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Incorporation, Board of Directors, and Communications

Incorporation Based on the Olympic model, the name of the international entity is World Table Hockey Association (International) incorporated and headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States of America (USA).

The name of the Canadian entity is WORLD TABLE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION (CANADA) INC., is incorporated in Ontario, Canada. It is a nonprofit organization (NPO) per the Canada Revenue Agency. WTHA (Canada) Inc., headquarters is in Ottawa, Canada.

The name of the USA entity is WORLD TABLE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION (USA) INC., is incorporated in Virginia, USA. It is an Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Section 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Its headquarters is in Washington, D.C., USA.

Board of Directors, WTHA

Gregory Scoma, President and Chief Executive Officer, Washington, D.C., USA David Kraehling, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Ronald Marsik, Chicago, Illinois, USA Reggie Stefaniszyn, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Ajit Sarma, Anaheim, California, USA Communications – E-Mail, Address and Telephone World Table Hockey Association, Inc. 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 375 Washington, DC 20006 1811 Telephone Toll-Free USA or Canada: 1-855-500-WTHA (9842) E-Mail: [email protected] Communications - Social Media The World Table Hockey Association’s (the Right’s Holder) website and social media marketing (SMM) platform includes: • https://WTHA.com • https://www.facebook.com/WorldTableHockeyAssociation • https://twitter.com/WTHA • https://www.pinterest.com/WTHA/ • https://www.instagram.com/WorldTableHockeyAssociation/ • https://plus.google.com/+WTHA-WorldTableHockeyAssociation • https://www.youtube.com/c/WTHA-WorldTableHockeyAssociation • https://www.linkedin.com/company/World-Table-Hockey-Association/

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Issuers of This Request for Proposal (RFP)

The Canadian entity, WTHA (Canada) Inc., is issuing this RFP in Canada. The American entity, WTHA (USA) Inc., is issuing this RFP in the United States of America.

References within this RFP to “WTHA” refer to (i) World Table Hockey Association (USA) in the United States of America, or (ii) World Table Hockey Association (Canada) Inc. in Canada, as the case may be.

Disclaimers None of the organizations or people mentioned herein, such as the National Hockey League (NHL) are affiliated with the World Table Hockey Association (WTHA), Incorporated. The organizations, names, achievements, roles, responsibilities or skills of people are mentioned as reported news in the public space or provide examples, but are not endorsements of the WTHA. The RFP refers in various places to the expected number of attendees. It should be made clear that the WTHA cannot guarantee the number of attendees and will have no responsibility if less than the expected number of attendees are present. The WTHA may, in its sole discretion: • Seek clarification or verify any or all information provided by the proponent in its proposal; • Waive any non-material defect, irregularity, non-conformity or non-compliance in or with respect

to a proposal or failure to comply with the requirements of this RFP; • Reject any or all proposals received in response to this RFP; • Choose the proponents that best meet the requirements, as described herein, without incurring

any obligation to any other proponents having responded to this RFP; • Cancel and/or reissue this RFP at any time; • Extend, from time to time, any date, time-period or deadline provided in this RFP, upon written

notice to all proponents.

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Trademarks All World Table Hockey Association® (WTHA) logos and wordmarks depicted herein are the registered trademarks and property of the WTHA (International), WTHA (USA), and WTHA (Canada), and may not be reproduced without prior written consent. Copyright Photographs (figures) and any other third-party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved. The World Table Hockey Association Incorporated (WTHA) is a member of the Canadian Sports Tourism Alliance (CSTA) and National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC). All adaptations of this request for proposal based and associated documents in any form whatsoever by a non-CSTA or non-NASC members is strictly forbidden without the express authorization of the CSTA, NASC and WTHA. © All rights reserved – World Table Hockey Association Inc., 2018 Document Revision / Change Log Any revisions or changes to this document after publication should be recorded in this log table.

Document Revision / Change Log Date Page Description Made By

10 October 2018 5 Added Revision / Change Log Table Gregory Scoma 10 October 2018 8, 19 Extended the “Letter of Interest” deadline by

one week from Friday, Oct. 19 to Friday, Oct. 26. Required update to “Important Dates”, p8 and “Bid Timeline”, p19.

Gregory Scoma

10 October 2018 19 Extended Question and Answer period from Friday, Oct. 26 to Wednesday, Oct. 31. Required update to “Bid Timeline”, p19.

Gregory Scoma

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Table of Contents

1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 8

1.1 Purpose of the RFP .............................................................................................................................................................. 10

2 The World Table Hockey Association (WTHA) .................................................................. 10

2.1 Our Mission & Vision .......................................................................................................................................................... 10 2.2 WTHA’s Sport Heritage and Tourism Memberships .............................................................................................. 11 2.3 WTHA Events - Spirit and Purpose ................................................................................................................................ 12

3 The WTHA’s Festival, Exhibition and Championships ....................................................... 13

3.1 About the Event .................................................................................................................................................................... 13 3.2 Why Host The Event? .......................................................................................................................................................... 14 3.3 Tournament Demographics ............................................................................................................................................. 15 3.4 WTHA Event Numbers ........................................................................................................................................................ 15 3.5 Event Days ............................................................................................................................................................................... 16 3.6 Example of An Event’s Daily Schedule ......................................................................................................................... 16

4 Bidder Obligations to WTHA – By Host & Venue .............................................................. 17

4.1 Strong Foundational Commitments ............................................................................................................................. 17 4.2 Mandatory Bid Process and Event Commitments ................................................................................................... 18

5 Bid Procedure ........................................................................................................................ 19

5.1 Bid Timeline ............................................................................................................................................................................ 19 5.2 Bid Rules .................................................................................................................................................................................. 19

5.2.1 Confidentiality ............................................................................................................................ 19 5.2.2 Guiding Principle ........................................................................................................................ 19 5.2.3 Bid document Submission ......................................................................................................... 20 5.2.4 Communication .......................................................................................................................... 20

5.3 Bid Evaluation ........................................................................................................................................................................ 21

6 Appendix A: Bid Requirements and Commitments .......................................................... 23

6.1 Bid Requirements ................................................................................................................................................................. 23 6.1.1 Format of the RFP Response Document .................................................................................. 23 6.1.2 Bid Package ............................................................................................................................... 24 6.1.3 Volunteers .................................................................................................................................. 25 6.1.4 Legacy ....................................................................................................................................... 25

6.2 Funding Opportunities ....................................................................................................................................................... 25 6.3 Bid Commitments ................................................................................................................................................................. 25

6.3.1 Attachment A - Host Community Commitments ...................................................................... 26 6.3.2 Attachment B1 - Letter of Commitment - Host Organization ..................................................... 27 6.3.3 Attachment B2 - Letter of Commitment - Venue........................................................................ 28 6.3.4 Attachment B3 - Public Announcements ................................................................................... 29

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7 Appendix B: WTHA and FEC Information ......................................................................... 30

7.1 WTHA Event Fact Sheet ..................................................................................................................................................... 30 7.2 WTHA Commitments .......................................................................................................................................................... 35

7.2.1 Quality Management Principles (QMP) ..................................................................................... 35 7.2.2 The WTHA Legacy .................................................................................................................... 35 7.2.3 WTHA Capabilities to Benefit Host ............................................................................................ 36

7.3 Exhibition Details .................................................................................................................................................................. 38 7.4 Winter and Holiday Travel Limitations ......................................................................................................................... 39

