Falcon Hockey
After visiting the BGSU Ice Arena, I was not surprised at all. I have been to the facility many times for hockey games and I knew that the facility was in a major need of a renovation. Jamie, our tour guide kept saying that they are conducting a “face lift”. Personally, I think that the facility needs more than a “face lift”. I think that the facility needs to be completely renovated. I know that funding is hard to come by and renovating the facility completely is most likely not going to happen. However, I was sure to make note of a lot of areas that are in need of that service.
For starters, Jamie pointed out that the rubber flooring that allows skaters to walk on is not throughout the building. The rubber flooring is only in parts of the building, which poses a big inconvenience for those with skates on. It would be more efficient if the rubber flooring was throughout the rink area.
The flooring in the locker rooms was adequate. The flooring allowed for water absorption. In my opinion, I would make the locker room more lively looking and add more colors. Everything in the locker room and arena as a whole is very gloomy and dull. The building is pretty old, and it is very evident.
Overall, I think the Ice Arena needs a major renovation. The locker rooms are shared by two division one teams (Baseball and Hockey) and I think that they each should be entitled to their own locker rooms. The tour allowed us to see behind the scenes areas that are a bit intimidating! I did not like the electrical room; the bold blue pipes and loud noises were enough for me to want to go back into the common areas! I think that the arena serves the intended purpose, but at a bare minimum. I would like to see the entire facility renovated.
Filed under Hockey Arena | Comment (0)2009 Arizona Tourism Industry Year-end Research
http://www.azot.gov/system/files/151/original/2009_AOT_Tourism_Facts_FINAL.pdf?1285367966
The link above is a 14 page file created for the State of Arizona’s Tourism Department. The file breaks different categories down into exact numeral figures. For example, the most visited natural attraction in 2009 was by no surprise: The Grand Canyon. In 2009, 4.3 million people visited the attraction. The report also shows how many people visited Arizona by air travel. In 2009, 8.1 million people arrived in the state of Arizona via air plane. Twenty percent of the 8.1 million visitors came from the neighboring state of California.
In regards to lodging availability, the recession caused a decrease in demand. Although there was a decrease in demand, the supply of lodging increased. If the economy does not start to turn around, this will result in major loss of finances.
Looking at the authors views in the report, the information is cut and dry. There are not any views expressed in the report because the information is what it is. The statistics do not change with opinion. Reports like this one are very easy to write because the writer just relays the information.
Data collection, participants, and thoroughness are complete in this report. Each statistic is provided without confusion and then explained or compared to last year.
If this report was not completed, the state of Arizona would be clueless as to how to handle their tourism for the future. The report also sheds light on where monetary aide needs to be disbursed. The state would obviously want to keep the top attractions up to date if not more cutting edge, but at the same time, decide which attractions or areas need funding to make them more popular. The report helps the tourism department decide who is the target market, where to target, and a target area for results.
In conclusion, I think that this report is very organized and informative. It is crucial for reports such as this one to be taken seriously given that it could reflect on the state’s economy as a whole. Since tourism is such a huge industry, each state relies on visitors spending their money at their attractions.
http://www.sedonagrandcanyontourcompany.com/
Filed under 483 Assignments | Comment (0)Bob Waggoner: NFL Official
I was lucky enough to be able to listen to a REAL LIFE NFL OFFICIAL! This is a huge deal to me because I love football and if you think about it, these officials have met some of the best athletes in history! Bob Waggoner came to BGSU’s Field House to talk about his life as an NFL official. He broke down what a week in his life is like. Much to my surprise, they are very busy men! It amazes me as to how some of them also have full time jobs, as this officiating position takes up 6 days of a week!
NFL Official Week:
Monday- Evaluate crew members on film
Tuesday- Testing and Rules
Wednesday- Evaluate themselves during their past game
Thursday- News Press
Friday- ONLY DAY OFF
Saturday- Travel
Sunday- Game
Bob Waggoner is in his 14th year as an NFL official. Before becoming an official, he was a probate officer. To start his presentation, he played a video clip of different NFL coaches in the officials faces because they did not like the calls. Here is a picture that I thought summed up the video:
http://blogblitz.nfl.com/baltimore-ravens/date/20100924
During his presentation, Bob made a very valid point, that I am sure many have never thought of: his day consists of being taped and then broken down and criticized as to what he did right or wrong- this makes my job not seem so bad after all!
Bob also said that in order to do what he does, one must have a boat load of self-confidence. He also stated that interaction with people during work enables one to be confident in themselves. People skills = confidence.
