BEYOND THE SCOREBOARD

Costante presents a thorough handbook for organizing and executing a sports event of any kind.

In his nonfiction debut, the author takes on the subject of overseeing smoothly run sports events, noting at the outset that this is a far more complicated and detailed process than most people initially realize—which is one reason, he notes, that those undertaking the endeavor so often encounter challenges. “Over the years the importance of event presentation has significantly increased at all levels of athletics, from high school to college to professional sports,” Costante writes. “This is particularly true for professional organizations that struggle with fan engagement.” The author covers dozens and dozens of aspects of such undertakings (whatever the level or size of the event in question), from choosing the right venue to managing a budget of any size to working event staff (including volunteers). Along the way, he looks not only at the practicalities of making sure things proceed properly but also at the principles and the mindset behind it all. Costante writes, “I’ve found that the most successful event directors share three distinct traits: exceptional communication, thorough preparation, and continuous leadership.” His considerations range from these overarching leadership ideas to more granular matters of mascots, the availability of drinking water, and stadium music. This sweeping, comprehensive approach is by far the book’s greatest strength; there seems to be no facet of the subject the author doesn’t examine in detail. Costante asserts that no matter what the event is, the presentation is crucial to the enjoyment of attendees (Chicago Bears fans sitting knee-deep in snow notwithstanding); as any fan will acknowledge, poor bathroom arrangements or clueless staff can spoil a sports outing a lot quicker than a team doing poorly. Every sporting event director should read this book.

An engaging and comprehensive guide to the nuts and bolts of sporting event presentation.