Full-court pressure – Adams Center director proud of staff’s performance during Class AA tourney – No doubt about it: tournaments are good for business

Mary Muse sought momentary sanctuary Saturday morning in her office as director of the University of Montana’s Adams Center.

By DARYL GADBOW of the Missoulian

http://missoulian.com/articles/2004/02/29/news/local/news02.txt

It’s about the only place during the past three days where she could find a quiet escape from the bedlam of the state Class AA boys’ high school basketball tournament.

Muse is used to coordinating major events at the Adams Center, such as the sold-out Pearl Jam concert last May. But this was her first experience with a state high school basketball tournament since becoming the center’s director in 2001. The last time Missoula hosted a boys’ state tournament for Montana’s largest high schools was in 1984.

"This is more challenging than a concert," said Muse, "because of the length of time. Basically, with six sessions of two games each over three days, we structured it like we were running six separate events. We set up a template for running one and then do it six times. The first day is not that different from a concert, except what it requires of you physically, and staying focused for two more days. You can’t afford to get complacent."

To prepare for the onslaught of teams, bands, cheerleaders, drill teams and fans from the eight schools in the tourney, Muse had to bolster her staff of ticket sellers and takers, security officers, ushers, hospitality hosts, concessions operators and custodial workers.

"The biggest challenge of organizing something like this," she said, "with a staff of 40 to 60 people working and up to 16 coordinating things by radio, is being able to visualize what’s happening in each area, and that each person’s job is working with the others."

"I’d like to point out," she added, "and I’m very proud of it, that the radio is very quiet this morning. That means everything is going very well."

From her perspective, Muse said, the state tournament was a great success.

"My goal was to create an experience for these high school kids who came here that will be something to remember all their lives," she said. "For a lot of these kids, it will be the last game they ever play. It’s an honor and a pleasure to make that a memorable event. And I believe we have pulled that off."

Much of the success of the tournament, said Muse, was due to the efforts of many community volunteers.

Preparation for the event began several months ago, when Muse appointed eight volunteers to serve as team hosts during the tourney, as well as "one super-star of a lady" – Julie Gaymar-Williams – to coordinate team hospitality services.

The team hosts met their assigned teams at their hotels when they arrived in town. They provided the coaches with a packet that included a list of restaurants that had helped support the tournament, and helped them make reservations, gave them a map of Missoula, and generally tried to make them feel at home.

One of the team hosts was Mick Hanson, director of financial aid in UM’s Department of Enrollment Services. He was excited, Muse said, about the opportunity to show off the school to so many visiting high school students. Tours of the campus were provided for the students throughout the tourney.

"It’s important if you can make that first visit to a college campus a special thing," said Muse, "and make them feel at home."

Each team also was provided with a large cooler of food and beverages donated by Noon’s food stores of Missoula.

The Adams Center’s tournament hospitality room for coaches, referees and school officials was stocked by community donations of food and drinks, and even offered "chair massages" for the coaches between games.

"We’ve gotten great raves from all the coaches," said Gaymar-Williams, who has been volunteering as a hospitality host at UM for about 20 years. "They love it up here. They can get away from their teams and fans. This is great for Missoula, great for our economy."

"All the schools have told us they’ve never had anyone treat them this well," said Muse.

The Montana High School Association, which is the official organizing body for high school athletic events in the state, is pleased to have a state basketball tournament in Missoula again after a long absence, according to Mark Beckman, MHSA assistant director and manager of the state AA tourney.

"It’s been great here at Adams Center," said Beckman. "The Adams Center staff, the UM athletic staff and people from the community have worked hard to make this a successful event. And so far it has been. This is a wonderful facility and also an outstanding community. People want to come to Missoula."

There were a few glitches and complications to overcome, however.

The Montana Grizzlies men’s basketball team was forced to schedule two Big Sky Conference home games around the high school tournament last week. A game against Sacramento State had to be played Wednesday night, and Saturday’s game against Northern Arizona was played at 2 p.m., sandwiched around morning and evening tournament games.

