December 14, 2011

To our citizens, partners and customers,

More than thirty years ago, agencies such as the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, Rockford Park District, City of Rockford, City of Loves Park, Winnebago County and others envisioned a day when the Rockford Region would be a leader in the delivery and hosting of youth sports competitions and services.

Keep in mind; a youth sports industry worthy of attracting visitors did not exist at that time. Our leaders creatively, willfully and strategically got about the business of launching what has become an extremely lucrative part of our overall visitor business. And the entire Rockford Region has reaped the benefits for decades.

Not only does our economy benefit from a nearly constant influx of visiting athletes and their families and friends, but our own quality of life has improved thanks to the resources that have been built to support those efforts. While visitor spending supports jobs at hotels, restaurants, and shops, local sports teams and clubs practice and play at Sportscore One and Two and other facilities.

Recently, other communities have replicated our success by building new, bigger sports facilities. They have offered our customers reasons to consider their communities as viable, and in some cases, better alternatives to what we offer. Flooding at Sportscore One and the downturn in the economy has also eroded our position.

To address these issues, the Rockford Park District and the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau have partnered to develop a new vision for amateur sports success in the Rockford Region. Our report, Reclaiming First, outlines a bold new vision for Retaining, Regaining and Growing our sports tourism industry, while providing new recreational and sports opportunities for local citizens.

We hope you like what you see in this plan, and that you will support this vision. We invite your feedback and participation!

Best regards,

Contact Us

Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Main Office
102 North Main Street
Rockford, Illinois 61101-1102
USA

Phone Anywhere: 815.963.8111
USA & Canada: 800.521.0849
Fax Anywhere: 815.963.4298
Fax USA & Canada: 800.691.7035
E-mail: info@gorockford.com