American Sports Builders Association cancels in-person meeting

American Sports Builders Association (ASBA), the national organization for builders and suppliers of materials for athletic facilities, has canceled its in-person 2020 Technical Meeting and Trade Show in San Antonio, Texas, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting was originally scheduled to take place Dec. 4-7.

In place of the meeting, ASBA said it will deliver a virtual technical meeting beginning the week of Dec. 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 canceling 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.

“Shifting gears, we are immersed in delivering a robust virtual trade show experience for our members,” Stringfellow said. “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 said its officers, directors and staff are looking forward to reconvening with the sports construction community under safer conditions in the future.

“ASBA is confident that we can deliver a virtual event this December that will meet industry members’ needs and exceed their expectations,” Stringfellow said. “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. Members of ASBA will receive notification automatically; nonmembers may email info@sportsbuilders.org to be added to the list.