8 Appendix C: Return on Investment (ROI)........................................................................... 41

8.1 Mitigating the Financial Risk of Your Community and WTHA’s ........................................................................ 41 8.1.1 Contract ..................................................................................................................................... 41 8.1.2 Defining a “Successful Event”.................................................................................................... 41 8.1.3 Profit, Revenue vs Expenses..................................................................................................... 41 8.1.4 Defining the Universe of Participants ........................................................................................ 41 8.1.5 Players / Participants ................................................................................................................. 42 8.1.6 Disposable Income .................................................................................................................... 42 8.1.7 Sponsorships ............................................................................................................................. 42 8.1.8 Exhibitors ................................................................................................................................... 42 8.1.9 Fan Attendance (Another Source of Revenue and Potential Expense) .................................... 43

8.2 Stand-Alone Event or in Combination with Another Event(s)? .......................................................................... 44 8.3 Media Exposure - Contributing to Many Host Communities “Definition of Success” .............................. 44 8.4 Why involve a not for profit? ........................................................................................................................................... 44

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1 Introduction

We are excited to present you with our Request for Proposal (RFP) to partner and host the World Table Hockey Association’s Festival, Exhibition and Championships (FEC) in 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22. On Monday, 01 October 2018, the World Table Hockey Association (WTHA) officially opened bidding for WTHA’s FEC. What sport can you promote where a female of any height or weight and a male of any height or weight and regardless of age, could compete fairly against each other and the outcome only determined by skill, knowledge and determination? Ice hockey? Basketball? Rugby? Baseball? If ever there was an untapped sports niche that could draw the public in great numbers where regardless of age, gender or size they could compete on equal terms it is the sport of table hockey that fills that niche!

26 October, 2018 (17h00 MT) - Letter of Interest 09 November, 2018 (17h00 MT) - Bid Proposal

IMPORTANT RFP

DEADLINES

Figure 1 - Mixed play competition. Photo: Kursk LNH, Russia. https://goo.gl/photos/TNhwp4h2tRquTMLXA

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Figure 3 – Children in Individual and Team Competition. Photo: Kursk Table Hockey Club, Russia http://kurskcup.ru/index.php/en/

Figure 3 – Women in Individual and Team Competition.

Figure 2 – Men and Women in mixed international competition. SoHo Tournament, Times Square, Manhattan, NY Photo: SoHo Table Hockey, LLC.

Figure 5 - Sweden vs Finland, Team Competition. Photo: Timo Toivonen, Finland, www.poytajaakiekko.fi/wch2011

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1.1 PURPOSE OF THE RFP

The purpose of the enclosed RFP is to provide a detailed overview of the up and coming FEC event and criteria which will be used to evaluate bid submissions and provide an opportunity for potential partners to submit their bid proposals. The proposals should be customized to include content that demonstrates your capability and uniqueness in the sport tourism industry.

2 The World Table Hockey Association (WTHA)

The WTHA is the first and only bona fide non-profit organization (NPO) representing table hockey in Canada and the United States (IRS Section 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation). The WTHA is built to promote the development of a table hockey ecosystem. It is the only NPO in the world that:

• promotes table hockey universally, • is manufacturer agnostic, and • is a nexus for players, collectors, historians, manufacturers, and

organizers.1 The WTHA has a loose affiliation with two other table hockey organizations in the European Union (EU) and non-EU eastern European nations including Russia and Ukraine. (See footnote 1, below). The WTHA was built on the Olympic model, national sport governing bodies incorporated in the United States in 2010, Canada in 2012, and international (parent organization) 2012.

2.1 OUR MISSION & VISION

Mission: To educate, preserve, develop and promote table hockey…one person, one community, one nation at a time...worldwide!

Vision: The sporting public to consider table hockey a competitive sport and to achieve status as an Olympic sport.2

1 There are two other table hockey NPOs both based in Europe. One is worldwide. Per its Articles of Incorporation “table hockey…means…the game produced by [a specific manufacturer]”. The other NPO plays a version of table hockey by hand, i.e. without rods, and another game with rods but only played in eastern Europe. 2 “Table Hockey is Real Sport”, by Stan Fischler sports column, Daily Freeman, Sports 11/05/16, 9:39 AM EDT. “Lester Patrick” award winner and author-columnist-commentator whose column appears each week in the Sunday Freeman. He also serves as the resident hockey expert for Madison Square Garden (MSG+) Networks. The 7-time Emmy winner is a true historian of the game of hockey, and has served as a reporter and analyst for MSG+ Networks since 1975.

The WTHA’s FEC is one

example how the WTHA fulfills its mission

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2.2 WTHA’S SPORT HERITAGE AND TOURISM MEMBERSHIPS As an event owner, the WTHA takes its role and responsibilities seriously to be a positive, knowledgeable and worthy partner within the sport tourism community. The WTHA’s leadership sought and gained knowledge and guidance from experienced leaders in the sport tourism community to shape our approach. As evidence of our active participation, one or more of the WTHA’s leadership team has attended a total of five annual conferences, held formal information exchanges with sport tourism representatives at four, and delivered formal presentations before audiences at two conferences. All very well received.

The International Sports Heritage Association (ISHA), whose mission is to educate, promote and support organizations and individuals engaged in the celebration of sports heritage. Fellow ISHA members include the Hockey Hall of Fame (HHOF), the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage, and National Baseball Hall of Fame.

The National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC), a non-profit trade association for sport tourism in the United States. It delivers education, networking events, event management and marketing know-how to its members and seeks to protect the integrity of sports events and tourism industry. The Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance (CSTA), mission is to increase Canadian capacity to attract and host sport tourism events. CSTA objectives include to establish Canada as a preferred sport tourism destination; to enhance the image and profile of the sport tourism industry; to facilitate networking, educational and communications opportunities; to develop and facilitate access to industry tools; to build investment in sport tourism from the public and private sectors; and to coordinate research and data collection of activity within the sport tourism industry.

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2.3 WTHA EVENTS - SPIRIT AND PURPOSE “A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats” The WTHA's business plan, based on extensive research, is designed to create win-win-win situations for table hockey and everyone involved, to include sports tourism, competitive table hockey players, and local charities. Ice hockey has a healthy ecosystem. There is a network of organizations including suppliers, distributors, players, consumers, competitors, government agencies, and so on, involved in the delivery of ice hockey’s related products or services through both competition and cooperation. In contrast, the table hockey community desires a healthier ecosystem. The WTHA is a prominent voice leading the promotion and growth of a healthy table hockey ecosystem. To achieve a healthy ecosystem for table hockey, WTHA seeks: • To partner with small to medium sized communities

to host WTHA events; • In partnership with the Host Community, to provide

a positive healthy source of entertainment, enjoyment and shared experience;

• To partner with a local charity, drawing attention and

revenue to that charity’s mission and community specific needs;

• To preserve an element of our heritage, i.e. table

hockey, and fond memories of our youth and our history;

• To draw attention to table hockey manufacturers and craftsmen producing table hockey games or

services, where sales increase the community’s revenue to support its infrastructure, social and educational services;

• To offer table hockey games, related products and services at a discount to the local community while

attending WTHA’s FEC; All of which enables the WTHA to fulfill its mission.