People are human and make mistakes. As an NFL official, they are expected to be perfect and not make any mistakes. Per game, there is an average of 3 mistakes. Reality is, people make mistakes. If an NFL official makes a mistake, they are ridiculed and sometimes even endure death threats. That seems to be a little extreme for something that is considered “just a game”. As an avid football fan, I understand how irritating it can be for an official to make a bad call, however, as I said before , they are human.
Bob Waggoner- “60 minutes of football- a lifetime to remember”. When Bob said this, he wanted us to realize that we have to work hard for what we want and in whatever we do, and have a lifetime to remember the wonderful memories.
People asked Bob what he thought about instant replay. Not surprised by his answer, he said that he is thankful to have it. Officials are proven by instant replay to be right 98.6 percent of the time. However, people do not recognize that number; people look at the 1.4 percent of the time that they made the wrong call.
Towards the end of his presentation, Bob quoted “It’s not always about smelling the roses, sometime you gotta get down to the manure pile”. This was at first funny to me, until I realized what he meant. Life is not always going to be easy and pleasant, to really enjoy life one must work hard and get through the not so easy and pleasant times.
Filed under Bob Waggoner- NFL Official | Comments (2)Reflecting on Olympic Facilities
After discussing the costs and outcomes of Olympic placement, the host city gains huge benefits, but at a very high cost.
I read an article regarding the 2012 Olympics, therefore I cannot yet determine if the city benefited from the Olympics being held. However, I can project if I think that the city will benefit once the Olympics occur.
For starters, the cost to build a facility that is able to host the Olympics is far large. People looking at the effects of hosting the Olympics must look at the overall economic situation. The revenue may only be transitory, meaning the income is one time; the revenue will not continue after the Olympics are over. Since the facilities are located in London, the awareness of the city is already well known. London is already considered a World City, therefore, the marketing of the event does not have to be as extreme since people all over the world are already informed of London.
There are 32 venues that are being used for the 2012 Olympic games (Venues). The most eye appealing to me is the aquatics centre.
http://www.london2012.com/games/venues/aquatics-centre.php
The Aquatics Centre will hold 17,500 people (Aquatics Centre). This facility is located at the front of the Olympic Center (Aquatics Centre). It is projected that at least two thirds of the spectators will walk passed this facility at some point in their experience (Aquatics Centre).
The Olympic Stadium, home to the opening and closing ceremonies is a new facility that holds 80,000 people (Olympic Statdium). Of this 80,000 seats, 55,000 can be removed (Olympic Stadium).
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- This is the Basketball Arena- luckily for London’s budget, it is an already established facility!
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- This is where the opening and closing ceremonies will take place!
In regards to whether or not I think London will be successful after the Olympic games, yes! As I said before, London is already a World City and is well known. Their economy will boost as a result from these games, but I also like to think that it will not a be a one time boost. A theory that we discussed in class, Back to Normal Scenario, states that the economic situation boosts for some reason (for example: an event) and then goes back to how it was before the specific event. I would like to think that London’s economy will boost and stay at that high level, which as we learned in class is known as a the Plateau Theory.
Resources:
“Aquatics Center.” London 2012. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2010. http://www.london2012.com/games/venues/aquatics-centre.php
“Olympic Stadium.” London 2012. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2010. http://www.london2012.com/games/venues/olympic-stadium.php
“Venues.” London 2012. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2010. http://www.london2012.com/games/venues/index.php
Filed under Olympic Facility | Comment (1)After visiting the Perry Field House…
The Perry Field House is a relatively new facility on BGSU’s campus. Compared to the Student Recreation Center that allows houses fitness areas, the Field House is at least 10 times nicer in my views. The Perry Field House is home to an indoor track, basketball courts, a meeting room, offices, and an inside football field that is made from field turf.
The Perry Field House was completed in 1992 (http://www.bgsu.edu/colleges/library/cac/uarchives/uatour/page49536.html). It does not look as if it is eight years old. Other than the materials inside of the facility, the building looks very new. During our tour with Scott, he informed us of things that he would have done different if planning the design of the Field House. Instead of using the current surface for the indoor track, which over time of running on it, causes injuries to runners, Scott would use a more absorbing material. The indoor track is currently built on top of a concrete slab. Even though the material is of rubber substance, it is still very hard and does not properly and effectively absorb shock from constant running, which then results in injuries to the runners. The most common injuries from excessive running on this track is stress fractures or shin splints. The newer substance of choice allows for more give and lowers the risk of injury. From personal experience, the more comfortable track to run on is manufactured by an Italian company called Mondo. The Mondo Track SX is more comfortable and is not as hard on the runner’s joints. To see the texture of this track, go to http://www.mondoworldwide.com/FlooringUSA_Track%26Field_Products_MondotrackSX_en.cfm.
