SPRING2015
21
sm
Highlights
Highlights
NEW! Executive Symposium
Facility Bus Tour
State of the Industry Breakfast
NEW! "Idea Incubator" for Current Operators,
Plus Startup Track
Trade Show with Industry-Leading
Providers
Including ...
Including ...
orkshops Roundtables & Industry W
for arena owners, managers & staff
Keynote Address: "Generational Marketing"
NEW! Sponsored Welcome Reception
!
Sign
up today
Visit "Conference" for updates.
pr@usindoor.com
Register in Advance
AND SAVE!
Your competition may not be another facility like
yours, but another business that specializes in
birthday parties or corporate events–another place
for dog shows or car shows or home shows. "As far
as soccer," says Maxine, "If they like your refs, they'll
stay. If you've treated them well and treated them with
respect, they'll stay." Regular customers may try the
new facility because it's cheaper, but loyal customers
will stick around.
Recently, when Northern Illinois got a lot of snow,
some facilities closed for the day.
"All they do is soccer on Sunday; I've got hurling.
I've got lacrosse. I've got soccer, rugby and girls
lacrosse–all on Sunday. I have contracts with these
organizations. If I were just doing soccer, it'd be easy
for me to say, 'Everything's cancelled.'I can't do that.
I had to be here anyway. If you want to come play,
come play–or let the parents decide if this is a safe
thing or not."
In other words, it was up to the club or the parents–
not the facility–whether or not to cancel. "Half the
team showed up, half of them didn't. Nobody was
upset; it was their decision."
What makes your facility different from other facilities?
How can you single yourself out?
"I am always very diversified. That way a new place
cannot hit us everywhere. They will be less expensive,
and I will lose some because of that."
Players Indoor Sports was never the cheapest
facility. Maxine knew from the beginning that what
she had to offer was valuable. Eight years ago,
the facility was the only one in Naperville, so it
could be marketed as a neighborhood place–an
indoor sports facility in your own backyard. Now,
however, that is not the case. It needs to stand out
in other ways.
