miaa basketball championships proposal submitted by the

MIAA Basketball Championships Proposal

Submitted by the Western MA Sports Commission &

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

June 2015

Student Athlete Experience Road to the Birthplace…right of passage

Student Athletes, Coaches and Fans will have an unprecedented experience in Massachusetts State Basketball history.

Friday, March 18, 2016:

Each team will practice in the venue where they will play their

championship game (either Springfield College or the MassMutual Center).

Teams are invited to a celebratory banquet on Center Court of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Overnight accommodations in one of Springfield’s full-service hotel properties.

Saturday, March 19, 2016:

Police escort to championship game venue.

12:00pm

2:30pm

5:00pm

7:30pm

Opportunity to extend the excitement with hotel packages for families to experience all that Western MA has to offer.

Lodging & Travel Student Athlete Lodging:

Ten hotel rooms (8 doubles and two king bedded) hotel rooms will be provided to each of the 16 teams. If the team needs a driver to stay overnight the room will come out of the team allocation. The LOC will determine which teams are accommodated in each property. The Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel and the Springfield Marriott will offer team meal options for schools whose budget allows.

Fans and Family Lodging:

The LOC will provide each school with information and hotel packages for families looking to stay over in Springfield on Friday and/or Saturday nights. Packages will include overnight accommodations, attraction tickets and dining options. All packages must be reserved by predetermined cut-off date.

Travel Stipend:

Each team is eligible for reimbursement up to $200 for travel expenses. Travel expenses will be paid when invoices the allowable expenses (overnight bus parking and driver meals) are submitted to the LOC after the championships. Reimbursement forms will be included in the packet given to each coach and must be submitted to the LOC by April 15, 2016.

Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place HotelOne Monarch Place

Springfield, Massachusetts 01144

413.781.1010

www.sheraton.com/springfieldma

Springfield’s largest hotel, the Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel is conveniently located in the heart of the city, just

minutes away from the Mass Mutual Center, Basketball Hall of Fame, Six Flags New England, and Eastern States Exposition.

Find yourself inspired by the breathtaking views of the Connecticut River.

Hotel Quick Facts

Number of rooms: 325

Number of suites: 16

Number of Dbl/Dbls: 174

Number of ADA rooms: 16

Distance to Bradley International Airport: 18 miles

Distance to MassMutual Center: 1 Block

AAA Rating: 3 Diamonds

Last Renovation: 2011

Guestroom Amenities

High Speed Wireless Internet Whirlpool tubs on Club Floor

Cable television Wake-up calls

AM/FM alarm clock Hairdryer

Iron/Ironing Board Free Daily Paper

High Def. Flat Screen TV’s

Guest Services

Gift/Sundry shop Link @ the Sheraton by Microsoft

Covered Self Parking Dry Cleaning Services

Safe deposit boxes Ice & soda machines

Disability Accessible Facilities Sauna

Indoor heated Pool Message service

Fitness Center Aerobic Classes

Racquetball Court Golf Nearby

Onsite Restaurants & Bars

Pick’s at the Sheraton

MVP.Pub

Room service

Springfield Marriott2 Boland Way


413.750.3015

www.springfieldmarriottma.com

Relax in our plush Marriott Revive bed after a day of meetings or networking. Guest rooms and suites feature rich fabrics

and unique artwork. The Marriott offers 11,000 square feet of meeting space; the outdoor plaza provides an area for

catered events or relaxation. Enjoy a delicious meal at Champions Sports Bar or Currents Restaurant. Revive yourself with

a swim in our indoor pool and fitness center.

Hotel Quick Facts


Number of suites: 3




Distance to MassMutual Center: 2 blocks

Mobil Hotel Rating: 3 Stars



Guestroom Amenities

AM/FM alarm clock Hairdryer

Electrical outlet: desk level Speakerphone

Voicemail Two-line telephone

Air conditioning Bottled water for a fee

Coffee maker & tea service Crib

Individual climate control Wireless Internet for a fee

Iron & ironing board Luxurious bedding

Down/feather pillows Rollaway bed

Refrigerators in every room

32” high definition, flat screen TVs

Guest Services

Cash machine/ATM Concierge desk

Foreign exchange nearby Housekeeping service daily

Laundry on-site, coin-operated Local restaurant dinner delivery

Newspaper delivered to room Room service 6AM– Midnight

Valet dry cleaning Safe deposit boxes at front desk

Toll-free phone calls Business center

Messenger service Secretarial service

Parcel/post Retail Pantry

Restaurants & Bars

Currents Restaurant & Bar

Champions Restaurant & Sports Bar

La Quinta Inn & Suites -- Springfield100 Congress Street


413.781.0900

www.6587.LQ.com

Outstanding value for travelers, the La Quinta welcomes leisure and business travelers alike. Easily accessible to

Bradley International Airport - located only 10 miles south. Amtrak and Peter Pan Bus Lines bring travelers practically to

our door. A variety of hotel amenities and features provide comfort and convenience for our guests. Event & Meeting

specialists create events, room blocks and meetings for any need. Close to great attractions- Naismith Memorial

Basketball Hall of Fame, Six Flags New England and Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden.

