Al Cassidy This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. Business Disputes Sports as A 'Niche'

   www.theledger.com/top_stories/ - [Cached]

   Published on: 5/10/2002   Last Visited: 5/10/2002

   This perception triggered a plea from hotel owner Al Cassidy to allocate more -- not less -- of the tax revenue to sports marketing.
   
   Cassidy, president of Tamposi Williams Co., which owns the Hampton Inn and Days Inn hotels in Winter Haven, said sports events attracted by the county's marketing efforts boosted occupancy and brought his hotels a significant amount of revenue.
   
   "Before sports marketing started (in 1992) summer was our slowest time, but in the past two or three or four years, June, July and August are among our better months," he said. "I would not have built the Hamptons if it hadn't been for sports marketing."
   
   At the same time, the money budgeted by the TDC for promoting sports events has dwindled, he said. "It's fine to go out and get new business, but why give up what you already have?" Bing Tyus, director of activities and athletics for Polk Community College, said he runs amateur events in the sports marketing program.
   
   "Four years ago, we started running baseball tournaments here in Polk County, and we started from nothing and grew to 26 events," he said. "As the events grew, it seems the money for sports marketing got smaller."
   
   Polk County lost the Amateur Athletic Union's 10 events to Clearwater this year because of a lack of sports marketing funds, he said.
   
   Tyus said the economic success of Polk's sports marketing program has prompted other areas to compete for events.