Dark Light

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
2023-2027 SPORT TOURISM STRATEGY

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 REPORT

COMMUNITY INPUT OPPORTUNITIES

Sport Tourism Strategy Input Timeline

2022
September 12

Stratford Sport Tourism Strategy

Public and stakeholder surveys//consultation begins. Visit Engage Stratford and survey links listed above to provide input/feedback.
October 12

Stakeholder Workshops Oct. 12

The Stakeholder Workshop focus groups are limited in size with participants invited based on the stakeholder survey submissions.
October 12

Public Town Hall Session

7:00pm to 8:30pm, October 12 Stratford Rotary Complex, Tim Taylor Lounge 353 McCarthy Road, Stratford, ON The Public Town Hall is an opportunity to educate the community about the potential value of the Sport Tourism industry, what it may mean for Stratford, and establish some common understanding and verbiage with the wider community. It is also a chance to understand any concerns the community may have, and receive additional input that may help inform the Strategy.
October 13

Stakeholder Workshops Oct. 13

The Stakeholder Workshop focus groups are limited in size with participants invited based on the stakeholder survey submissions.
October 31

Initial Public Input Summary Report

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.

For more information, please contact:
Joani Gerber
CEO, investStratford
519-305-5055 extension 1001; jgerber@investStratford.com

This project is funded by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.

Funded by FedDev

Upcoming Facility Rentals – 2023

Date Facility Group
May 26-27 Rotary Rink Milverton Christian Fellowship Tourn
May 26-28 Packham Road U17 Softball – 3 diamonds
May 30 SERC  St. Mike’s Soccer Tourn – 2 fields
Jun 1-2 Packham Road WOSSAA Soccer – 2 fields (2nd rain dt)
Jun 1-2 SERC WOSSAA Soccer – 2 fields (2nd rain dt)
Jun 2-4 Packham Road U13 Fastpitch – 5 diamonds (concession/bbq)
Jun 6-8 Rotary Rink Ag Society Ifarm
Jun 9-11 Packham Road
SERC
National Stadium
U15 Fastpitch – 5+ diamonds
Jun 10-11 SERC
Packham Road
Stratford Youth Soccer – 10 fields
Jun 16-18 Packham Road U8-U11 Baseball – 5 diamonds (concession)
Jun 19-23 Agriplex/Rotary Rink Ag Society Ontario Pork Congress
Jun 30-Jul 2 Packham Road U17 Softball – 3 diamonds (concession/bbq)
Jul 7-9 Packham Road
Anne Hathaway
U17 Softball – 5+ diamonds
Jul 7-9 SERC
National Stadium
U14-U15 Baseball – 2 diamonds
Jul 14-16 Packham Road Smash It Sports – 5 diamonds (concession)
Jul 28-30 Packham Road
Anne Hathaway
U15 Softball – 3 diamonds
Aug 3-6 Packham Road
Anne Hathaway
U17 Softball – 5 diamonds (concession)
Aug 10-13 Packham Road
Anne Hathaway
U15 Softball – 5 diamonds (concession)
Aug 11-13 SERC
National Stadium
Minor Baseball – 2 diamonds
Aug 17-20 Anne Hathaway
SERC
Huron-Perth Softball – 2 diamonds
Aug 18-20 SERC
National Stadium
Minor Baseball – 2 diamonds
Aug 19-20 Packham Road U15 & U17 Softball – 4 diamonds (concession/bbq)
Aug 20 Packham Road Stratford Youth Soccer – 5 fields
Aug 26 Anne Hathaway Special Olympics – 1 diamond
Aug 25-27 SERC
Dufferin
Optimist
Minor Baseball – 3 diamonds
Sep 1-4 SERC
Dufferin
Optimist
Minor Baseball – 3 diamonds (4th rain date only)
Sep 1-3 Packham Road Slo-Pitch fundraiser – 3 diamonds (concession)
Sep 8-10 Packham Road Men’s & Ladies’ Tourn (concession/bbq)
Sep 13-15 Rotary Rink Ag Society PW Cattle Show
Sep 16-18 Rotary Rink Ag Society Jersey Show
Sep 21-24 Agriplex/Rotary Rink Ag Society Stratford Fall Fair

Updates to the above coming mid-April.