Gymnastics National Championships to Return to Hartford Next Summer

USA Gymnastics has announced that the 2013 U.S. Gymnastics Championships will return to Hartford’s XL Center next summer a quick follow-up to a very successful debut in the Capitol City in 2010 that featured future Olympians many of whom are now household names. Tickets for the four-day competition, to be held Aug. 14-17 - which are USA Gymnastics' national championships - went on sale immediately, to take advantage of heightened interest in gymnastics in the weeks following the London Olympics.  There was a recent published commentary urging Connecticut to focus on attracting sports-related competitions and tournaments, and the announcement underscored the opportunities now available to the state.

The competition schedule for 2013 in Hartford is: Aug. 14 – men's gymnastics, juniors at 1 p.m. and seniors at 6:30 p.m.; Aug. 15 – women's gymnastics, juniors at 1 p.m. and seniors at 6:30 p.m.; Aug. 16 – men's gymnastics, juniors at 1 p.m. and seniors at 6:30 p.m.; and Aug. 17 – women's gymnastics, juniors at 2 p.m. and seniors at 7:30 p.m. All-session tickets for the U.S. Gymnastics Championships range in price from $125-$395.

Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra said, "The U.S. Gymnastics Championships are a signature event for the City of Hartford -- one that I have worked hard to recruit back to Connecticut's Capital City. It's exciting for residents and beneficial for Downtown businesses."

The 49th Annual USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show is a three-day event open to the entire gymnastics community. Held in conjunction with the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, National Congress provides a unique opportunity for presentations, demonstrations and educational seminars on a variety of topics and a large exhibitor's hall with additional business opportunities.

Local News Buffeted by Technology, Ownership, Regulators & Courts

The way in which people get their news information continues to evolve rapidly, as reflected in data highlighted by the National Conference on Citizenship, reporting that 23% of adults nationwide get the latest news on at least two mobile devices – and noting that 44% have smart phones and 18% own a tablet – numbers that will surely continue to grow. Of those with digital devices, 70% get their news from a desktop or laptop, 51% from a smartphone and 56% from a tablet device.  The increasing impact of mobile devices and social media in the dissemination of news is outlined at the organization’s – you guessed it – website.

LED BY WFSB

Among those tuning to local television in the region recently, Hartford’s WFSB Channel 3 had a strong Nielsen ratings period for the month of July, according to The Laurel.  Eyewitness News was ranked #1 in the market for each of the station’s newscasts beginning at 4:30 AM and holding top stops from 5-6 AM and 6-7 AM and then at 5, 5:30, 6 and 11 PM.

COURANT?

Over at FOX Connecticut, which physically relocated to a joint operation with The Hartford Courant on Broad Street in Hartford when CT1 Media was formed by Tribune Co., owner of both media outlets, the future continues to unfold more outside than in Connecticut.  News reports regarding the long-running Tribune Co. bankruptcy case reached a key milestone last month when U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Carey in Delaware said he would approve a plan that will transfer ownership of the media company to a group of hedge funds and banks.

If and when that occurs, new owners would like move to get the company out of Chapter 11, and seek approval from the Federal Communications Commission in Washington to transfer Tribune's TV licenses to them. Because Tribune Co. owns newspapers and broadcast stations in several markets, including Hartford, the FCC must grant waivers from its restrictions on ownership of multiple media outlets in the same city.

Before Tribune Co., which owns 23 TV stations, went private in 2007, the FCC granted a permanent waiver to the company for its Chicago media holdings. The FCC also granted temporary waivers in Los Angeles, New York, South Florida and Hartford.  But new waivers are required with a change in ownership, and some are urging filed the FCC to deny Tribune Co.'s waiver requests, according to media reports.

Audience for EPSN morning simulcast larger with TV, radio

An Arbitron-ESPN study of the audience of the ESPN RADIO-ESPN2 morning show "Mike and Mike in the Morning" showed most fans listening to the show on radio or watching on TV, but those using both spending "much more time" with the show. Among the study's findings were that the show reached4.7 million weekly in November 2011 through April2012, with radio delivering 2.3 million exclusive weekly listeners, cable adding 1.6 million exclusive viewers, and 800,000 using both radio and TV.  Dual media users were 17% of the audience but responsible for 28% of weekly usage, according to the results of the cross-platform study by ESPN and Arbitron Inc.

