Albany County recently issued the following announcement.
Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy announced the formalization of the Albany County Sports Commission that will branch out from Discover Albany, the Albany County Convention and Visitors Bureau. The commission’s creation will coincide with the formal designation of Film Albany as the Albany County Film Commission, which has helped to increase economic development in the area by welcoming and serving motion pictures, television, commercials, and other forms of media production to promote Albany through locations, products, and businesses for more than two decades.
“Each year, Albany County and the MVP Arena welcome the highest level of collegiate sports along with our home teams for tens of thousands of fans. Beyond that, Albany County is increasingly becoming the more affordable destination for film production, with the filming of Billions and White House Plumbers here in just the last year. These industries support our local economy and by partnering with Discover Albany, we are capitalizing on these economic benefits and leveraging our assets through the formal creation of these Sports and Film Commissions,” said County Executive McCoy. “I’m confident that going forward we will see even more benefits in the near future in the form of more high-profile sporting events that local residents can get excited about.”
The County Executive’s proposal will go before the Albany County Legislature’s Public Works Committee tomorrow evening, and then to a full vote of the County Legislature in April, pending legislative approval.
The Sports Commission would work in tandem with the MVP Arena and our county’s many sports venues to secure new businesses and ensure that the organization can properly utilize resources that will benefit the community. While Discover Albany has been serving as the de facto Sports Commission, the new designation allows for one official point of contact to make planning sports events easier for businesses and allows the Destination Management & Marketing Association to maximize the economic impact, as many other municipalities have done across the state and the nation.
With the collaboration of leaders from key public, private and collegiate sports facilities throughout Albany County, the Sports Commission would continue to drive business to local hotels, restaurants, shops and other key tourist attractions. The news comes after a long and exciting weekend as the Frozen Four, the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Championship, ended yesterday at the MVP Arena.
“Discover Albany appreciates the continued support of County Executive Daniel P. McCoy, Chairman Andrew Joyce, and the entire Albany County legislature for designating Discover Albany as the official Albany County Film Commission and Sport Commission,” said Discover Albany President & CEO Jill Delaney. “While we have successfully worked on both of these areas for many years, formalization will allow us to better collaborate with partners, brand our destination for these specific target audiences, and land new business that will drive economic growth for the region.”
“We’ve known for a long time now that Albany offers a variety of experiences for residents and visitors alike. Today’s announcement further exemplifies our commitment to economic development and is a testament of how Albany is the premiere destination for business and entertainment. Anytime there is an opportunity to expand upon the great work being done by Discover Albany to highlight the area’s numerous attractions will only benefit the residents of Albany County in the long run,” said Albany County Legislature Chairman Andrew Joyce.
“Working with Discover Albany has allowed the University to maximize opportunities to utilize our facilities, attract more external events and promote the UAlbany brand,” said University at Albany Director of Athletics Mark Benson. “By coming together as a Sports Commission as I’ve seen in many other destinations, sports facility leaders from around the county can work together to welcome more sporting events which enhances the quality of life for everyone in our region.”
Other sporting events that drive tourism into the area include the Albany FireWolves, Albany Empire, Siena Saints and other regional sports teams, which will all benefit from the Sports Commission’s marketing strategies. The ultimate goal of the Sports Commission is to target the sports market and showcase Albany County as a hub for sports related events and activities, while bringing area, regional, and national sporting events to Albany County. The Sports Commission will help build Albany’s reputation as a world-class sports destination and become a valuable asset in improving the lives of Albany County residents with its socio-economic impact.
Aside from the last year, Albany County has hosted film productions for a number of featured films and television shows recently including, HBO’s Succession, The Punisher, the Other Guys, and SALT. Production Companies like Disney/Marvel, HBO, Showtime, and others utilize Film Albany for location needs, local expertise and resources. The formal designation of Film Albany as the Albany County Film Commission adds a greater level of credibility to the organization and clarifies the point of contact for businesses organizing film shoots. Film production in the county has an estimated average economic impact of $150,000 per day.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up