Six ideas merit further study

Dozens of community members and a panel of 16 tourism and community leaders gathered at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center to review 101 winter special event ideas resulting from Project Brainstorm ’07 – an effort to uncover winter special events that could take place in Reno-Tahoe.

The panel selected six ideas for further study from a field that included everything from the world’s largest snowball fight to “Melting Man,” a winter counterpart to the summer’s Burning Man festival.

With priority placed on events that have potential to generate tourism and marketing exposure, the panelists also considered their consistency with the community’s character, sponsorship potential, support base, sustainability and ability to highlight existing tourism draws. The process served as a catalyst for panelists who generated several event ideas during the three-hour gathering.

Panelists selected the following ideas for further study:
• The International Skating Union’s World Cup Short Track Speed Skating Championships
• Baby Boomer Singles Fest
• Biggest Little Tailgate Party
• Extreme Bowling
• Hunting and Fishing Expo
• Cowboy Winter Festival

Participants who submitted ideas were entered into a random prize drawing for round-trip ExpressJet Airlines tickets and a two-day pass at any one of seven Ski Lake Tahoe ski resorts.