Figure 4 - Jeremy Davis who defeated Kenny Dubois by a score of 3-1 on Saturday, March 31, in Hershey, PA during the championship match of the 2012 Labatt Blue AHL Bubble Hockey Tournament

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3 The WTHA’s Festival, Exhibition and Championships

3.1 ABOUT THE EVENT The WTHA seeks two communities in the United States of America and two communities in Canada to host and partner with the WTHA to showcase a table hockey festival atmosphere, an exhibition of table hockey related products, services, notable persons, and test their table hockey skill by participating in table hockey tournament competition for three consecutive years: 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-2022. Festival: • Education and awareness of table hockey in the history and heritage of Canada, the United States and

Europe • An opportunity for the community to share photographs, stories of family and friends enjoying table

hockey from years past • Provide an opportunity for local artists, musicians, and businessmen to offer those products and

services that support a table hockey theme and the festival. Exhibition: • Manufacturers or craftsmen to show, demonstrate, and sell table hockey products and services (at a

discount for this event). • Exhibition supports rejuvenating the table hockey industries in Canada and the USA • Affords the opportunity for sale of products and services and the follow-on injection of tourist dollars

into the local community • Collectors and historians to show, buy, or sell items • One to three local charities to partner, educate the public, solicit funds and provide mutual support • For more information see Exhibition Details

Championships:

• At least two tournaments, each using a tournament quality table hockey game from two different manufacturers, each with an overall champion. • Champions in categories such as overall, by gender, age, or physical challenge. • Bonus feature a championship between the winner of one table hockey game-type versus the other. Also known as a “Multi-Board Champion”. • Provide an opportunity for players to measure their skills and competitiveness and be ranked from local up through to the international level

• Table hockey education and training will be provided to players and the public

Figure 5 - Roni Nuttunen, Finland, celebrates his first World championship title. Moscow, 2007. Photo: Timo Toivonen, Finland, www.poytajaakiekko.fi/wch2011

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3.2 WHY HOST THE EVENT? There are direct and indirect impacts to your destination and surrounding areas that can be attributed to hosting the WTHA’s FEC. NATIONAL and INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION This is your event too! As the host of the WTHA’s FEC, you could highlight your destination and all it has to offer leading up to and during the event at the festival, exhibition area, tournaments, local area tours and more for the next three years. Partnering with the WTHA will very likely draw media and public attention to your community placing your community on the sport tourism map and demonstrating your destination’s attractiveness around Canada, United States and the world to tourists, future FEC participants and other event owners actively seeking host communities for future events. MARKETING AND PROMOTION Is your destination actively pursuing the sport tourism industry to bring in more sports events?

Being the host of the WTHA’s FEC is an excellent way to accelerate your marketing efforts. The event offers a full year of exposure to a national and international (worldwide) audience of potential customers. The destination will be promoted through the WTHA’s website and its partners.

The Table Hockey Show, has listeners around the world, has five hundred and four (504) downloads, and is an online radio show (podcast) with a multimedia mission to educate, preserve, develop and promote table hockey worldwide! It also provides mass distribution of WTHA printed and electronic conference materials and promotions. CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION The WTHA’s FEC includes a community service element, giving back to benefit the Host Community and partnering with local charities or organizations in need to leave a legacy for the culture, community, and environment. (See Our WTHA Legacy section).

We truly partner with

you in the creation of the WTHA’s

FEC

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3.3 TOURNAMENT DEMOGRAPHICS The universe of participants that can play against each other is larger than most other sports. Participants may span from eight years old and above in age, regardless of gender or physical challenge3. The WTHA will strive for simplicity in creation of divisions and categories of competition to ensure the efficient use of time and resources balanced against many participants having a positive and memorable experience.

• Age. Tournaments are open to school-aged children age eight (8) up through senior citizens. Age-based categories of competition can include youth, junior, senior, and masters.

• Gender. Categories of competition can include a division for females and aged-based categories of competition within that division.

• Physically Challenged. Categories of competition can include a division for participants who are physically challenged and categories of competition within based on type of physical challenge, e.g. persons who are blind.

• Mixed / All-in. WTHA reserves the right to initiate the tournament with all participants playing across competition categories, because lower skilled players see a tournament as an opportunity test their abilities against or learn new plays from better skilled players. This is especially true when “master” players are present. The WTHA cannot guarantee that all participants will play against all other participants.

3.4 WTHA EVENT NUMBERS While the WTHA’s Board of Directors has decades of experience operating tournaments, this will be the WTHA’s first year operating together collectively. As there has never been a bona fide nonprofit organization representing table hockey in the U.S. or Canada and knowing bid committees will require some numerical information upon which to base their bids, we collected information from tournaments held by others. During the period from September 2015 through February 2017, US and Canadian (non-WTHA) tournaments averaged 31 players marketed primarily through word-of-mouth. One tournament, in Toronto, Canada achieved a high-water mark of about 100 players and was featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal, among other news media outlets. The leadership of the WTHA believes that through the combined marketing efforts of the Host Community and the WTHA, we can achieve sixty-four (64) players in the first year of the FEC.

3 Playing table hockey involves seeing and manipulation of rods (pushing forward, pulling backward, and turning rods three hundred sixty degrees (360°) often in a rapid manner). If notified of a player’s physical challenge(s) by the general player registration deadline, we may be able to create a competition category for similarly challenged participants.

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ESTIMATED ROOM NIGHTS Of the sixty-four players we expect in our first year, we expect half (32) to travel from far distances and therefore are likely to reserve hotel rooms for two nights. That translates to a modest total of 64 room nights.

In year two, we expect to double year one’s modest numbers.

3.5 EVENT DAYS Typically, table hockey tournaments are held on weekends. Tournaments alone can be one day or multiple days. The WTHA’s FEC is designed to operate Friday through Sunday and could even begin on a Thursday evening with a special Welcome Party. Variables will be influenced by the number of players that register and overall community interest. At its smallest, a tournament can be operated and completed in one day.

However, when different kinds of table hockey boards are used, it expands the tournament in player interest, registration and time to complete. “Different kinds of table hockey boards,” is analogous to having ice hockey and street hockey events adding some additional challenges. However, it also offers greater appeal and opportunity, utilizing far less space and making it much easier to transition the set-up. Below is an example of WTHA’s FEC stretching the most days, as currently designed. NOTE: Bids are to host for three consecutive years, and should include a brief statement

indicating days and dates(s) proposed in priority of preference order. Please note Winter and Holiday Travel Limitations in Appendix E.

3.6 EXAMPLE OF AN EVENT’S DAILY SCHEDULE

Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday

Move-In Exhibitor & Production Move-In

Festival Opens Recognition Breakfast

Exhibits Open Move-Out

Welcome Events Welcome Events Tournament “A” Begins

Tournament “B” Begins

Exhibitor and Sponsor Reception

Mini-Tournament Luncheon Luncheon

Welcome Event First Time Attendee

Welcoming Party for Everyone

Tournament’s End, Awards Ceremony

Tournament’s End, Awards Ceremony

Initial Tournament Evening Party Awards Ceremony

NOTE: Hosts should determine its objectives and measurable success indicators

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4 Bidder Obligations to WTHA – By Host & Venue Bidding communities will be required to abide by the WTHA Request for Proposal (RFP), 2019-22, i.e. this proposal. An electronic copy can be found at www.WTHA.com/RFP 4.1 STRONG FOUNDATIONAL COMMITMENTS By initialing next to each item below, you are assuring the WTHA you have read, clearly understand and are committed to meeting all the requirements listed.

