"As the landscape for bidding on amateur sporting events has become more competitive, and as more organizations are obtaining public money to support their bids, we here at the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau felt it necessary to retrospectively quantify the non-local tax dollars that sporting events held in the Detroit region have generated for Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties in an effort to assist our quest for similar public support.
"Sportsimpacts was able to provide these estimates in a professional and expeditious manner, and we are hopeful that the tax impact estimates generated by Dr. Rishe will aid our goal of securing public dollars for future bids."
Larry Alexander - January 2010
President and CEO
Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau
"We used Patrick and SportsImpacts to conduct an economic impact study
for the 2008 New Mexico Bowl. Since 2008 was the first year we had two
teams from outside the Albuquerque area, we really wanted to nail down
information from our out of town visitors. SportsImpacts did a good job
of putting together a comprehensive survey tool, the information
gathered went through a thorough evaluation process, and the data
returned to us proved the value the game brings to our city each year.
The study was done and returned to us on time and professionally done.
We couldn't be more pleased."
Dan Ballou - February 2009
Director of Sports Marketing
Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau
"The Elgin Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is pleased to recommend the services of Sportsimpacts and Patrick Rishe. Our Sports Commission hired Dr. Rishe to conduct a feasibility study. The document he put together is a cornerstone of the commission’s efforts and will be used in formulating key initiatives for the organization going forward. I appreciated his professionalism and constant follow up to ensure we were informed of his progress and that items were completed according to the agreed upon timeline. I would welcome the opportunity to work with Patrick again.
Kimberly A. Bless - November 2008
President and CEO
Elgin Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
"We are thrilled with the work done by Sportsimpacts, as they provided significant analytical information for the State Fair of Texas in 2007.
First, Dr. Rishe conducted a preliminary study to assess the potential economic benefits associated with a proposed new college football series.
Then Dr. Rishe conducted economic impact studies for both the State Fair Classic (Grambling v Prairie View) and the AT&T Red River Rivalry (Oklahoma v Texas) which helped to validate the economic benefits these games generate for the Dallas economy.
In short, Dr. Rishe was very prompt, diligent, and thorough in completing his work for us, and for that we are very thankful.
Errol McCoy
President
State Fair of Texas
"FLW Outdoors is happy to recommend the consulting services of
Sportsimpacts.
Sportsimpacts conducted three studies in three different cities for us
during the 2007 season. Working from his St. Louis headquarters, Dr.
Rishe made sure to adequately staff each event with data collectors and
a supervisor to ensure that the data was collected in a methodologically
sound fashion.
Furthermore, Dr. Rishe expeditiously produced the reports once he
received the data and he was extremely responsive to our suggestions.
We greatly appreciated his professionalism and look forward to working
with Sportsimpacts again in the future."
Dave Washburn
Vice President of Communications
FLW Outdoors
“I had the pleasure to work with Sportsimpacts and Pat Rishe on fan intercept surveys at the 2005 NCAA Women's Gymnastics National Championship and 2005 NCAA Women's College World Series. The information that he captured proved to be invaluable in evaluating our promotional initiatives and really getting a sense on who our fan base is."
Russell Yurk
Assistant Director of Championships
NCAA
The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (DMCVB) welcomes the opportunity to recommend the consulting services of Sportsimpacts.
Dr. Rishe has conducted numerous economic impact studies for the DMCVB. He was able to design the studies to accommodate an analysis of three separate and distinct regions or counties within the metro area. He trained the interviewers and was constantly on site monitoring the flow of attendees and trouble shooting where necessary. Dr. Rishe was also professional and creative in adjusting to the challenges and problems arising from the strict security measures in place at both the Ryder Cup Matches and the Super Bowl.
Besides helping to recruit interviewers with a sports education background, he participated in the interviewing himself when we needed a replacement at the last minute. His direction and management of the interviewers in both studies ensured that we would have valid and credible results. His experience and expertise developed over the years in working with national sports organizations and local organizing committees for various sports events studies ensured that he had access to AAU and PGA spending information and attendance counts that are so critical to the analysis.
Dr. Rishe is an experienced and competent consultant, but it is his enthusiasm for sports and his willingness to go beyond the call of duty to do the best job that make him a valuable resource to us.
Catherine Rasberry
Director of Strategic Marketing Research
Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau
The St. Louis Sports Commission is delighted to recommend the consulting services of Sportsimpacts.
Professor Rishe conducted a study for the Sports Commission to measure the economic impact of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in St. Louis. Thanks to Dr. Rishe’s assistance, the Wrestling Championships marked the first time the Sports Commission implemented a formal study to track visitor spending generated by an event we hosted. Being able to produce these figures has been – and will continue to be – of great value to our organization.
Prior to the Wrestling Championships, Dr. Rishe devised a survey to be distributed to 1,200 fans attending the event. Dr. Rishe worked with us to revise and tailor the questionnaire. At the event, he directed volunteers on how to administer the survey so as to minimize selection bias. Dr. Rishe even distributed surveys himself when we were short-handed on volunteers. Within two weeks, he was able to turn over the survey data into results and provide a Powerpoint presentation to the Sports Commission. He was readily available to discuss the findings and to modify the reality of certain assumptions given the local expertise of our organization.
With solid impact numbers reinforced by the 22-page Powerpoint presentation that outlined the survey’s methodology and critical data, we were able to present the results to our constituency. A Sports Commission news release on the event’s impact generated significant media coverage for the organization and its role in benefiting the St. Louis region. Outlets running with the story included the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, KMOX Radio, and Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal.
Dr. Rishe’s background and his passion for sports make him an ideal candidate to assist sports commissions with economic impact research. Here in St. Louis, we are very appreciative of the time he devoted to working on the NCAA Wrestling Championships study. We hope to continue to rely on his expertise on an ongoing basis in the future.
Frank Viverito
President, St. Louis Sports Commission
On behalf of the City of Dallas and the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau, thank you Sportsimpacts for conducting the economic impact study of the Red River Shootout and the State Fair Classic. We have known for some time that these two premier college football games were of great value to Dallas but your studies helped qualify both events with empirical data.
The Red River Shootout, also known as the Texas/Oklahoma game, has a rich tradition in Dallas at the Cotton Bowl. With your help we were finally able to gauge the value and impact of visitor spending. When combined with the great State Fair Classic, also known as the Grambling/Prairie View game, we found that true economic impact of our out of town fans.
Thank you for your services and we look forward to working with you again in the future.
Tara N. Green
Director of Sports Marketing
Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau have used Dr. Patrick Rishe and Sportsimpacts for a number of economic studies over the years. They include the Inaugural Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon (the largest first year half marathon ever), The East Coast Surfing Championships (the longest continuous surfing competition in the continental United States) and the 2006 and 2007 Redskins Beach Blitz Weekend.
Sportsimpacts has always conducted professional surveys and submitted reports quickly. We have found the information from Dr. Rishe's studies to be valuable and very cost efficient.
Buddy Wheeler
Sports Marketing Coordinator
Virginia Beach Convention and Visitor Bureau
