USIndoor's Official Magazine is a quarterly publication, dedicated to owners, managers, program administrators and other professionals, startups and providers involved with indoor recreational sports facilities.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/373348
10 consultants had insisted Matt buy a building–that the business would not be as valuable if he leased–but a representative from Arena Sports, which has four facilities in Washington, said that the company leased its buildings and was very successful. At the Conference, Matt also learned how much value inflatables can add to a facility. Now, between open play in the "inflatapark" and birthday parties, the inflatables have become a lucrative part of his business. Partly because of the inflatables, Missoula Indoor Soccer hosts 8 - 10 birthday parties on the weekends, which benefits the facility because, among the birthday party guests, there are always families who have never been to the facility and learn about its programs, and there are always kids who choose to have their birthday party at the facility. The inflatables also provide business during the summer when the facility rents them out. GRAND OPENING The Grand Opening of Valentine Community Center took many months to plan. The event was publicized on television as well as four local radio stations that spanned across demographics and included the local affiliate of ESPN radio with which Missoula Indoor was able to trade services. Clark Fork City Church has a large congregation and is well connected in the community. Missoula Indoor Soccer was able to cross- promote and cross-advertise with them. Over the weekend of the Grand Opening, the facility had activities for kids, such as face painting and arts and crafts, set up outside. The Montessori school that is also part of the community center had an animal show. The Strength Team, a group of evangelical athletes, performed various feats of strength in front of the church. Inside the facility, kids played in the inflatapark, and games were set up on the fields. On Saturday, Missoula Athletic, a competitive men's soccer team, played an exhibition game. On Sunday, the church held a dedication ceremony for the community center that was very well attended. In order to make sure the events ran smoothly, the activities had to be well organized. A schedule of events prevented too many guests from being in the same place at the same time, and the owners and operators of the businesses in the community center helped each other out. If too many people were on the fields of the facility, for example, an announcement was made that the Strength Team was performing outside the church. At the facility, someone was assigned to each inflatable to make sure only a certain number of kids were in it. Others were assigned to the soccer field. One of the walls of the facility has a garage door and, when it got hot, the door was opened to provide air flow. During the Grand Opening, Missoula Indoor Soccer offered a low membership fee, which they extended for