Requirements Bidder Must Meet or Exceed Initial Agreement

WTHA Officials Negotiable and reasonable for WTHA and Host

* Travel – Three (3) bookings or reimbursements for travel (e.g. airfare or gasoline) * Hotel - Three hotel rooms spanning setup, event and night upon event’s conclusion (three to four nights p/p) * Food - Per diem based on government schedule

* Site Visit (only if necessary) – Travel for one WTHA official for one to two hotel nights, and food.

Equipment

Tables to cater for space for both the games and drinks

* Provide a minimum twenty (20) tables: 4’x8’ or 3’x6’ approximately 30” inch / 76cm tabletop height These 20 are made up as follows:

- 4 tables will be used for administration and rewards - Each of the remaining 16 tables will consist of 2 Table Hockey games with 2 players per game. This results in a total of 32 games and 64 players.

* However, the venue must have the ability to increase beyond 20 tables, should more than 64 players register to play in the event.

Venue By venue official and/or host

* Provide a venue, facilities and space at no cost to the WTHA with minimum capacity for 100 persons. * Insurance coverage for the WTHA FEC event. * Estimate of space required 10,000-15,000 square feet

Host Community or Venue Costs to WTHA

Costs No costs to the WTHA. (No venue, union, electrical, insurance, security, or any cost).

Contract Commitment

Three-year contract / commitment to partner, plan and host a WTHA event once per season between: September 2019 and April 2020, September 2020 and April 2021, and September 2021 and April 2022 (exact dates TBD).

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4.2 MANDATORY BID PROCESS AND EVENT COMMITMENTS The following mandatory commitments from a bidding community are required. If your bidding community cannot meet the following mandatory commitments, your bid may be refused: a. Bid application with answers to all questions and all requirements specified in this RFP. b. Commitment letters in Appendix A signed by bid institutions stating type of support offered for the

event; c. Support letter signed by the provincial, state or local sport tourism organization; d. Payment of the non-refundable bid fee of $50 US with bid application submission; e. Bid communities accept that their responses to the bid application be made public at the discretion

of the WTHA after the nomination of the hosting community.

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5 Bid Procedure

5.1 BID TIMELINE The following timelines have been established by WTHA for the bid process. Submission dates imply by 17h00 MT on that day DATE DESCRIPTION

Mon 01 Oct RFP for the WTHA FEC issued to potential bidding communities via CSTA & NASC. Question and Answer period opens.

Fri 26 Oct Letter of Interest, deadline to be received by the WTHA from interested Bidders. From this point forward, the WTHA will respond to individual questions by potential bidding communities by sending responses to all bidding communities.

Fri 31 Oct Questions and Answers, deadline to be submitted to WTHA.

Fri 09 Nov Bid Applications (Response to RFP), deadline to be submitted to WTHA.

Tue 13 Nov Bid Communiqué. WTHA informs each bid community whether their bid has met the mandatory commitments, whether their bid is accepted or not, and issues a communiqué with the names of the bidding communities.

Thu Thu

15 Nov – 06 Dec

Bid Proposal Evaluation Period by WTHA Board of Directors to include possible Site Visits of potential Host Communities between 15 Nov to 06 Dec.

Tue 11 Dec Winners. WTHA will announce its selection of the four best communities (two in the USA and two in Canada) to host the WTHA’s Table Hockey FEC series for the 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22 table hockey seasons. The announcement will be via conference call and subsequent communiqué.

5.2 BID RULES

5.2.1 Confidentiality

The WTHA requests Bidders, i.e. prospective Host Communities, to not distribute responses involving this RFP to parties not involved in the process, including the press or any members of the media or use the information for any purpose other than to prepare their Bid for WTHA’s events. The WTHA cannot agree to keep the completed contents of this RFP confidential despite this language until a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is signed between the WTHA and a Bid (Host) Community.

5.2.2 Guiding Principle

WTHA believes the procedures for determining the Host Community, from the initial expression of interest in the bid to the selection of the Host Community, should be based on an open dialogue and fair process for all bidding communities. This process shall be conducted in an ethical manner, including but not limited to the following qualities: fairness, openness, transparency, equity and respect for all bidding communities.

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5.2.3 Bid document Submission

To minimize the costs of submitting a proposal, WTHA requires that proposal documents be produced in-house on letter-size paper and spiral bound, or bound using some other inexpensive method.

• Three hard copies should be delivered to:

World Table Hockey Association, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 375, Washington, D.C. USA 20006

• An electronic copy of the bid must also be submitted to [email protected] and copy

[email protected]. The numbering within the bid application must be maintained and a table of contents must be included at the beginning of the bid application.

5.2.4 Communication

Potential bid communities must address all questions in writing to:

Gregory Scoma, President & CEO, WTHA, will forward the replies to all potential bid communities. Email address : [email protected] and cc (copy) [email protected]

No contact should be made with the Federal Government. No formal or informal presentation or meeting in any way relating to the bid shall be held individually with a Director or member of the WTHA without the approval of the WTHA’s Board of Directors (BoD), Evaluation Committee or President, Gregory Scoma. No money, gifts or tokens of appreciation of any kind shall be offered to WTHA Board of Directors, Evaluation Committee or staff during this RFP process period. Exceptions include generally recognized industry practices providing marketing materials, trinkets, food or beverage samples unique to and promoting the Host Community and typically provided at sport tourism conferences. The WTHA logo is a registered trademark and may not be used in any documentation of the bidding communities.

mailto:[email protected]



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5.3 BID EVALUATION The WTHA’s Board of Directors will review all bids. Each member will review each bid application and score each topic individually. Certain topics could have more importance than others.

Weighting %

1 Venue Facilities, Support and Availability 25%

Aesthetic of facilities for players and audiences

Location

Non-sporting on-site facilities

Dates available

Technology available

Volunteers

2 Commitments (see Section 4.1, Strong Foundational Commitments)

35%

Foundational

Host

Venue

Three-year contract

3 Support and Partnerships 15%

Local Charity tie-in, support and involvement

Local sport tourism

4 Communication, Marketing and Hosting Services 10%

Communication Plan

Local media and Marketing plan

Hosting services (VIPs and sponsors)

Other activities related to the event: Opening/closing/special & social events/final banquet/festival

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Weighting %

5 Other Services 5%

Registration

Airport including shuttle

Local transportation

Medical & insurance

Security including access control

6 Funding Opportunities 5%

7 Overall Bid presentation 5%

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6 Appendix A: Bid Requirements and Commitments 6.1 BID REQUIREMENTS 6.1.1 Format of the RFP Response Document

To facilitate a timely and comprehensive evaluation of all submitted materials, responses are required to be submitted in a prescribed format, as detailed in this section and will be considered as part of the evaluation process. Additional information may be included as appendices. All requests for information in all sections of this document must be answered as concisely as possible and with minimal marketing literature. All pages and sections in the Proposal must be clearly numbered or referenced. The document structure should be as follows: Section 1 : Executive Summary Summary of what you can offer based on our requirements and how you believe you can help us to achieve our goals and a successful WTHA FEC and contribute to the ‘WTHA – Spirit and Purpose’. Section 2 : Response to Proposal The response provided here should be in line with the Bid Evaluation Table detailed above. Section 3 : Bidders Value Proposition Your value proposition in terms of addressing WTHA’s objectives as detailed in this RFP. Why you are best suited to partner with WTHA and assist WTHA in achieving its objectives. What do you believe you can offer in addition to what has been requested in this RFP that will add more value to the success of the WTHA FEC.