The cross-platform study detailed how fans in markets measured by the Arbitron Portable People Meter™(PPM^®) service listened to the ESPN sport talk duo on radio and watched the simulcast on ESPN2 cable television.

Also among the findings:

• Radio remains the quintessential out of home medium. 59 percent of the Persons 6+ average quarter hour audience for radio listens outside of the home.
• Only 5 percent of the average audience delivered by cable TV came from out from home locations.

New Focus on Attracting Sports Tournaments, Conventions to CT

The newly formed Connecticut Convention and Sports Bureau (CCSB), which brings together the former Greater Hartford Convention and Visitors Bureau and the State Department of Economic and Community Development - now with  oversight responsibility for state tourism programs - could be the key for a renewed effort to attract events to the state.  The convention and sports bureau is a private, nonprofit agency, funded by $1.3 million in state funds, with  a 40-member sports advisory board, already established by state law.  An op-ed in The Hartford Courant Sunday proposed a reinvigorated effort to attract sports-related tournaments and conventions, including use of state natives whose athletic success has been noteworthy (such as NHL Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Quick of Hamden).   Also in the news:  AEG Facilities’ Chuck Steedman, Senior Vice President & General Manager of the XL Center, has been appointed to the Executive Committee of the CCSB and the Chair of the commission’s sports marketing arm.  And a longtime activist in encouraging sporting events in the state, Jay Sloves of the marketing firm Elkinson & Sloves, was among those receiving recognition in the final awards ceremony of the GHCVB last month.  Also recognized were Robert J. Martino of the law firm of Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, P.C. and Neletta Cochrane of CTTransit.

CT High School Star to Make Major League Debut for NY Mets

Just a day before sports attention is drawn to the London Olympics, which begin on Friday, the eyes of New York Mets fans will be drawn to Phoenix, as the team will be attempting to end a monumental losing skid with a rookie pitcher from Connecticut making his Major League debut. Matt Harvey, the Mets’ first-round selection in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, will step onto a Major League mound for the first time in Phoenix in a series-opening contest against the Diamondbacks. The Mets have lost 13 of theirlast 14 games.

Harvey, who attended Fitch High School in Groton, went 7-5 with a 3.68 ERA in 20 starts for Triple-A Buffalo, with 112 strikeouts in 110 innings.  Harvey, 23, is 6’4” and weighs 224 lbs. In his two seasons in the minors, Harvey is 20-10 with a 3.48 ERA and struck out 268 batters in 245 2/3 innings.

The Hartford Courant’s Dom Amore has surveyed some Connecticut-connected former major leaguers about their first game in the majors, as all eyes in Mets-land turn to Harvey and hope.  Read the rest of the story.

Minor League Baseball Attendence Up; Not Yet New Britain

Minor League Baseball™ has announced that its clubs drew 13,939,583 fans through May, a 6.3 percent increase over 2011. The 136 clubs in 11 full-season leagues attracted 824,448 more fans than they did through May last year. "I am encouraged by our clubs' attendance figures, not only in terms of raw numbers, but also in regards to their average crowds," Minor League Baseball president Pat O'Conner said. "Millions of fans continue to visit our ballparks to take advantage of the affordable entertainment and family-friendly events that encompass our Minor League Baseball games.

Eight of the 11 leagues didn't lose as many games to weather through May compared to last year, led by the Midwest League, which had 36 fewer postponements. In all, 62 fewer games were lost due to weather than in 2011.  Five leagues are experiencing bigger crowds on average than in 2011, with three others within one percent of their average 2011 crowds through May.

These Cats Rock

Of local interest, the New Britain Rock Cats of the Eastern League are drawing an average of 4,838 fans per game through their first 39 home games (through June), ranking sixth in the league.   A year ago, they ranked third in attendance in the Eastern League, drawing an average of 5,876 fans per game.  Attendance tends to increase during the summer months, when children are out of school and family vacations provide more opportunities to attend games.

