Cover Story
Collaboration helps drive
regional economic development
Ten years ago, community business leaders tried for a second time to lure the Minnesota Vikings´ football training camp to Sioux Falls. Although the attempt fell short, the committee´s work led to the creation of the Sioux Falls Sports Authority, which has been a big win for the recreational and economic growth of the city in the last decade.
The Sports Authority was formed in 2006 to recruit major sporting events to the Sioux Falls area. The wisdom of creating the organization started becoming evident in 2009, when the Summit League Basketball Championships moved to Sioux Falls. Other successes have followed, turning Sioux Falls into a college sports hub.
Consider the schedule this March, which will be the Sports Authority´s biggest month ever: in a span of less than four weeks, Sioux Falls will host four major events that the Sports Authority helped bring to the city.
The fun begins with the Division I Summit League Basketball Tournament, which will be held March 5-8 at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center. The tournament is a national attention-grabber because winners of the men´s and women´s tournaments will advance to the NCAA´s highly popular Big Dance. . .
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Exercise your right to vote April 12
On April 12, Sioux Falls residents will
elect four new city council members from
the 12 who are vying for seats within the
following districts: At-Large, Northeast,
Northwest and Southwest. Also on this day,
citizens residing within the Sioux Falls Public
School District will elect two candidates for
school board from the five who are running.
Candidate information can be found on this
page through page 31 of Chamber News.
The Sioux Falls Area Chamber of
Commerce does not endorse candidates but
members are encouraged to learn about the
candidates they are eligible to vote for and to
exercise their right to vote on April 12. This
election will result in replacing half of the
current city council and the possibility of 40
percent of the current school board. It is easy
to imagine the significance of this election.
Informed voters are the best way to ensure
quality leadership for our city and school
district. . .
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Chair's Column
Keep dreaming big, Sioux Falls
Ten years ago if you asked the founders of the Sioux Falls Sports Authority if they could have imagined the breadth and depth of the tournaments and events that Sioux Falls has hosted, I think even they would have said that the community´s successes have exceeded expectations.
Like many community leaders of the past, they believed that it was possible to dream bigger for Sioux Falls. And we have more than realized those dreams - this month alone our community will host the NCAA Division II Wrestling National Championship, NCAA Division II Women´s Basketball Elite Eight Tournament, Division I Women´s Basketball Regional, and the Summit League´s Men´s and Women´s Basketball Tournaments. Certainly, facilities like the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center and the Sanford Pentagon have made it easier to sell Sioux Falls. But it´s also our community´s progressive attitude and willingness to get behind these events - in attendance and sponsorships - that makes them want to return again and again.
We have a great opportunity to be hosts for our visitors this month. In addition to the events mentioned, Sioux Falls will host the State AA Boys and Girls Basketball Tournaments, the Sioux Empire Home Show, the Sioux Falls Lawn & Garden Show, the St. Patrick´s Day Parade and a number of other events, meetings and conventions, plus concerts, art events and plays. . .
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