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6.1.2 Bid Package

The Bid Package should include the following information, which is detailed below. The event hosting documents can also be a useful reference for building a comprehensive bid.

• City Demographics o Hotel Information o Restaurants o Media Access (package of POCs: Sports, TV, Print, Radio, Cable Providers, etc. o Volunteer Community

• Letters of Support (Where possible) o Municipal and Provincial Government o Facilities o Local Tourism Board o Local Hotel Association o Local Restaurant Association o Local Chamber of Commerce

• Competition Venue(s) o Location and Map o Competition Area Layout (Free Space, CAD Drawing, etc.) o Other Rooms (Washrooms, Meeting Rooms, etc.) o Parking o Vendors o Catering and Food/Beverage o Access to TV Monitors in Competition Area o Tiered seating o Tables and Chairs o POS Systems o Staging (Pipe and Drape, Awards Stage, etc.) o Electronics (Radios, Laptops/Tablets, Printers,

Speakers, Microphone) o Access to General Event Staff o Access to Volunteers o Access to Set-Up and Tear-Down Crews

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6.1.3 Volunteers

Hosting the WTHA FEC events will require the participation of a modest number of members from the Host’s Organizing Committee, event volunteers, ceremony participants, and volunteers from a local charity approved and involved in the event.

6.1.4 Legacy

As this is the WTHA’s inaugural year, the WTHA seeks to support the generation of a legacy to establish a local WTHA chapter in the community. We recommend the Host Community endeavors to get local support to purchase various kinds and types of table hockey games. It is highly likely table hockey games will be available at a discount to the public in the Host Community leading up to, during, and shortly after this WTHA event.

6.2 FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES The Bid Package should include a list of available funding opportunities, including any municipal, provincial, and third-party grants that could be applied for. Please indicate if your organization has been a successful recipient of funding from these sources in the past. 6.3 BID COMMITMENTS The following documents are to be completed and signed and included in the Bid Application (Response to RFP):

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6.3.1 Attachment A - Host Community Commitments

Please complete the contact information for the officer authorized to represent and bind the host company below who is required to initial each bid requirement that you are willing and able to meet. Bids must address each requirement separately in the order listed below and in the RFP. Host Organization

Contact

Title

Mailing Address

Phone

Fax

Email

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO HOST CHECKLIST By initialing next to each item below, you are assuring the WTHA you have read, clearly understand and are committed to meeting all the requirements listed in that section of the RFP for the World Table Hockey Association Festival, Exhibition, and Championships, specifically but not limited to the following sections detailed below.

It is also important that you have read and understand the background, purpose and other requirements mentioned in those other sections and appendices.

INITIAL BIDDER COMMENTS

Section 3. The WTHA’s Festival, Exhibition and Championships

Section 4. Bidder Obligations

Section 5. Bid Procedure

Appendix A. Bid Requirements & Commitments

Remaining sections and appendices

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6.3.2 Attachment B1 - Letter of Commitment - Host Organization

The host organization must copy and paste text onto company letterhead, print and sign the Letter of Commitment – Host Organization (below). This letter binds the signers to the requirements outlined in the bid. The officer authorized to represent and bind the host company must sign the letter for the host organization. DATE World Table Hockey Association, Inc. 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 375 Washington, D.C. 20006 Dear Site Selection Committee: In response to the “2019-22, World Table Hockey Association’s “Festival, Exhibition, and Championships (FEC)” request for proposal (RFP), we are submitting this letter of commitment to serve as the Host Organization as detailed and requested in this RFP. Signed : ______________________________________ Host Organization Name : ______________________________________ Representative Name (print) : ______________________________________ Representative Signature : ______________________________________ Representative Title : ______________________________________

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6.3.3 Attachment B2 - Letter of Commitment - Venue

The venue in which the meeting space is located must copy and paste text onto company letterhead, print and sign the Letter of Commitment – Venue (below). This letter binds the signers to the requirements outlined in the bid. The officer authorized to represent and bind the venue company must sign on behalf of the hotel. [DATE] World Table Hockey Association, Inc. 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 375 Washington, D.C. 20006 Dear Site Selection Committee: In response to the “2019-22, World Table Hockey A Festival, Exhibition, Tournament Championships” request for proposal (RFP), we are submitting this letter of commitment to serve as the location of the Venue. We agree to the meeting space requirements as detailed in the RFP for the sections shown below. INITIAL COMMENTS

Section 3: WTHA’s Festival, Exhibition and Championships

Section 4.1: Foundational Commitment

Section 6.1.2: Bid Package

Appendix C: Exhibition Details

Signed : _______________________________________ Convention Venue Name : _______________________________________ General Manager/Owner Name (print) : _______________________________________ General Manager/Owner Signature : _______________________________________

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6.3.4 Attachment B3 - Public Announcements

The party submitting this bid understands and acknowledges that the WTHA will make a public announcement regarding the award of the bid contract at such time, in such form, and by such means, as the WTHA determines appropriate. In consideration of the acceptance and consideration of the bid submitted by the bidding party, bidding party hereby agrees that it shall make no disclosure or announcement, or issue any media publicity, of any kind regarding its bid or the award of the bid contract unless and until WTHA has made public announcement of the award of the bid contract. In the event the party submitting this bid is awarded the bid contract, it will cooperate with WTHA in the planning and coordination of a joint announcement of the award of the bid contract. President, Executive Director or authorized employee of the host organization: Signature : ______________________________________________________________________ Print Name : ______________________________________________________________________ Title : ______________________________________________________________________ General Manager of Hotel(s): Signature : ______________________________________________________________________ Print Name : ______________________________________________________________________ Title : ______________________________________________________________________ General Manager of Exhibition and Tournaments Venue: Signature : ______________________________________________________________________ Print Name : ______________________________________________________________________ Title : ______________________________________________________________________

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7 Appendix B: WTHA and FEC Information 7.1 WTHA EVENT FACT SHEET

The World Table Hockey Association’s (WTHA) business plan includes a modest introduction of the sport of table hockey to the public in Canada and the United States. Number of Events: The WTHA will initiate four table hockey Festival, Exhibition, and Championship (FEC) events total, of which two will be in Canada and two in the United States. Length of Event: Typically, two and a half to three days; Friday evening through Sunday. Tournament Entrants at Capacity per Day: 64 players (to be monitored leading up to event with negotiated capability with Host Community and venue to expand) Two Bid Winners, Canada: The WTHA’s schedule of events for this RFP includes two events in Canada to be awarded to two communities in two different provinces.4 Two Bid Winners, USA: The WTHA’s schedule of events for this RFP includes two events in USA to be awarded to two communities in two different states.5 WTHA’s Regular Season for FEC Events: The WTHA seeks bids from communities for any weekend or, better, a prioritized list of the community’s preferred weekends (except for the WTHA’s “Blackout Dates”) between the start/end dates for each of the next three seasons:

• 19 September 2019 and 3 May 2020, • 17 September 2020 and 2 May 2021, and • 16 September 2021 and 1 May 2022

4 As it would contribute toward national and international competition post-year-one and sooner than planned, the WTHA reserves the right to award a third bid winner. If a third Bid Winner were to be chosen, part of that decision would involve there being strong third Bids in the USA and Canada. 5 Ibid.

