FROM STUDENTS TO RETIREES: THE WORKFORCE POWERING OUR EVENTS

Volunteers assisting at IRONMAN® event, which requires over 1,000 volunteers each year

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The reality of operating as a nonprofit sports commission might be different from the public perception. Many people assume that the size of events reflects the size of the staff. And while our events are large and welcome many athletes and visitors to the region year-round, our staff is small. Sports commissions like the Happy Valley Sports & Entertainment Alliance often operate with very small teams that coordinate with large networks of support. While there are only a handful of full-time employees at the HVSEA, our events are powered by people across all generations and professions.

At the HVSEA, we rely on a wide network of people to help successfully host sporting events in Happy Valley. Students, retirees, volunteers, partners, community members, and individuals with full-time jobs all dedicate their personal time to sports and help to welcome athletes and visitors to the region during each event. These people are essential to the success and operation of these events and would not be possible without their consistent dedication.

Students & Interns: Learning the Industry

The HVSEA has a history of connecting and working with students. This is a mutually beneficial relationship that helps both parties. Students can gain hands-on experience in sports event management and actively contribute to events while also learning about the industry. Many times, internships can result in full-time job offers, either with the company they interned with, or with other companies following the experience.

Interning with a sports commission also exposes students to the brands and organizations that host events in the region. Working with sports commissions helps to build their resumes and set them up for long-term success.

All the while, they also work to expand the capacity of a small staff and provide extra help with events and daily operations where needed. Penn State students provide a strong pipeline of talent to the HVSEA and contribute in a multitude of ways. Some examples include assisting with athlete check-in, general operations support at events, event marketing or social media content creation, and volunteer coordination.

2025 HVSEA summer interns working with staff for Hoppy Valley Brewers Fest

Community Partners: Collaboration Makes Events Possible

The reason why events succeed is also because of the many organizations that collaborate to host them. Several organizations across Centre County work to help bring our events to life, and without them, they wouldn’t be possible.

Venues and facility managers largely contribute to each event we host. The HVSEA works with event organizers and facilities to find the perfect space for each event. From there, the facilities take on the needs of what is required to ensure the event can run as smoothly as possible. This can include rearranging spaces, bringing in additional security for the day of the event, renting any additional equipment that may be needed, and working alongside event organizers. Without these contributions, our events wouldn’t have space to be held.

Tourism and hospitality partners also provide a great deal of necessary support. For many of our events, the HVSEA partners with hotels to create room blocks and focus on their low occupancy times to book. It is also important that we alert these partners of incoming events, so they are prepared and can anticipate the upcoming demand. This partnership helps to house our athletes and visitors during their time in Happy Valley and is an essential aspect of every event.

The HVSEA also relies on local sports clubs to help put on different events. The upcoming SEE HER WIN event is utilizing multiple Centre County sports teams to offer volunteer support and natural marketing to other teams. That, as well as collaboration from local parks and recreation departments, plays a key role in the organization of our events.

Municipal partners are another contributor to each event. At the HVSEA, we rely on many municipalities to ensure events are running smoothly. The State College Criterium proves to be a prime example of this. It caused road closures in certain areas, so we worked closely with the Borough to ensure all permitting was submitted, and businesses and their workforces were made aware of upcoming changes to ensure a safe and well-operated event.

Each of these partners are experts in their realm and assist us in ensuring events run smoothly. This helps attendees to feel satisfied while they are in Happy Valley.

Participants at the State College Criterium, supported by the State College Borough and Downtown Improvement District

Retirees & Volunteers: Experience and Passion

Both volunteers and retirees in the Happy Valley community provide essential work during our events. Retirees play an incredibly important role, especially during mid-week events. Sometimes, events and tournaments occur during an average workday, which limits the number of typical volunteers. Retirees play a crucial role in these situations.

Many volunteers have decades of professional experience and are incredibly valuable to every event. They can provide us with leadership, hospitality, and organizational skills that allow events to run smoothly. On top of that, volunteers often return year after year, allowing the HVSEA to form real relationships with members of the community who dedicate so much of their time to these events.

The After-Hours Workforce

Some individuals provide their aid after a long day of their own work, simply because of their care for sports and the local community. These types of people provide critical support at our events, even though they have other responsibilities. The commitment to these events is purely because these individuals are passionate and eager to dedicate their time.

During tournaments, it’s not abnormal to see coaches who have full-time jobs outside of their commitment to youth sports. Many of the athletic trainers that assist at our events dedicate additional time outside of their traditional work hours to do so. Teachers often volunteer and provide support after working a full day at school. And once a year, our annual events like IRONMAN® and UTMB require the full-time staff to direct the race, but these staff also hold additional roles in other industries. Additionally, these events require year-round planning on top of additional responsibilities.

Volunteer helping at IRONMAN® event

Why This Matters

Sports tourism supports hundreds of jobs and creates billions of dollars in economic impact nationwide. According to a SportsETA study, the sports tourism industry has created a total economic impact of more than $114 billion in the U.S., while also supporting 664,860 full-time and part-time jobs all over the country. Events help to drive tourism and economic activity, while also creating opportunities for community engagement. It also allows students to gain experience and gives professionals a way to stay connected to sports.

Even though the HVSEA has a small staff operating behind the scenes, the real team that makes every event possible is the variety of community members in Happy Valley. It is because of these individuals that each sporting event in Happy Valley is made into a memorable experience for the athletes, coaches, families, and visitors that enter the region.

Have an idea for another blog post? Email us at info.sea@happyvalley.com