Lexington, KY -
Bluegrass Hospitality Association members-employees of restaurants, hotels, and other businesses that depend on visitors and tourists--have an obvious interest in the preparations for the upcoming Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. At their May meeting they heard detailed updates from several WEG officials.
World Games Foundation CEO Jamie Link offered some impressive numbers:
some 850 horses will be coming, the largest equine airlift since WWII; the 963 human athletes committed to participating are "an increased number than what we had anticipated," Link said.
"We'll sell half a million or more tickets. We're over halfway at this point. Tickets are our lifeblood, not to discount partnerships, because [unlike the WEG in Europe which receives government funding] WEG is on its own dime," he noted.
More statistics from Link:
0 - number of nonservice dogs allowed ("Dogs carry ticks and ticks
carry disease. We're not going to take any chances of compromising the
horses' health.")
6 and Ω - number of hours of live television coverage on NBC
200,000-250,000 - number of anticipated visitors (most of whom will
attend several days.)
The WEG staff is only about 40 people," Link said, "but we have several thousand volunteers, sponsors, local community, and tourism people helping.
It will take all of us."
Construction of permanent facilities and sidewalk and roadway repair at the Horse Park is about finished. Link said, "Starting in June we'll build thousands of temporary seats and hundreds of temporary structures. We'll be finished about September 10, when the horses arrive."
Acknowledging that the preparations have required the hard work and long hours that he and his staff anticipated, Link said that "the cooperation we've gotten from everyone has made it easier."
Erin Flaherty, Director of Volunteer Services expects about 7,000 people to serve as volunteers at WEG. About 50 percent of them are from outside of Kentucky.
"Local corporations and civic groups are sending teams of volunteers," Flaherty said.
Flahery wants "to provide an extraordinary experience for the volunteers and to have a well-trained volunteer force ready and willing to host the next big event here."
John Johnson, EVP of Events for Short's Sports & Events, spoke on housing. The slowed economy has reduced the number of bookings for shoulder nights (the nights that precede or follow event nights).
"Not a lot of groups are coming early or staying late, given the [local hotels' practice of] nonrefundable deposit," Johnson said.
The average stay for individuals is six nights and the average price is $300 per night.
To date, "57,000 room nights are sold. We're 50 percent over where we need to be," Johnson explained. He noted that team members are booking extra nights beyond what their equine federation will be paying for.
Jim Downs, Project Manager for GameDay Management Group, updated BHA members on transportation issues.
His company manages transportation for large sporting events, such as the Pro Bowl, the Olympics, and the Super Bowl.
WEG now has 10,000 parking spaces available. The owners of Spy Coast Farm, which is east of the Horse Park's campground, have agreed to allow 64 acres of the farm to be used for parking. Visitors can purchase parking permits in advance, which will be mailed to them.
Volunteers and staff members will park at Coldstream Farm and have their own shuttle buses.
The Horse Park will have three separate routes inbound and three separate routes outbound.
Downs meets monthly with more than 75 people from the post office, Fayette County and Scott County schools, law enforcement, and other government agencies to make the transportation plan as efficient as possible. Signs giving directions, marking the highway crossing for endurance events, and relaying other information will be posted starting in September.
Krista Greathouse, WEG Liaison for LFUCG, spoke about Spotlight Lexington - the festival scheduled throughout the 17-days of The Games.
Greathouse described the program of free events and concerts as "The party for WEG downtown." Spotlight organizers emphasize, however, that the festival is conceived as an annual event, although perhaps spanning a long weekend as opposed to two weeks - and is intended to showcase the many new developments materializing in downtown Lexington, especially to those who have not visited in awhile, if ever.
WEG pins, like those from the Olympics, will be in demand for trading and collecting. The $5 pins go on sale July 1 at Thursday Night Live and on July 5 at Kroger stores.
Pins entitle their wearers to discounts at many local restaurants.
Businesses can buy WEG pins in quantity at discount.
Given that the equestrian athletes have dedicated years of hard work to reaching the pinnacle of their sport, tourism and marketing expert Peggy Stevens urged the hospitality leaders to "convey to your people that WEG may be the most important part of a visitor's year and may be the memory of a lifetime."
Keynote speaker John Long, CEO of the U.S. Equestrian Federation and chairman of the World Games Foundation board, described WEG as "a real opportunity to showcase what we do every day.
Lexington is America's best-kept secret."
He urged BHA members to get involved so that their employees will realize the once in a lifetime opportunity that WEG offers to the city and state.
"We've got to make it work every way we possibly can.
If we do it right, we'll get new businesses here."