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Preferred Contract Commitment: WTHA seeks a three-year (3 year) commitment with a Host Community that includes transportation, meals, and lodging for three (3) WTHA officials who will transport equipment, set up, direct and manage the event’s operations, and take down equipment post-event. Participants: The following numbers are based on fifteen non-WTHA events held in the past three years by individuals as a hobby and neither a for-profit or not-for-profit government registered organization.

• Average, 32 participants • High levels ranged between

64 and 100 participants Event Public Profile Exposure • Stan Fischler, Lester Patrick

Trophy and Emmy winning commentator, writer and author, has written about table hockey, e.g. Wall Street Journal, and produced video, e.g. Madison Square Garden Networks Plus (MSG+), reporting or promoting table hockey since the late 1960s.

• John Fayolle, Owner, SoHo Table Hockey, LLC, presents a table hockey game made “especially for the commissioner. “

• Gary Bettman, National Hockey League (NHL) Commissioner.

• Media Timeframe and Reach

The WTHA will on its own and with the Host Community strive to facilitate media exposure for your community, to create an opportunity for your city to gain national and international attention through exposure on various media platforms.

Figure 7 - (L to R) Stan Fischler, John Fayolle, Gary Bettman. MSG+ Networks

Figure 6 - Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), "Bubble Hockey Night" fundraising for "SickKids", 2018.

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• Print and Digital News Media Coverage in the past for by hobbyists (non-WTHA) has included top elected officials, the front page of major world newspapers including the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Toronto’s Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, The Hockey News, Edmonton Journal, and numerous newspapers in Europe, e.g. Berner Oberlander, Switzerland, among others.

Figure 8 - (L) Wayne Gretzky, (C) Mark Sokolski, Promotor (R) Right Honorable Stephen Harper, PM Canada. Photo by: CARLOS OSORIO, TORONTO STAR. Story by Bruce Campion-Smith Ottawa Bureau. Location: The Carlu, Toronto, Canada. Published on Fri Sep 18 2015

Figure 9 - Toronto Star, Photograph by David Bergman, (Sports Illustrated). Story by Randy Starkman, featuring Dr. Lou Marinoff, February 28, 2004.

Figure 11 – Toronto Sun, by Maryam Shah, September 25, 2016

Figure 10 - The Hockey News, Stan Fischler, April 26, 2015.

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Figure 16 - Los Angeles Times, Vince Kowalick, January 1, 2000.

Figure 14 - Wall Street Journal (front page), Will Connors, April 22, 2012.

Figure 15 - Wall Street Journal, Stan Fischler.

Figure 13 - Wall Street Journal (front page), Bryan Gruley, April 9, 2001.

Figure 17 – Berner Oberlander, Switzerland, April 28, 2015

Figure 12 - Edmonton Journal, Photograph by Larry Wong (Postmedia Network). Story by Trevor Robb, September 15, 2018.

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• Movies “Table Hockey: The Movie”, (documentary), directed by Thors Henrikson, produced in association with Canadian Television (CTV), The Independent Film Channel (Canada), Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation, 2002. Filmed in Canada, Sweden and New York, USA, it features Canadian, US, Swedish and other European players at Canadian and European tournaments. Played periodically on CTV. “Latkassa” (What the Puck), directed by Tuomo Ala-Kojola, produced by Metropolia UAS, (Finland), 2014.

• Television Often local television stations to include in Edmonton, Toronto, and Ottawa, have provided coverage before, during and after table hockey events. Most recently, CTV Ottawa covered three new or non-traditional sports to include table hockey at the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance’s Sports Event Congress, Ottawa March 2017.

• Podcasting Coverage of WTHA FEC events will be publicized via podcasts.

• Apple iTunes podcast of WTHA news and events through The Table Hockey Show podcasts. 504 downloads have been logged across the UK, Germany, Sweden, Ukraine, Canada, and the USA.

• WTHA Social Media Networks The WTHA’s social media networks include: Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, YouTube channel, Google+, Instagram and Facebook (660+ followers).

Figure 18 - Table Hockey (the movie), Thor Henrikson, 2004. Figure 19 - "Latkassa" (documentary),

Finnish, 2014.

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7.2 WTHA COMMITMENTS

7.2.1 Quality Management Principles (QMP)

The WTHA incorporates the International Standards Organization (ISO) 9000 QMPs, which fits nicely in the WTHA’s support for the development of a table hockey ecosystem and providing value in its relationships. As QMP 7 states,

“An organization and its external providers (suppliers, contractors, service providers) are interdependent and a mutually beneficial relationship enhances the ability of both to create value.”

So, too will the WTHA operate to improve the quality of WTHA events from one event to the next and provide value to its partner host communities. To support this and per QMP 6 - “Evidenced-based decision making”, the WTHA will seek feedback from the host communities, host venues, sponsors and supporters, as well all attendees.

7.2.2 The WTHA Legacy

The WTHA Legacy will award at least one table hockey game to the host or designee with the purpose of seeding the local community with tournament quality table hockey games to enjoy and gain skill. The founder of the WTHA gifted a table hockey game through an international table hockey champion to present it to a family whose young boy who was battling cancer circa 2007, Denver, Colorado. The boy loved hockey. So much that he got other children at the hospital to repurpose medical packing materials to make sticks and pucks to play hockey together. Their ailment, pain and medical jargon was replaced with healthy competition, enjoyment and hockey jargon. The WTHA’s Legacy will also be a vehicle for other members of the table hockey community to make a personal and lasting impact on the Host Community and the less fortunate. The WTHA will in the year leading up to its FEC will endeavor to raise donations to provide a mutually agreed upon person or not-for-profit organization, e.g. that provide individuals, particularly at-risk youth, veterans, or physically or intellectually disabled individuals, opportunities to participate in the sport of table hockey and encourage a healthy lifestyle.

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These contributions will be part of the legacy the WTHA will leave behind. NOTE: Bid must address the commitment to provide one (1) staff member to serve on

the WTHA Legacy Committee prior to hosting the FEC and years between future FECs.

7.2.3 WTHA Capabilities to Benefit Host

The benefits are endless for your destination! The table hockey industry, players, collectors and event owners, worldwide, will be monitoring this event. Your destination will be in the spotlight. This is your opportunity to market your community to the world. An opportunity to demonstrate your community’s skill and expertise to host an event with an international audience. An opportunity to showcase your destination’s top assets people, sports venues, hotels, areas of interest, local hot spots, and more. WTHA’s Powerful Social Media Marketing (SMM) Capabilities You should benefit from the WTHA’s integrated well-branded, SMM capabilities proven to reach a worldwide audience.6 The WTHA will market all three FEC events in your community from December 2018 (beginning with announcing Bid Winners) through 2022. Includes: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube and Podcasting via Apple iTunes among others, and analytical solutions including Google Analytics, Lucky Orange and Liberated Syndication (Libsyn). Furthermore, your destination will be promoted to international and national media outlets further promoting your community, brand and providing exposure. Immediately upon Site Selection • Press Release to announce site selection • Appropriate website placement • Distribution via WTHA’s social media platform (distribution channels)

6 We do not want to overstate or guarantee what our SMM capabilities will provide to your community in quantity of players, associated tourists or amount of money spent by them. We recognize and want to impart to you that our event by leading sport tourism experts is “considered very small no matter the market size”. In fact, our tactic is to under-promise with the goal of over delivering. It is in the WTHA’s own interest to work very hard with you to execute a SMM strategy and use our SMM capabilities towards achieving maximum participation and commercial media interest.