Hotel Quick Facts


Number of suites: 28




Distance to MassMutual Center: 1 mile




Guestroom Amenities

Cable television with HBO Wake-up calls

AM/FM alarm clock Coffee maker

Hairdryer Full size iron & ironing board

In-room pay movies Complimentary wireless Internet

Small refrigerator Microwave

Guest Services

Multilingual staff 24-hour front desk

Safe deposit box 24-hour Business Center

Indoor heated pool Cardio/fitness center

Laundry facilities Game room

Avis Rental Car agent in lobby Overnight security

Restaurants & Bars

Deluxe Continental Breakfast served daily

Hotel lounge serves small menu

Sundry Shoppe offers items you can heat in-room microwave

Banquet Functions

Hampton Inn West Springfield 1011 Riverdale Street

West Springfield, Massachusetts 01089

413.732.1300

www.springfieldhampton.com

Welcome to the Hampton Inn West Springfield! Enjoy the local attractions nearby including Six Flags New England, Yankee

Candle Company, the Eastern States Exposition Center, Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory and much more. Located at

the Crossroads of New England at the intersection of I-90 and I-91, our hotel is easy to get to from any location. The

hotel is surrounded by a variety of shops and restaurants within walking distance. We are also minutes away from

downtown Springfield, home to the Mass Mutual Center and the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Hotel Quick Facts


Number of suites: 0




Distance to MassMutual Center: 4 miles




Guestroom Amenities

Hampton Inn clean and fresh bedding 32” screen TV

In-room microwaves In-room refrigerator

Full-size iron & ironing board AM/FM alarm clock

Hairdryer One-cup coffee maker

Individual climate control Lap desks in all rooms

Complimentary HBO

Free high speed wired VPN & wireless Internet throughout hotel

Guest Services

Seasonal outdoor pool Fitness Center

Free parking Easy access off of I-91

Less than a mile from I-90 Meetings for up to 15 people

24-hour front desk Business Center

Valet laundry On-site self serve laundry

Complimentary 24-hour coffee and fruit

Restaurants & Bars

Complimentary breakfast buffet served in on-site breakfast area.

Within walking distance:

Ninety Nine Restaurant Panera Bread

Nippon Grill Chili’s

Longhorn Steakhouse Cal’s Bar & Grille

Bertucci’s Italian Restaurant Carrabba’s Italian Restaurant

Championship Venues Venues:

To enhance student athlete experience two venues will be utilized for games and practice. The MassMutual Center located in downtown Springfield and Blake Arena at Springfield College. Each venue will open on Friday for team practice on the court they will play on the following day. Volunteers from Springfield College and the Western MA Sports Commission will be on hand to welcome teams and facilitate practice area and times.

MassMutual Center

The MassMutual Center is a multi-purpose arena and convention center located in downtown Springfield, Massachusetts. Home to the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League, the MassMutual Center consists of an 8,000 seat arena and 100,000 sq ft convention center. Owned by the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority and managed by Global Spectrum, the MassMutual Center has become the premier entertainment venue in the Pioneer Valley. With a footprint of 100,000 sq.ft., the Center offers plenty of options to host spectacular events

James Naismith Court, Springfield College

The basketball court within Blake Arena has been formally named James Naismith Court, in honor of James Naismith, Class of 1891, who invented the game of basketball while teaching at the College in 1891. The newly named and refurbished court includes James Naismith’s name proudly displayed. The maple wood flooring, which was also installed in Dana Gymnasium, allows for a variety of athletic contests, classes, lectures, and shows.

Hospitality & Marketing Press Releases and Media Assistance: The LOC will work in conjunction with MIAA staff to notify the local community of the Championships (date, times and locations) through press releases and media alerts. The LOC would also like to coordinate the announcement of the games moving to Springfield for 2016 and host a press conference. Logo: The Local Organizing Committee has designed a Springfield specific MIAA logo to be used on promotional materials and give-away items in conjunction with the official MIAA logo. Visitor Information: Information on housing, meal options and packages for families will be given to the MIAA in July 2015 to be distributed to school administrations. As the event date draws near, the LOC will send teams’ specific booking information and materials to be included in the coaches’ packets. Promotional Items: The LOC will provide two coaches’ gifts and 25 t-shirts per team. Street Pole Banners: The LOC will purchase banners to be hung along Boland Way between the Springfield Marriott and Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel. Banners will continue down Main Street from Tower Square to the MassMutual Center and will feature the Springfield specific MIAA logo. State Champion Plaques: The Hall of Fame has committed to hang two plaques (one for the boys and one for the girls) listing the state champions for each year the final games are played in Springfield. Program Book: The LOC will enhance the current rosters handed out at each game by designing a program cover and additional pages to acknowledge sponsors. The booklet will be handed out prior to each game at each venue.

Banquet

Banquet: A team banquet will be held on Friday night on Center Court at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Each team will receive 20 tickets to the event which will include dinner and a key note speaker. The Basketball Hall of Fame will draft a list of possible speakers and review with MIAA staff to determine best topic for the presentation. Team reservations must be confirmed ahead of time. LOC will create a timeline of the evening’s events in conjunction with MIAA staff which will include time for the event presenting sponsor to speak and a keynote speaker. Road to Springfield t-shirts (purchased by the LOC) will be distributed at the event.

Partnerships The Western MA Sports Commission and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame look forward to partnering with the MIAA and others to bring the boys and girls state basketball championships to Springfield. Members of the local organizing committee will be speaking with companies throughout the state about ways we can work together to highlight their companies while Springfield welcomes 10,000 fans for this prestigious event. The LOC is asking the MIAA for $1.00 of each ticket sale to be given to the LOC for the promotion and execution of the Springfield event. The LOC will talk with the MIAA about any potential event sponsor before committing them to the event.

Looking Forward

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Western MA Sports Commission are confident that the Road to Springfield will lead to a successful event that parents and players will be eager to return to, that is why we are already looking forward for ways to enhance the experience and make it “Basketball Weekend” in Springfield. The committee looks forward to working with the MIAA in future years to offer:

Fan Fest

Hall of Fame Clinic

Skills Competition

Road Race

miaa basketball championships proposal submitted by the

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