Stakeholder Engagement and MDPCC

**MDPCC = Mixed Doubles Provincial Curling Championship

The MA Creative Events Management presented the 3D Model for Event Management (Figure 1), and the process consists of many areas to consider, but the Stakeholder Process is the one that stood out to me - and is something that we can utilize while planning our event.

Figure 1. 3D Model of Event Management (O'Toole, 2010, p. 166)

Stakeholder engagement, as mentioned in the Sponsorship and Events blog post, is a key process in the Event Management Process. The process for Stakeholders includes:

• Identify

• Classification

• Impact to event

• Stakeholder Management Plan

Identifying Stakeholders

Our top stakeholders for the MDPCC are:

• Sponsors

• Media

• Coworkers

• Board of Directors

• Spectators

• Volunteers

• Coaches and Players

Classifying our Stakeholders

Primary: Sponsors, Volunteers, Coaches and Players

Internal: General Manager, Board of Directors, Coworkers

External: Media, Spectators

Impact of Stakeholders

Sponsors: a primary stakeholder, with direct impact to our event. We need to obtain approximately an additional $3,000 dollars in sponsorship money in order to help us run the event (Budget Blog). Curling Alberta provides $2,000 to help us host this event. We will need sponsors for: volunteer/player snacks and beverages, banquet and ceremonies, and volunteer swag. They help make the event happen!

Volunteers: a primary stakeholder, with direct impact. Volunteers will be assigned a dedicated area, with a specified task during the event. They help make the event happen!

Coaches and Players: a primary stakeholder, with direct impact, as they are the main feature of the event.

General Manager: the GM is our direct internal resource, providing direction and connections.The GM helps us finalize the budget, choose sponsors, work out the logistics, and help the event run smoothly in February.

Board of Directors (BOD): the BOD is an indirect internal stakeholder, who is updated by the GM about the progress of the event. They provide any input they have, and help us to find volunteers for the event.

LCC Coworkers: the Lethbridge Curling Club has direct internal stakeholders, such as kitchen staff, directly concerning the catering of the event.

Media: the media will be a direct external stakeholder, present the day the MDPCC starts in February.

Spectators: our main direct external stakeholder, who will attend the event. They will be a big part of our advertising and marketing strategies and tactics, which will be developed in the near future.

Stakeholder Management Plan

As this is a smaller event, we are familiar with how the Lethbridge Curling Club operates, (most) associated risks, and communications within the Club. We will address potential issues that may arise and how we can handle them.

For example: if we have an upset (or possibly drunk) spectator, how will we address this and what will be our approach to solving the problem?

Our stakeholders make the event happen. Without them, we would not be able to host this event.

On the Agenda for Stakeholder Planning:

• Finalize Stakeholder List

• Create Sponsorship Package

• Recruit Chairs

• Volunteer Recruitment Email

• Finalize Sponsors

• Develop Marketing Plan

• Stakeholder Management Plan

• Media Communications Plan

I am familiar with Stakeholder planning, but this is an area that I need to become more comfortable with and help to enhance my communication skills.

SV

Up Next: Sponsorship and MDPCC

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

O'Tool, W. (2010). Events Feasibility an Development. Oxford: Routledge Ltd, p.166.

Lethbridge Curling Club. 2019. 'Website main page' Lethbridge Curling Club 2019. Available at: http://lethbridgecurlingclub.com/ [accessed 16 November 2019].

James Murgatroyd Communications. 2019.'Website main page' Curling Alberta 2019. Available at: https://curlingalberta.ca/ [accessed 17 November 2019]