Part of the logistical problems of running the tourney, said Muse, involved clearing out Adams Center of high school teams and fans, as well as their banners and signs, and rearranging locker rooms and the Dahlberg Arena court, for the college game in the afternoon, and then putting everything in place for the tournament championship and consolation games Saturday night.

The one major disappointment for her in holding the tournament, Muse said, was a parking and ticket snafu for the opening session Thursday afternoon.

"When I put in my bid for the tournament two years ago," she said, "we had no idea what teams would be coming. I had no idea what a big impact having Sentinel and Big Sky in the tourney was going to be. On Thursday afternoon, I think they let school out. I didn’t expect a crowd of 3,700 for the first game. So it was quite a slam for parking. We had to create a shuttle service.

"And people were lined up buying tickets. There was such a crowd in the lobby buying tickets that a lot of them didn’t get in to see the game. I even helped sell tickets for awhile. I felt bad for a lot of Sentinel parents. That was my biggest disappointment. But we had the box office open at 8:30 in the morning. But people didn’t come until noon. I definitely learned a lesson from that," she said.

Attendance at the tournament – with 3,700 tickets sold Thursday, nearly 3,000 Friday afternoon, and 4,500 Friday night – was beyond her expectations, Muse said, as well as the MHSA’s, according to Beckman.

Muse said she plans to submit bids to MHSA to hold future state tournaments at the Adams Center. Money is the only obstacle.

"The way it works," Muse said, "is we need MHSA to pay this much money to hold the tournament. But it isn’t anywhere in the ballpark of what it costs."

Besides the $6,500 she bid for the AA boys’ state tournament, two Missoula organizations, the Chamber of Commerce and the Convention and Visitors Bureau, raised another $8,500 to run the event at the Adams Center, Muse said.

"I haven’t totaled my expenses yet," she said. "But I’d be surprised if we even break even."

Costs for parking attendants and security are two items that exceeded her expectations.

Muse put in an unsuccessful bid for the state Class C boys’ basketball tournament in 2005, she said.

"We don’t have community funds donated yet," she said. "So what I turned in for the bid was my estimate of expenses, although I said I would pledge any community support."

"From my perspective," said Muse, "this is a good event to host at Adams Center. It provides an opportunity to have high school kids visit UM. And it’s an opportunity for UM to do something good for the hotels and restaurants in town – something that’s good for the local economy. But by no means is this a source of revenue for me. It took a huge effort by our staff and the Athletic Department staff. I don’t think they consider it an inconvenience, but something worth doing. So we’re willing to make an extra effort on this. I hope the community recognizes that effort."

"It’s been pretty much 18-hour days for all of us from Thursday through Saturday," she added. "I could list 20 people that I could easily say ‘Without your effort Š .’ I could never run this facility by myself. It takes a team. They all have special skills and I need them all."

Reporter Daryl Gadbow can be reached at 523-5264 or at [email protected]

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No doubt about it: tournaments are good for business

By Leslie McCartney of The Montana Standard – 03/02/2004

http://www.mtstandard.com/articles/2004/03/02/newsbutte/hjjfjgjhjbiehh.txt

Merchants are reporting good business, full hotels and busy restaurants after a string of tournaments brought scores of high school basketball players, their families and fans to Butte.

"I don’t know a retailer in town that hasn’t done great in the last two weeks," said Ray Ueland, who owns Perkins Family Restaurant and Bakery, 2900 Harrison Ave. He’s also a member of Advantage Butte, a group dedicated to bringing athletic tournaments to town as a way to encourage economic development.

"They are all very ecstatic and supportive of Advantage Butte and want us to keep it going," Ueland said.

Although no firm figures are available, estimates are that about 3,000 to 4,000 people came to Butte last weekend to support their teams in locally run tournaments — those included the state Class B boys in the Civic Center, and the Class C girls’ western divisionals at Butte High School.

