Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA), the national organization for builders and suppliers of materials for athletic facilities, has made the difficult decision to cancel its in-person 2020 Technical Meeting and Trade Show in San Antonio, Texas. The meeting was originally scheduled to take place December 4-7.
In place of the meeting, a longstanding tradition in the industry, connecting hundreds of industry members each year, ASBA will instead deliver a Virtual Technical Meeting beginning the week of December 1.
“ASBA and San Antonio were prepared to host the sports construction industry for its premier event in December,” said Fred Stringfellow, CAE, ASBA’s executive director. “This was not an easy decision, but the health and safety of our attendees, exhibitors, speakers and staff helped us to decide that cancelling the face-to-face meeting was the safe and responsible action.”
Plans are already underway for a return to San Antonio in the near future and, according to Stringfellow, the Association is already working on creating a safe alternative for this year, including providing participants with the ability to visit manufacturers and suppliers in the exhibit hall in order to learn about the latest products on the market.
“Shifting gears, we are immersed in delivering a robust Virtual Trade Show experience for our members. Virtual attendees can expect the same great technical content, access to the supplier community and important industry updates. Our certified builders and design professionals will be able to earn continuing education credits as well – in order to maintain their important professional designations.”
ASBA’s officers, directors and staff are looking forward to reconvening with the sports construction community under safer conditions in the future. In the meantime, said Stringfellow, “ASBA is confident that we can deliver a virtual event this December that will meet industry members’ needs and exceed their expectations. ASBA continues to be the trusted source of technical education and networking within the sports design and construction industry and we are using this challenge as an opportunity to build upon our reputation.”
Registration for the Virtual Technical Meeting and Trade Show will open after Labor Day, and information will be posted on ASBA’s website www.sportsbuilders.org. Members of ASBA will receive notification automatically; non-members may e-mail info@sportsbuilders.orgto be added to the list.
The ASBA is a non-profit association helping designers, builders, owners, operators and users understand quality sports facility construction. The ASBA also publishes newsletters, books and technical construction guidelines for athletic facilities, and keeps its members aware of the latest developments in the industry. It also offers voluntary certification programs in tennis court, running track and sports field construction.
Available at no charge is a listing of all publications offered by the Association, as well as the ASBA’s Membership Directory. For information on the ASBA, as well as on its publications, activities and upcoming meetings, please contact the Association at 2331 Rock Spring Road, Forest Hill, Maryland 21050. The toll-free phone number is 866-501-ASBA. The ASBA also may be reached via its website: www.sportsbuilders.org, or via e-mail at info@sportsbuilders.org.