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Weeks, Months and One Year or More Out from the Event (Applies to the WTHA FEC events to be held between in the second and third year of this RFP, Mid-September 2019 to April 2020, and Mid-September 2020 to April 2021)

• Print Collateral – Logos will be included on all print collateral produced with the purpose of marketing and promoting the Host Community.

• Email Campaigns – Logo and links will be included on a specially designed footer on group email communication related to your Host Community.

• Host logos and links will be included on a specially designed footer on all group email communication related to your community

• FEC Website – Location and dates posted on the website. Logo and link will be included on the WTHA website. In addition, Host Community logo will appear with event sponsors. (The WTHA’s website is mobile responsive, so your logo and link will adapt to screen size to appear nicely on desktop and laptop computers, mobile phones and tablets.

• Social Media – Utilizing its social media network, the WTHA will retweet your name and/or social media handle and state on Facebook, a minimum of three (3) times

• Client Events – Joint promotions with the WTHA at industry events

• Advertising – Feature article if the WTHA produces print materials with a spotlight on your destination

• Name Badge – Individuals registered for the FEC and affiliated with the host will have the designation of “Host” or “Future Host” noted in the callout section of the official name badge.

• Closing Party – Title sponsorship of the Closing Party at the FEC in the year prior to hosting. • Closing Party extras – Host Community Name and Logo will be displayed on any print or digital signage produced by WTHA. At WTHA’s discretion Logo and/or promotional video may be displayed on video/tv monitors if available at selected venue. Host will have the opportunity to assist in the planning of the function, and assumes responsibility for the costs associated with theme and décor outside the items listed here.

• Host Community’s sponsorship includes the following benefits:

• Registrations – Six (6) registrations for members of your organization or otherwise to participate in the WTHA’s table hockey tournament

• Official Conference Souvenir Program Advertisement – One (1) full-page, full-color advertisement in the Official WTHA FEC Souvenir Program.

• VIP Access – Four (4) invitations to one SoHo Table Hockey VIP function held once per year in Manhattan, New York City.

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7.3 EXHIBITION DETAILS The WTHA’s vision for its exhibition7 includes where people from local, national, and international organizations can meet face-to-face to: network, raise awareness, promote their products and services, and conversely learn directly from people in the local community about its needs and wants, and thereby develop relationships. This could include an exhibition / fair area.

• WTHA booth to promote the WTHA, table hockey, and obtain local personnel to establish a local chapter of the WTHA

• Manufacturers of table hockey games can present examples or sell their games to the public at a discount.

• Craftsmen who hand-make or make improvements to table hockey games or related items can present examples or sell their products or services to the public at a discount.

• Collectors can offer current or historical table hockey or ice hockey artifacts for sale or exchange.

• Master Player Demonstrations. When “master” players are present, the WTHA will arrange a special event before and/or after the tournament where the masters can

field questions, provide a skills demonstration, and offer tips and tricks to other participants or the public (for a small donation to be split between WTHA and the local charity). • Distinguished Persons. To have people who are distinguished or preeminent and well-known inside or outside of their career field, and who also happen to be table hockey players, to be available for speeches or book signings. • Charitable Give-Back. To have one to two local charities approved by the WTHA and Host Community to set up a booth, make a speech presenting their participation

7 There is little to no historical data. This is a new event and does not have enough of a track record – no proof that an exhibit hall would work no exhibit attendance numbers etc.

Figure 21 – Audience at table hockey championships, using Stiga company table hockey games, eastern Europe.

Figure 20 - Royal Bank Canada (RBC), fundraiser "Bubble Hockey Night” for “SickKids", Toronto, 2018.

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at a general assembly, state their purpose, and a current case compelling the public’s financial or physical support.

• The WTHA will work with the local CSTA or NASC member to select one to two local charities to partner with, obtain volunteers from, and draw attention using the WTHA’s worldwide broadcasting and social media marketing capabilities.

• Sponsors. Local businesses who wish to sponsor the event, event portions and who may also desire a physical booth or presence.

• Social functions including final banquet; • Clinics and workshops related to the event (for the athletes and/or coaches)

• Clinic. The WTHA is open to the idea to arrange for a clinic with tips, tricks and strategies to become skilled and successful in playing table hockey.

• Workshop. The WTHA is open to the idea to arrange for a workshop to assist locals in establishing a local chapter of the WTHA (Canada) or WTHA (USA) in order to operate a local league to prepare its players to compete in future tournaments, to simply serve as a means to fun and good sportsmanship, to meet to discuss table hockey, its history, memorabilia, exercise eye-hand coordination, assist in recovering from a health issue, and general benefits in playing table hockey

• Provision & Legacy of Table Hockey Games • The WTHA (International) will provide table hockey games (boards) for the event

and retain ownership of the games it provides. • The host may purchase additional games through the WTHA, typically at a discount.

The host would retain ownership of those games to support the establishment and sustainment of a WTHA member chapter to develop competitive and casual players, promote table hockey as a positive endeavor in the community, educate the public of table hockey’s role in Canada’s or USA’s heritage, and provide an area to display past, current, or future honors and awards earned by the community and its members.

• Any other table hockey games provided by others that remain provided by others should be made readily available to the public for fun, practice, and competitive play.

7.4 WINTER AND HOLIDAY TRAVEL LIMITATIONS

Ice hockey and table hockey are winter pastimes. We ENCOURAGE you to bid during the dates we are available. We want you and your community to have fun and be safe. So, we will strive to provide you an event that starts on time, maintains its schedule, is fun, safe and memorable for all the right reasons. Similarly, we want to arrive, set up and take down our events and return to our families in a safe and timely manner.

We have special notes for bids for:

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• Thanksgiving Weekend (USA) - You may bid for the US’ Thanksgiving holiday weekend, but the WTHA’s travel limitations include: 200-mile limit radius driving from Washington, DC; but not to destinations along US Interstate 95 (I-95) or the travel corridor between Washington, DC and New York City. You may bid and provide air travel for the Friday morning, day after Thanksgiving, to your community.

• Christmas and New Years’ - You may bid for those weekends before, during or after Christmas or New Years’ that are not on the WTHA’s list of “’Blackout’ Dates” (below). The WTHA’s travel limitations include: 200-mile limit radius driving from Washington, DC; but not to destinations along US Interstate 95 (I-95) or the travel corridor between Washington, DC and New York City. You may bid and provide air travel to/from your community. This period provides opportunity as many people take time off from work or are on holiday from school, so events, means of travel, arrival is negotiable.

“Blackout” Dates

Please, do not bid for weekends according to the following dates: • Christmas-New Year’s Holidays – December 23-26, 2019; December 25-27, 2020;

December 24-26, 2021; and • Good Friday/Easter - April 10-12, 2020; April 2-4, 2021; and April 15-17, 2022.

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8 Appendix C: Return on Investment (ROI) 8.1 MITIGATING THE FINANCIAL RISK OF YOUR COMMUNITY AND WTHA’S 8.1.1 Contract

To mitigate financial risk for the WTHA and the Host Community, is one reason why we seek a three-year contractual commitment. Our plan includes working roughly twelve months in advance to work towards achieving a successful first-year event and improving each year thereafter.

8.1.2 Defining a “Successful Event”

We want to learn from you what your definition is of a “successful event”? – and ask that you include that as a question during private questioning period (one on one, not public), or the public Question and Answer period, and in writing in your bid, so we can work toward achieving mutually agreed upon goals.

