Time to Be Awesome for Colts Camp Westfield – We only get one shot

Its so cool that The Indianapolis Colts have chosen Westfield Indiana has the location for their annual pre season training camp and to me they made the right choice.  Training camp brings several great things to our city like exposure for one and traffic as another.  Lots of visitors will be here for their first time and will get to enjoy all the great things and places that we residents get to on a daily basis.  It also gives us national exposure and credibility as a place that can and will host large events for years to come, at Grand Park.  What is also gives us as locals is a chance to be awesome and to show how proud and excited we are to be the host city.  But we only get 1 chance at this and screwing that up is something I think we need to work hard to avoid and really put our best foot forward.  I am no genius but truthfully if we start planning now, we can have a pretty sweet presence as business owners, residents and supporters of anything Westfield Indiana.  Not everything has to look like it was planned or designed by a municipality.  So here we go.

Businesses – What can we do as businesses located in downtown to physically show our support for hosting the Colts training camp. You will see lots of themed coasters at the restaurants I imagine but what are some cool fun things that will give us a chance to show our support as local small business?  If you visit Speedway in the month of May, you know exactly what that means.  The local businesses are flying flags and covering windows and promoting the Indy 500 all month long.  What can we do in Westfield well, that shows are pride as business owners?

Online – I think this is one thing that has eluded us in many ways but some are doing a great job of it.  How can we directly market to those attending and visiting our city?  What mobile ads or promotions are we planning as a downtown or as individuals to catch the eyes of attendees?  Wouldn’t it be great to have a downtown Westfield association ad campaign that was targeted at anyone opening an app or browsing NW of 31 and 32?  I go to places and when I open up my favorite game app an ad also pops up that is localized and tailored for my interests.  Could we figure out a way to do that for shops and restaurants?  Just an idea

Citizens – Attend.  Talk.  Share.  Spend.  This is a super cool opportunity to use Grand Park as locals if you are not already.  Grand Park was sort of sold as a community space and as much as it may have intended to be that, it’s really a major event venue.  Awesome!  Go to the major events now.  The Colts training camp will have tons of family friendly activities as well as chances to engage with players and coaches throughout the camp.  Some is at a cost but much of it will be easily accessible and fun to attend.  We need to share the happenings and cool stuff going on with our friends as well.  Invite someone that has not been to our city to come along and show off what has quickly developed in our area.  As citizens we have the ability to spread the good news about our community and promote so many great things going on and this is just a great example of a great thing going on.  So talk Westfield up and share the events with your friends and make sure you are a part of the fun time to be had.

So I don’t think having the Colts training camp is going to be the identity of Westfield and all the hard work we have done locally but it will be a world-class event on our stage.  These are the things we have to embrace and leverage to assure success as a community and fast developing city.  If you are looking to get involved there are several great ways including connecting with The Chamber of Commerce.  They will be coordinating some volunteer opportunities as well as have access to the most accurate event schedule.

#bestfield

-curt

Curt has been in the Indianapolis Real Estate business for over 10 years and spent his first years learning all aspects of commercial management and brokerage.  He has had great success in managing existing commercial projects and new retail and office developments.  Curt specializes in building owner representation and purchases in the Westfield Indiana market as well throughout the Indianapolis Metro area.  Curt is passionate about growing the local Westfield community and in his free time volunteers with Westfield Youth Assistance and raising 2 children with his wife Jennifer.