The Value of Engaging your Community to Create a Positive Sports Event Experience: A Look Inside York County, South Carolina
Jordan McCraw of Visit York County, SC, has expertly leveraged Playeasy to market all of his community partners, enhancing the overall event experience. By working closely with local business owners, Jordan provides them direct access to Playeasy, allowing them to see nearby sports events, grow their digital presence, and offer discounts to the community to boost foot traffic. This strategic approach directly correlates with the positive event experiences they consistently deliver, showcasing the immense value of engaging the community for sports events.
Step Inside York County, South Carolina
York County exudes a charming small-town feel, where local businesses are eager to become the go-to spots for visitors in town for sporting events. These businesses, with their welcoming atmospheres and personalized service, strive to be the perfect destinations for fans and athletes to gather before or after the game, offering an authentic taste of the community’s hospitality and culture.
How Visit York County, SC Started Using Playeasy to Activate their Community
Jordan recognized the opportunity to involve local businesses on Playeasy, starting by marketing them on the platform and giving them access to create their own deals and discounts. This strategy allowed these businesses to showcase their offerings directly to participants and attendees, increasing their visibility and connection within the community.
Here’s what local businesses can do on Playeasy:
- Access a free Google-optimized business profile through their subscribed Playeasy Destination to promote their business to the sports market.
- View all nearby upcoming sports events marketed on Playeasy to prep for visitors arriving to town.
- Create promotions for specific events, or general promotions for any sporting event participants & attendees.
- Access real-time analytics to track the number of profile views, promotion redemptions, & more to measure their ROI.
How Businesses are Utilizing Playeasy to Tap into the Sports Event Experience
The Hickory Post, a local art, furniture, and gift store, exemplifies York County’s forward-thinking business partners who are enhancing the event experience by utilizing Playeasy. By marketing on the platform, they’ve seen an increase in foot traffic from visitors coming to town for sports events, allowing them to directly connect with these attendees. Similarly, The Kounter is also promoted on Playeasy, now getting found as a go-to local restaurant for visitors seeking an authentic taste of the destination’s unique experience.
Each week, businesses like The Hickory Post and The Kounter get alerted with upcoming nearby sports events so they understand how much foot traffic to expect in town and can opt to create any deals for these events. Both businesses have active promotions running for event attendees, which are found on all Playeasy event pages marketed by Visit York County, as well as directly on Visit York County’s website through Playeasy’s website integration offering.
“Playeasy has been a game changer for our restaurant! It’s the perfect platform for connecting with event participants and spectators visiting from out of town. We can easily post specials that cater specifically to those attending local sports events allowing us to attract new customers and increase foot traffic. The exposure we’ve gained through Playeasy has truly boosted our business, and the user friendly interface makes promoting our restaurant seamless.” – Chris Cutini, Old Town Kitchen & Cocktails
On the backend, business managers can see how many people are viewing their business profile and redeeming their discounts so they can track their success, all while Visit York County can measure each event’s true impact on the entire community.
A Word from the Local Businesses
“I think Playeasy is a great new resource to connect our business with the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center visitors from out of town. Thanks to Visit York County, we now have an easy to use platform that helps us reach new guests who many not know what we are or how close we may be to their event” – Jacob Lutz, General Manager at Hoppin’ Rock Hill
Conclusion
Through the innovative use of Playeasy, Jordan McCraw and Visit York County, SC, have successfully transformed the local sports tourism experience by engaging their community. By offering local businesses direct access to the platform, they’ve not only increased visibility and foot traffic but have also created a seamless connection between event attendees and the authentic York County experience. This approach has allowed businesses like The Hickory Post and The Kounter to thrive, offering unique deals and tracking their success in real-time. The result is a vibrant, interconnected community where local businesses play a pivotal role in enhancing the overall sports event experience.
Discover York County on Playeasy | Check out York County’s Sports Offerings on their Website