The one part of the Field House that really surprised me and seemed very outdated was the closet/storage space. The storage area had a couple of fences that were locked and held different items for recreational use. I was very surprised at the dark and gloomy image of this closet. On the north side of the storage closet, there was a messy and cluttered work bench that was full of tools and other necessities that were used to fix different issues throughout the facility. There was also a bucket hanging down from the ceiling that was catching dripping water. Obviously, there is a leak somewhere, that needs to be fixed and poses an outdated image.
The football field has synthetic field turf. The turk was nice and looked very sharp. However, it was very ruff and if one were to fall, slide, or skid acrossed the turf, they would without a doubt break skin, causing blood to be present which is a major health hazard. If the Field House were to have a few extra dollars, they could put it towards a different indoor football surface. One issue arises with spending more money on the indoor football field: the football team only uses the facility a handful of times during the season. It is used more by intramural football teams.
The locker rooms offer a very private area that is very clean. Some locker rooms do not have actual doors to their entrance (BGSU recreation center). The locker rooms inside the Perry Field House have actual doors that make the privacy more effective and convenient. The toilets are separate from the showers and lockers which is an ideal design. The floors are all hard and allow for quick and easy cleaning. The floors also allow for water to be present, which is a hazard if people are not aware and may slip; however most people in a locker room assume there is water in some area and are on the look out for it.
The overall location to the Perry Field House is convenient for those who are not on campus, given that it is right off of Poe and Mercer. However, for students who are on campus, it is quite the hike to get there. Parking is available and the campus shuttle makes stops at the facility as well. Since the Field House is used for other outside events, such as basketball tournaments, it is easy access for the outsiders who are not affiliated with the campus; thus making it easier for them by not making them travel through campus to get to the facility.
In regards to if the Field House allows for expansion and adaptability, I think that it has potential. When the facility was finished in 1992, the building cost $8.7 million to finish (http://www.bgsu.edu/colleges/library/cac/uarchives/uatour/page49536.html). If an expansion were to be planned, I would estimate for the project to be at least the cost of the building initially. Building expenses are much more than 8 years ago, and during the tour, we were informed of the not surprising fact that there is just simply no extra funding for the recreation department.
Filed under Perry Field House | Comment (0)Pro’s & Con’s of Technology in Business
In today’s age, technology has seemed to take over every aspect of business. In the field of Marketing, technology is crucial in organization and networking. Blogs, websites, email, and social network pages are all very important in connecting with other professionals in business.
Like everything else, there is a positive and negative side of technology. I have researched different Marketing softwares that assist professionals in their work. The following link provides a website that shows what features are included in the software “Marketing Plan Pro”: http://www.paloalto.com/marketing_plan_software/features.cfm.
Marketing Plan Pro is a software that powered by “Duct tape Marketing” and it assists the operator in developing a complete and detailed Marketing Plan. Most Marketing Plans entail a 30-60-90 plan, meaning plans for that month and the next two months thereafter. The first month is specific down to details for each event and activity along with dates. The 60 day plan is more broad and leaves room for changes. The 90 day Marketing Plan is very broad and is just a rough sketch as to what is to be accomplished. Marketing Plan Pro helps assist in organizing these thoughts and ideas and places them in a specific order.
Marketing Plan Pro also allows one to present the plan to co-workers in an organized fashion that is very professional. This software also allows professionals to better budget for their projected expenses. Once I am a business professional, I am going to give this software a try and I have high expectations for it!
Filed under Technology | Comment (0)Sebo Center Reflection
After visiting BGSU’s Sebo Center that is located on the north side of the Doyt Perry Stadium, I left with a lot different conceptions. This visit with my class was the first time I have ever been inside of the Sebo Center. The outside of the facility is very modern and up-to-date. I was very interested in what the inside had to offer.
When I walked up to the facility, I was pleased with the glass front. When I think of glass buildings, I do not think of the never-ending up keep that is entailed. Of course, the glass is beautiful and looks very modern; however, the cleaning is very extensive in order to keep it looking the way it should.
