White Paper The mission of the Baton Rouge Area Sports Foundation is to assist in securing and staging statewide, regional, national, and international sporting competitions and special events for the Greater Baton Rouge Area, thereby having a positive economic impact on our community. By attracting professional, collegiate, high school and recreational sporting events to the Baton Rouge area, the Baton Rouge Area Sports Foundation intends to make Baton Rouge the amateur sports capital of the South. The objectives of the Sports Foundation are to invite, attract, welcome, and facilitate sporting events of all types to the region, and to produce, support and develop events that stimulate sports in our area. The Sports Foundation serves as a liaison between organized groups or individual promoters and the local organizations that control event facilities, and acts as an information center for the public and media regarding sporting events and contacts. The Sports Foundation works to develop and participates in fundraising activities that are necessary to attract and produce any event opportunities in our area. The Sports Foundation strives to continually develop the sports industry in our region, and actively solicits members from the community to assist in the pursuit of its mission. The Baton Rouge Area Sports Foundation is a non-profit organization and is governed by a 15 member Board of Directors, which is elected by its membership and appointed from representative organizations. These organizations include the Office of the Mayor-President, Greater Baton Rouge Hospitality Management Association, Louisiana State University, Southern University, and the Greater Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce, Economic Freedom Association, as well as area businesses. The staff consists of a President/CEO, a Director of Events Management, and a Coordinator of Indoor Sports and Sport Meetings. Interns complete the Sports Foundation staff. To guide and direct it’s efforts, the Sports Foundation evaluates and prioritizes sporting events based on (1) the economic impact the event would bring to our community, (2) whether the event can improve our overall community relations, (3) the educational and academic value of the event, and (4) whether the event will serve as a catalyst for the development and/or improvement of quality sports facilities, as well as its potential to incite the interest, involvement and support of area residents.