Courtesy Katy Motsinger
By Tory Barringer Sports in Frisco have become big business —big enough that a network is being formed for area sports-related businesses and organizations. Plans are nearly complete for the launch of a new group, the Frisco Sports Network, intended to support that fast-growing sports community, said Katy Motsinger, marketing director for the new organization and communications director and age coach for Frisco Aquatics. Described by its founders as a "chamber of commerce" catering specifically to athletics, the Frisco Sports Network is intended to be an all-in-one portal for every athlete, coach, director, parent and business to find all they need to know about what is going on in Frisco sports. The website, www.friscosportsnetwork.com, is up and running but still a work in progress. Following FSN's official launch, which is anticipated to happen by fall, the network's short-term goal is to establish an educational base for the sports community, act as an informational resource for expanding organizations and build networking opportunities among groups, Motsinger said. "It's really unique that you come to a community and the sports entities are not at each others' throats," Motsinger said. "To have the cooperation already built in, we felt that it was a waste to let that go." Although the list of eligibility requirements is still a work in progress, a number of organizations have already expressed interest in joining the network, including several volunteer-staffed groups that rely on the support of a central body. For those that do join, the network's organizers plan to offer a variety of perks based on membership level, providing member groups with enhanced visibility and greater involvement, organizers said. "[If] you're a hotel or a restaurant and you want to put your name in front of a bunch of sports teams that are bringing people to town, that's another aspect of what we're doing," Motsinger said.

A sports economy

As home to the Dr Pepper Ballpark, Toyota Stadium and Dr Pepper Arena, among others, Frisco's economic development is tied closely with its growth as a major sports center in the state. According to Marla Roe, executive director of the Frisco Convention and Visitors Bureau, in 2013 alone, nearly 40 groups brought more than $21 million in economic impact to the city through various events—and that only covers those with which the bureau was involved. As the FSN works within the local community to create and promote opportunities for athletics, the CVB continues to work at the state and national levels to bring more business to the city with its ongoing campaign, Frisco Is Sports. "We're all trying to convey the same message, just to different audiences," Roe said. In its efforts to collaborate with the city, the FSN has recruited the help of Chuck Brakes, who spearheads the Frisco Is Sports initiative as sports sales manager. "I've had a couple meetings with them, and I love what they're trying to do in regards to [providing] basic guidelines about running a good program, good coaching, what the parents should be doing on the sidelines, things of that nature," he said.