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Saint Paul Convention and Visitors Bureau Creates New Sales Position: Johnny Surprise Appointed as New Director of Sports Marketing
(Saint Paul, MN) The Saint Paul Convention and Visitors Bureau announced the creation of a new sales and marketing position and has appointed Johnny Surprise as its new Director of Sports Marketing. President and CEO Karolyn Kirchgesler identified Sports Marketing as one of her top priorities for the Bureau, and she is eager to welcome Surprise to the organization to help develop this exciting new initiative. "Saint Paul has done an outstanding job hosting events such as the Minnesota State High School League and WCHA tournaments over the years. With our recent experience hosting the NHL All Star Game and World Cup of Hockey in 2004 and the National Junior Weightlifting Championships this spring, we have gained a national reputation as a serious sports contender, and are in a position to aggressively compete for major, high profile sporting events," said Kirchgesler. "Johnny's terrific experience in sports marketing and sponsorship will help us attract the high caliber events we are capable of hosting in Saint Paul." Surprise brings a wealth of sporting experience to the Bureau, having served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for D&H; Consulting, developing sponsorship and marketing plans for major corporations, and as Sports Marketing Manager for Professional Event Solutions, where he negotiated and managed sponsorship programs for major national events. While living and working in the San Diego area, Surprise also served on the San Diego International Sports Council, volunteered in the 1999 and 2000 Super Bowls and acted as the local media rep for the NFL Kickoff Luncheon for the San Diego Super Bowl in 2003. He also is an athlete in his own right, having played football in the European League and finishing in the Ironman Triathlon each year since 1995. Surprise lived in Minnesota previously in 1995-97 while he worked for the University of Minnesota Women's Athletic Department and for Nautilus International, and he looks forward to the opportunity to return to the Twin Cities area. "I love being back in Minnesota, where I feel so much at home, and I look forward to this terrific opportunity with the Saint Paul Convention and Visitors Bureau," said Surprise. "Saint Paul has a great deal to offer as a sports and entertainment destination, we've got some excellent partners to work with, and I know we can create great synergy with our Sports Council which will benefit event planners, sponsors and visitors alike." Surprise will be the Bureau's liaison to the new Saint Paul Sports Council, which will seek to bring quality sports and entertainment events to Saint Paul. The goal of the Council is to pool community resources to bid on high profile and high profit sporting events, which can be hosted at the Xcel Energy Center, home of the NHL MN Wild, the 6000-seat Roy Wilkins Auditorium, the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center, regional golf courses and other facilities. Currently, the group has bids out on USA Gymnastics, the USA Figure Skating Championships and the US Swimming Olympic Team Trials. The Sports Council was initiated last year by Vice President of Convention Sales and Marketing Julie Larson. "There is a high level of enthusiasm among sports organizations and venues for the Sports Council and the response at our first meeting was awesome," said Larson. "We will be targeting events that best utilize the sports package we have to offer and are confident that organizers around the country will respond positively to the fact that Saint Paul provides a single point of contact for their events." The group will be comprised of sports organizations, indoor and outdoor entertainment venues, businesses and marketing organizations interested in attracting such events to the city. It will also seek sponsorships and raise revenue to be used in a "bid fund" to attract major events which have the potential to draw thousands of visitors to town who will spend millions of dollars in the city. For more information on the Saint Paul Convention and Visitors Bureau visit www.visitsaintpaul.com. NOTE: For a digital photo of Johnny Surprise, please contact Jean Freidl at 651-493-3029 or Pat Laurel, Publications and Graphics Coordinator at 651-265-4921 or [email protected].