8.1.3 Profit, Revenue vs Expenses

We recognize the first year’s event may result in expenses exceeding revenue for both the WTHA and Host Community. However, to work to mitigate that we ask that the Host Community collaborate with us leading up to the event to hold meetings, collect and share metrics (facts to track) discussing, “what is going right?”, “what is going wrong?”, and “what we can do to improve?”. Similarly, an “After Action Report (AAR)” post-event by the WTHA and Host Community to collaborate and improve upon year one’s performance in planning for years’ two and three.

8.1.4 Defining the Universe of Participants

To enable the market to draw have further correlation on ROI, the universe of participants that can play against each other is greater than most other sports. Table hockey is not limited to, for example, males of a certain age or weight being divided into categories to play against each other, or similarly so females of a certain age or weight being divided into categories to play against each other. Expanding upon that, table hockey’s “universe” of participants is much greater than other sports, because the age range of those who may participate is greater…spanning from eight

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years old and above in age…and is regardless of gender and can include some with physical challenges8.

8.1.5 Players / Participants

Our first-year goal is sixty-four player participants, a handful of manufacturers and craftsmen, a handful of notable people in the table hockey community to sell and autograph books, and some sellers of collectible items. A percentage of each sale could be negotiated and provided to the Host Community.

8.1.6 Disposable Income

Another mitigating factor, prior to the WTHA in non-WTHA events by hobbyists in the USA and Canada, many participants and collectors are in the higher disposable income age range of 36 years old and above and a significant portion of which are baby-boomers or tail end of the baby boom at age 50 or above.

8.1.7 Sponsorships

The WTHA on its own and in collaboration with the Host Community will seek to sell sponsorships. We recognize that the WTHA has no track record of successful selling of sponsorships and or past metrics to calculate attendance. However, the founder of the WTHA does have experience crafting and selling sponsorship packages for a worldwide trade association. In the digital age, physical presence remains important. But with social media, a niche audience can be a niche that spans the world.

8.1.8 Exhibitors

8.1.8.1 Exhibitor Space, “Pipe and Drape” The WTHA calculates that tournament space of 15,000 square feet is more than enough to meet its player participant goal of sixty-four players for the event’s first year and could include exhibitors in that same space. The WTHA could seek a percentage of sales from exhibitors.

8 Playing table hockey involves seeing and manipulation of rods (pushing forward, pulling backward, and turning rods three hundred sixty degrees (360°) often in a rapid manner). If notified of a player’s physical challenge(s) by the general player registration deadline, we may be able to create a competition category for similarly challenged participants.

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The WTHA seeks to guide the table hockey industry’s eco-system towards a more sustainable model, which will provide greater employment and tax base for communities where they are headquartered.

8.1.8.2 Potential Exhibitors Exhibitors could include table hockey manufacturers, craftsmen, and related products and services such as Stiga Company, SoHo Table Hockey, Rick Benej Table Hockey games, Super Chexx “Bubble Hockey” by ICE and more. Sellers of collectible antiques and event memorabilia. Past and present table hockey aficionados who are notable personalities and authors of books. They could present, discuss, autograph and sell their books. (Note: None of the following people have endorsed, support or have affiliation with the WTHA. Their names, achievements and skills are mentioned as examples). Dr. Lou Marinoff, is a table hockey player. He is also a philosopher, author of many books to include those on the application of philosophy to improving one’s life, philosophical practitioner, musician, has appeared in movies, is a photographer, and more. (New York, New York). Mr. Stephen Giannangelo, is (at least) a collector of table hockey games. He is also an author of books on the psychological analysis of serial murderers, criminal investigator, professor, and more. (Chicago, Illinois). Mr. Stan Fischler, also known as the “Maven” is a table hockey player. He is also a hockey historian, an Emmy winning broadcaster, a New York City Subway historian, author of many, many books on hockey, and professor. (Long Island, New York). Mr. Grant Ainsley, is a former top table hockey player. He was also a media personality and public relations professional who has since become one of Canada’s most popular media trainers, speakers and consultants. (Edmonton, Alberta). Of course, exhibitors can also include the Host Community’s local product, service, food or beverage businesses.

8.1.9 Fan Attendance (Another Source of Revenue and Potential Expense)

As our event is intended to be a “Festival, Exhibition and Championships”, is an event geared towards the public, fans and table hockey players.

Figure 22 - Table hockey game known as the “Benej” made by craftsman, Rick Benej.

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To view a table hockey game with players in actions can be accomplished by being near the game, in a tiered viewing stand, with mirrors, by overhead camera or in combination. 8.2 STAND-ALONE EVENT OR IN COMBINATION WITH ANOTHER EVENT(S)? A gemstone should neither be situated in too large or too small a setting. The WTHA seeks small to medium-sized communities where it is a featured event and where players, family and friends are not divided up or torn between attending one or more competing events. However, table hockey can be combined with other events where due care, respect and planning is performed by the Host Community and the other rights holders in a manner that optimizes each event and experience by fans, players and the public. 8.3 MEDIA EXPOSURE - CONTRIBUTING TO MANY HOST COMMUNITIES

“DEFINITION OF SUCCESS” We believe the definition of a successful event may and should include the quality and quantity of media exposure given to the Host Community. 8.4 WHY INVOLVE A NOT FOR PROFIT? In May 2007, the founder of the WTHA was asked to add table hockey as event at Quest for the Crown, 9 Denver, Colorado founded by Justin Goldman. The table hockey event was known as, Top of the Mountain. In addition to table hockey, Quest for the Crown included sled hockey, street hockey, ice hockey, auctions and more. Proceeds went to the NHL’s Hockey Fights Cancer and some local charitable causes. One local cause, included a young boy with cancer who loved hockey.10 Hearing his story from a woman who turned out to be the boy’s mother, the eventual founder of the WTHA asked she thought her son might, “like a table hockey game?” Gathering the boy and rest of his family and other table hockey players, we provided our table hockey champion a game to donate to the boy and his family. With barely a dry eye in the room, we knew whatever we created in the future for table hockey would include a charitable element.

9 Quest for the Crown is now known as Quest Charity Adult Hockey Tournament, and is in its eleventh year. More info can be found at http://foothillseventmanagement.com/quest-hockey-tournament/ 10 http://blogs.denverpost.com/sports/2008/03/06/young-hockey-player-with-liver-cancer-needs-our-support/1961/

Figure 23 - Promotional poster for Top of the Mountain, using multiple different kinds of table hockey boards to crown a champion. At Quest for the Crown, Denver, CO 2008.

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By reaching out and including a local charity, months out from the event affords time for the Host Community and the WTHA to use its SMM capabilities to focus attention on the Host Community and chosen local charity and cause. This is expected to bring money and/or media attention to the local charitable cause. In turn, we expect the local charity to draw upon its resources to include people and relationships to draw attention to our event in their community, provide some volunteers and possibly players from its own ranks or from communicating with those who support them.

Figure 25 - Table Hockey is the featured event at the Royal Bank of Canada Capital Market's (RBC), "Bubble Hockey Night" for "SickKids”. Photo: Mattamy Athletic Centre, Toronto Maple Leaf Gardens, 2018.

Figure 24 - Like Quest for the Crown 2008, today’s Royal Bank of Canada Capital Market (RBC) presents "Bubble Hockey Night", a charitable fundraising event for "SickKids”, where table hockey is the featured event. Toronto, Canada, 2017.

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