In Norwich, in their first four home games the Connecticut Tigers of the N.Y.-Penn. League drew an average of 2,205 fans.  A year ago, over their full season of 35 games, the team averaged 1,780 fans.

CT Targets Convention & Sports Business with New Organization

Connecticut  state government will be dedicating $1.3 million of its tourism budget to create an organization focused on attracting large events to the state.  The Connecticut Convention and Sports Bureau will be a public-private partnership between the Department of Economic and Community Development and what is now the former Greater Hartford Convention & Visitors Bureau. In addition to the $1.3 million, the organization will be funded through dues by member organizations, most of whom were members of the GHCVB, the Hartford Business Journal reported. CTCSB will intensify outreach and marketing efforts previously undertaken by the GHCVB to bring new revenue into the state from meeting planners and sports promoters. The types of events range from televised events such as the USA Gymnastics Championship - held in 2010 and described as the organization's most successful event ever - to lesser notable but equally as important events such as youth soccer and youth hockey tournaments.

$1 Million for Area Charities from Travelers Championship

The just-concluded 2012 Travelers Championship will generate in excess of $1 million for charity, including commitments from Travelers, bringing the tournament’s total 2012 charitable contribution to an amount on par with champion Mark Leishman’s $1.08 million winnings. The announcement was made by Travelers Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jay Fishman during the final round at the Travelers Championship in Cromwell. Celebrating its 60^th anniversary, the Travelers Championship has surpassed the $30 million mark for money generated for charity since its inception. The tournament contributes 100 percent of net proceeds to more than 100 local charities including The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, which provides an extraordinary camp experience for children suffering from cancer and other serious diseases.

Attendance Up

The tournament is Connecticut’s largest sporting event. There are "strong indications that attendance rose dramatically from last year" for the PGA Tour Travelers Championship. While official figures were not tallied, it was reported that Tournament Director Nathan Grube "figured there was a 15 to 20 percent increase this year" for the week.

Every year, more than 3,500 people donate their time and effort to volunteer for the Travelers Championship. Volunteers spend countless hours throughout the week to help deliver a world-class PGA TOUR experience for players, fans and the media. The tournament offers fundraising programs that allow any charity in the state to use the tournament to raise funds. Additionally, Travelers and its employees annually participate in Birdies for Charity, a program that collects pledges for every birdie made during the Travelers Championship, to raise additional funds for the tournament’s charities.

Hartford is Hotbed of Gen Y Interest in Major League Baseball

Nearly half (49%) of all American adults are Major League Baseball fans and 15% are Avid Fans, according to the new Scarborough Sports Marketing study, released this month. The study also reveals that there is ample opportunity to turn young fans into lifelong MLB enthusiasts, as 44% of Generation Y are MLB Fans and 13% are Avid Fans.  Surprisingly, Hartford is a hotbed. The top local markets for Gen Y MLB Fans are Milwaukee (76% of Gen Y are MLB fans); Philadelphia (70%); Hartford (66%); St. Louis (66%) and Albany, N.Y. (62%). According to the findings, almost a third (30%) of Gen Y MLB Fans are willing to spend $25-$49 on a single game MLB ticket and 12% are interested in purchasing season tickets.  Gen Y MLB Fans are also 37% more likely than all MLB Fans to have bought MLB apparel with a team logo in the past 12 months.

Scarborough defines the different American generations as Generation Y (age 18-29), Generation X (30-44), Baby Boomers (45-64) and the Silent Generation (65+).

Can Homeschoolers Play On the High School Team? Not Here.

The number of homeschooled children in the U.S. has nearly doubled from 850,000 in 1999 to 1.5 million in 2007.  It is estimated that in Connecticut last year, there were just over 15,000 students being homeschooled. Along the way, one of the dilemmas faced by parents of would-be athletes was this:  could they play on the local high school team if they didn't attend the school?  In 29 states, including Tim Tebow's state of Florida, they can.  Since Tebow became a national phenomenon with the Denver Broncos, and the high school exploits of the homeschooler gained notoriety, more states are now pondering the possibilities according to TIME magazine.

Twelve states are now considering legislation to approve the practice.  Connecticut - at least thus far - is not one of them.  Tebow's new football home, New York, is.  Wonder if they need someone to headline a legislative hearing?