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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.

Stratford Sport Tourism Advisory Committee members and Terms of Reference can be found here.

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 – 2023/24

Date Facility Group
Oct 21 Allman Fighting Irish Home Opener 3-7pm
Oct 28 Agriplex Secondary Volleyball Tourn. 8am-5pm
Nov 3-5 Allman
Rotary Rinks
Silverstick Tournament
8am-10:15pm (4:30pm Sun)
Nov 7 Agriplex H-P Volleyball Champion. 10am-4pm
Nov 17-19 Allman
Dufferin
Rotary Rinks
SMGHA Hockey Tournament
8am-11pm (Sun 7pm)
Nov 18&19 Agriplex Ontario Badminton Champ. 8am-10pm
Nov 21 Agriplex Central East Volleyball Noon-4pm
Nov 21 Allman
Rotary Rinks
St. Michael CSS Tournament
8:30am-4:15pm
Nov 23-25 Agriplex AA OFSSA Volleyball 8am-10pm
Nov 26 Allman Jr B Warriors 4-7pm
Nov 28 Agriplex (or 30th) Central East Volleyball Noon-4pm
Dec 2 Agriplex Ontario Volleyball Tourn. 7am-10pm
Dec 5 Agriplex Junior Volleyball Tourn. Noon-4pm
Dec 6 Rotary Rinks Varsity Boys Tourn. 8:15am-4:45pm
Dec 9 Agriplex Ontario Volleyball Tourn. 7am-10pm
Dec 10 Allman Jr B Warriors 4-7pm
Dec 12 Agriplex Intermediate Volleyball Noon-4pm
Dec 13 Agriplex Snow date school volleyball Noon-4pm
Dec 15-17 Rotary Rinks December Classic Super Series Skating
7am-11:15pm (Sun 7pm)
Dec 16 Agriplex Ontario Volleyball Tourn. 7am-10pm
Jan 13/24 Agriplex Ontario Volleyball Tourn. 7am-10pm
Jan 19-21 Allman
Dufferin
Rotary Rinks
HPL – Great Lakes Cup
7:45am-11pm (Sun 5pm)
Jan 20 Agriplex Ontario Volleyball Tourn. 7am-10pm
Jan 27 Agriplex Ontario Volleyball Tourn. 7am-10pm
Jan 27 Allman Allman 100th 9am-7pm
Jan 27 Allman Jr B Warriors 7-10pm
Feb 3 Agriplex Ontario Badminton Tourn. 7am-10am
Feb 8 Rotary Rinks St Michael CSS Tourn. 8:15am-4:15pm
Feb 10 Agriplex Ontario Volleyball Tourn. 7am-10pm
Feb 11 Allman Jr B Warriors 4-7pm
Feb 13 Agriplex H-P Volleyball Champ. 10am-4pm
Feb 15 Agriplex Central East Basketball Noon-4pm
Feb 21 Agriplex Central East Basketball Noon-4pm
Feb 24 Agriplex Ontario Volleyball Tourn. 7am-10pm
(Feb 29) Agriplex Weather date Central East Noon-4pm
Mar 2 Agriplex Ontario Volleyball Tourn. 7am-10pm
(Mar 5) Agriplex Snow date basketball tourn. Noon-4pm
Mar 6 Agriplex Junior Basketball Tourn. Noon-4pm
(Mar 7) Agriplex Snow date basketball tourn. Noon-4pm
Mar 9 Agriplex Ontario Volleyball Tourn. 7am-10pm
Mar 11&12 Rotary Rinks Cook Memorial Tournament
7:45am-4:15am
Mar 16 Allman Benefit Celebrity Hockey Game 6-10pm
Mar 17 Rotary Rink A Tavistock Skating Club Synchro 3-7pm
Mar 23 Agriplex Ontario Volleyball Tourn. 7am-10pm
Apr 18 Agriplex H-P Badminton Champ. 9am-5pm
Apr 23 Agriplex H-P Badminton Champ. 9am-4pm
Apr 25 Agriplex WOSSA Badminton 9am-5pm