. "Connect your story to theirs because at the end of the day it's part of the Quad Cities brand, which we all want to grow and support."