The town has played host to other tourneys this winter as well:

# Central A divisionals, held in mid-February, at the Civic Center.

# Girls and boys 11/12 C District, held at Montana Tech, in mid-February

And, the state girls’ Class AA will be held this weekend at Civic Center.

"It’s a huge impact not only to the Civic Center but to the city," said Civic Center Manager Gary Lean, who works with Advantage Butte, but bids the tournaments held at the Civic Center.

Tournaments are highly competitive, Lean said.

"We had the state B, the biggest tournament you can get," he added.

The Civic Center has hosted playoffs for years, but Lean said that the way they’re played is changing, leading to further competition for tournaments. For example, all boys’ and girls’ tournaments are held on the same weekend, rather than strung out on different weekends.

"It benefits everybody here if they spend money … it trickles on down," Lean said.

The Civic Center will host other tournaments in upcoming weeks — including wrestling and Frontier conference college basketball games.

"Overall, we’ve had some good reports; people enjoy it here and are spending their money here," said Jim Smitham of the Butte Local Development Corp. He’s also a member of the Advantage Butte team.

Smitham said small schools in particular attract a wide following of family and fans. In between watching games, they go shopping.

Ueland said that Perkins experienced a 30 percent increase in business over the same time last year, nearly all due to tournament attendees.

"In the last few years we slacked off and weren’t on the radar screen," he said of the town’s quest for tournaments. "We seem to be more proactive in getting sporting activities."

Not only does the town enjoy tournament dollars, it also gives in return, Ueland said.

"People like coming to Butte; it’s known as a sporting town and a fun place. We just have to get them here," he said.

Hotels and motels brimmed with guests because of the tournaments, including the Best Western Butte Plaza Inn.

"We were definitely full Thursday, Friday and Saturday and very close to full on Wednesday. It’s had a huge impact on our business. Without the tournament, we would have just had normal corporate business and that’s not anything huge," said Amber Wood-Jensen, general manager.

"It’s an awesome thing. Advantage Butte is doing good things for our community," she said.

Montana Tech hosted the Class C District 11-12 tournament a few weeks ago, the first prep basketball tournament the facility has hosted in recent memory. The college worked with Advantage Butte.

"There are pluses and minuses to having a tourney of this type on campus," said Chancellor Frank Gilmore.

On the plus side, the tournament brings in both students and their parents to experience Tech’s campus and expose college-bound families to Tech’s offerings. On the negative side, however, the tournaments tie up the facilities which impacts Tech’s faculty, students and staff’s use of the buildings.

"We’re sensitive to the work in the community in terms of having a positive financial impact, but there are balancing factors," he added.

Tech also hosts other athletic contests including the longtime Peggy Sarsfield basketball tournament and also a Class C football classic, the brainchild of Tech coach Bob Green.

"That does bring a lot of people to town," Gilmore said.

Among the restaurants, Silver Bow Pizza on Harrison Avenue saw incredible business over the tournament weekends.

"Oh, yeah, we’re all exhausted from the weekend," said Cindy Dahlman, shift manager.

People started trickling in Thursday night with Friday a bonanza day for business. The restaurant stayed open late Friday to accommodate customers — and still had families coming on Sunday after the tournament concluded. She said that Silver Bow sits in a prime area, between Kmart and Wal-Mart and across from the Hampton Inn, which often recommends the pizzeria.

Even businesses that didn’t see as much tourney action favor the continuing effort to secure more tournaments.

"We saw a few people Friday and Saturday, but not huge numbers," said Lyle Nalivka, owner of the Acoma Restaurant in Uptown Butte. "But it is a good, positive economic impact to our community as the more often people come back for functions, they will get a little more familiar (with the area)," leading them to venture further away from the Civic Center and into other pockets of commerce in town.

The Butte Plaza Mall credits increased business to tournament shoppers.

"They (tourneys) do bring a lot of people into the mall," said Ed Stergar of the Sports Connection. "They helped quite a bit … it’s good for the town."

— Reporter Leslie McCartney may be reached via e-mail at [email protected].