The inside of the facility is very open with high ceilings. Personally, I love high ceilings because it makes the area look bigger than it really is. The front lobby is quite small. It is enough space to walk through, but there is no welcome desk or anything that directs people. If I would have designed the lobby, I would have had a welcome desk that is there right as people walk in to answer questions about where to go and so forth.
Another thing that I would changed about the design of the facility is that fact that the offices are on two different wings. The coaches offices are on one wing, and the Athletic Director’s offices are on the complete opposite wing. If they want to communicate in person, they have to walk throughout the entire building to get to the others’ office. It I were to change the facility, I would put all of the offices in one wing, making communication easier.
The turf is versatile, meaning it can be easily altered and repaired. Yes, this was an expensive project (cost over $1 million), however, the benefits outweigh the costs. It can rain all night the night before a game, and the field will be ready to play on the next day. If the field was regular grass, the weather would play a great role in the ability to play on it or not.
In comparison to another MAC school’s facility, Miami University’s training center seems to be somewhat out of date. Their website does not state exactly what all is included in the facility, but it shows pictures of the facility. The following link shows pictures of the facility (http://www.muredhawks.com/genrel/081106aaa.html).
Overall, I think the Sebo Center is designed to outlast the stadium. The stadium will need renovations before the Sebo Center will. It is a very sheek and modern facility that serves a good purpose to the student-athletes and members of the BGSU athletics.
Filed under Sebo Center Reflection | Comment (1)Homecoming Symposium Reflection
I attended the instructional seminar on Friday morning at 9:00 am and Jackie Hardy taught the seminar. The seminar was a hands-on class where we were taught different games to teach with children. Although I am not an education major, it was nice to learn these activities because it could be used for team building in a business atmosphere.
We learned the “Titanic Challenge”. In order to complete this activity successfully, we had to get to the “shore” without getting in the water. In doing so, we had to go through hula hoops to get our entire team to the shore. The activity was all about strategy. This opens people’s minds to allow them to think outside of the box when it comes to coming up with ideas.
We were given a hand-out that gave us internet websites that had different games for us to look at for references if we were ever in need of a strategic team building situation.
Filed under Homecoming Symposium | Comment (0)SRC Tour Reflection
After touring the Student Recreation Center on BGSU campus, I did not really have any different views on it than before. I have worked out here since my freshman year, and now being in my last semester at BGSU, I did not notice anything different than before. However, I must say, the coolest part of the tour was being able to see the pool from underground. That was amazing to me. Once I found out that the pool is on the other side of a wall and later saw the window, my anxiety began to set in slightly. All I could think of is first: that wall could bust at any moment and I would be bombarded with how many tons of water, and secondly, the movie Free Willy when they were underground and looking into the water (bringing back memories of favorite childhood movies).
In regards to the chapters in our book that we have been reading for class, I have compared the somewhat outdated facility to recommendations in the text book “Facility Planning and Design”. Chapter 13 states that newer facilities have “flumes” and “water treadmills”. Our facility at BGSU does not provide water treadmills, at least not that I saw on our tour. I think that if water treadmills were available, they would definitely be used. I know that personally, I would love to use a water treadmill.
The BGSU recreation center also offers water aerobic classes. This is a wonderful program that allows students and people from the outside community to workout in a serene atmosphere. By offering aquatic workout classes to the open community, it draws in extra income to the recreation center. http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/sa/recwell/aquatics/page68235.html. This link provides information regarding water aerobics.
Chapter 15 covered the topic “Rebuild, Renovate, or Reinvest”. Given that the BGSU recreation Center was built almost 40 years ago, they need to decide what the best solution is in regards to updating the center. The text book states that “Decision-making is largely based on an assessment of what the community wants to see changed.” However, the community and student body often complain that the facility needs updated, but as stated in the tour, the funds to redesign or upgrade are minimal, if any at all. I personally think that the services offered at the recreation center are adequate, however when it comes to looking at other university’s recreation centers, ours is severely outdated.
The following link shows The Ohio State University’s recreation facilities. http://recsports.osu.edu/facilities. This campus has a very nice structure and equipment. If Iwere to re-design BGSU’s recreation center, I would take ideas from OSU’s.
Chapter 15 also talked about lighting outside of the facility. The BGSU recreation center has adequate lighting outside of the facility that leads to the parking lot. There are street lamps that outline the sidewalk that leads to the parking lot.
Based on the recommendations from the book, the BGSU recreation center offers comparable amenities. Even though they are outdated, they still serve the intended purpose.
Filed under SRC Tour Reflection | Comment (1)