City of Stratford Sport Tourism Strategy Approved by City Council
Industry Partners, click here for a list of upcoming facility rentals and what groups are visiting Stratford.
The City of Stratford partnered with investStratford and Destination Stratford to develop a Sport Tourism Strategy for the City.
The project, funded by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario via RTO4, assessed the City’s current tourism assets, gathered information through public consultations and provides a strategy for growth and next steps.
The Sport Tourism Strategy project aims were to:
- determine the economic impact, and the size and scope of existing sport tourism opportunities – including an inventory of capital assets (infrastructure) and human assets (volunteer groups, local sport associations)
- explore the potential to expand those existing opportunities and to identify new areas for growth, complete with financial and socio-community impacts, effects and outcomes
- consider and recommend technology tools that link sport bookings to tourism assets, amplifying the visitor experience with local retail, food/beverage and accommodation providers
- provide a needs analysis for growth and potential funding opportunities
All members of the public, sports groups, and service clubs were encouraged to participate in the consultations. Opportunities included online engagement via the City of Stratford’s Engage Stratford platform, as well as in-person public consultations.
STRATFORD SPORT TOURISM – PUBLIC SURVEY RESPONSE REPORT
Surveys collected from 31 August 2022 to 04 October 2022.
PUBLIC SURVEY RESPONSE REPORTCOMMUNITY INPUT OPPORTUNITIES
Sport Tourism Strategy Input Timeline
Destinate Group was selected as the consultant to lead this work, and started public consultation on the Sport Tourism Strategy in September. The Strategy was presented to City Council January 23, 2023. Council approved the following staff recommendations:
THAT the existing Sport Tourism Steering Committee (Community Services Department, Destination Stratford, investStratford) remain active and that the Tourism Advisory Committees of Destination Stratford be leveraged to inform and support the creation of the Stratford Sport Tourism Office;
AND THAT the Steering Committee explore funding opportunities and partnerships to create an organizational structure and funding model for inclusion in the City of Stratford 2024 budget.
Stratford Sport Tourism Advisory Committee members and Terms of Reference can be found here.
The Stratford Sport Tourism Office project has been financially assisted by the Tourism Development Fund of the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport.
This Stratford Sport Tourism Strategic Plan project was funded by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.
Upcoming Facility Rentals – 2025
| Date | Facility | Group & Details of Note |
|---|---|---|
| May 22 | SERC | SDSS Regional Tennis Tourn. |
| May 28 | Packham x 2 | SDSS AAA WOSSAA Soccer |
| May 31 | Packham x 1 | Sloth’s Walking Soccer Invitational |
| Jun 6-8 | SERC + Nat’l Stad. |
SMBA U18 10am-10pm Fri, 8am-8pm Sun |
| Jun 7-8 | SERC x 6 + Packham x 5 | SMBA U18 10am-10pm Sat, 8am-8pm Sun |
| Jun 13-15 | Packham 1-5, SERC, Dufferin + Optimist |
SMBA 11am-9pm Fri, 8am-8pm Sat, 8am-3pm Sun – concession on site |
| Jun18&19 | Agriplex | Ontario Pork Congress |
| Jn20-22 | Anne Hath. | SMGSA U19 5:30-10:30pm Fri, 8am-10:30pm Sat, 8am-7pm Sun |
| Jun 21 | Packham 1-3 | Premier Equipment Tourn. Noon-7pm – concession, BBQ, ice cream truck |
| Jun27-29 | Anne Hath. | SMGSA U9/U11 5:30-10:30pm Fri, 8am-10:30pm Sat, 8am-7pm Sun |
| Jul 1 | SERC | 3-on3 Basketball |
| Jul 4-6 | Packham 1-5 + Anne Hath. |
SMGSA U15/U17 5:30-10:30pm Fri, 8am-10:30pm Sat, 8am-7pm Sun – concession/BBQ |
| Jul 11-13 | Anne Hath. | SMGSA U11/U13/U15 5:30-10:30pm Fri, 8am-10:30pm Sat, 8am-7pm Sun |
| Jul 18-20 | SERC + Nat’l Stad. |
SMBA U15 10am-10pm Fri, 8am-8pm Sat, 8am-Noon Sun |
| Aug 1-3 | Packham 1-5 + Anne Hath. |
SMGSA U13/U17 8am-10:30pm Fri & Sat, 8am-7pm Sun – concession |
| Aug 8-10 | Anne Hath. | SMGSA 6-10:30pm Fri, 8am-10:30pm Sat, 8am-7pm Sun |
| Aug14&15 | SERC + Nat’l Stad. |
SMBA U18 5-10pm Fri, 8am-10pm Sat |
| Aug15-17 | Anne Hath. | SMGSA 6-10:30pm Fri, 8am-10:30pm Sat, 8am-7pm Sun |
| Aug16-17 | SERC + Nat’l Stad. |
SMBA U18 8am-8pm Sat, 8am-4pm Sun |
| Aug 17 | SERC x 5 + Packham x 5 | SMBA U18 8am-8pm Sat, 8am-4pm Sun |
| Aug21-24 | SERC + Nat’l Stad. |
SMBA U15 5-10pm Thu, 5-11pm Fri, 8am-8pm Sat, 8am-4pm Sun |
| Aug 23 | Anne Hath. | Special Olympics 8am-6pm Sat |
| Aug29-31 | Packham 1-5 | Sipple Tourn. 6pm-12am Fri, 8am-12am Sat, Sun 8am-10pm – concession, licensed |
| Sep 5 & 6 | Packham 2 | Men’s Slo-pitch Tourn. 6-11pm Fri, 8am-9pm Sun |
| Sep 6 & 7 | Packham 1&3 | Ladies Slo-pitch Tourn. 8am-9pm Fri, 9am-5pm Sun |
| Sep18-21 | Agriplex | Stratford Fall Fair |