ALSD announces formation of Research Division

 

Overseeing an industry that is rapidly changing and maturing, the Association of Luxury Suite Directors has announced today the formation of its new Research Division with the express purpose of tracking changes and trends in the $10 billion premium seat marketplace. "There is a real need for objective, third-party, non-league, non-team affiliated information in the marketplace," says Bill Dorsey, Executive Director of ALSD. "We have access to information on a national level that very few research companies could easily acquire. While the leagues are doing a great job of gathering data for their own constituency, the information gleaned is necessarily restricted to their respective sport. The ALSD data will go across league affiliation. It will also be objective because we are not being paid by third party sources looking to have their premises either objectified or supported."  

 

Heading up the new Research Division is Dr. Peter Titlebaum, Associate Professor in the Department of Health and Sport Science and Coordinator for the Sport Management Program at the University of Dayton. Having worked in or around sports for more than 25 years, Dr. Titlebaum offers a different perspective. For the past year, Dr. Titlebaum has been working with teams and suite administrators, gathering data on best practices and premium seating perceptions.  

 

"We selected Dr. Titlebaum for several reasons," says Dorsey. "He has an interest and experience with the subject; he is objective and is not beholden to gathering results of any particular interest; and he is going to devote much of his upcoming sabbatical to this labor intensive process." 

 

Dorsey continues, "We need someone who can oversee the multiple elements required to do research," says Dorsey. “Dr. Titlebaum will work with other universities, vendors, teams and end-users to create much needed research that has never been disseminated to the industry at large.”  

 

Dr. Titlebaum will immediately become a member of the 2010 ALSD Board of Directors which will be announced soon in SEAT magazine and on the ALSD's web page. He will travel to various tradeshows on behalf of the ALSD and most importantly will call on many of the ALSD members for needed data input. "We certainly hope our ALSD members will support Dr. Titlebaum and his need to create studies and data that can be used by teams," says Dorsey. "Ultimately, quality research is as much a reflection of co-operation among the industry professionals. Under the auspices of the ALSD, Dr. Titlebaum will be asking for the help of many teams, vendors, consultants, and end-users. It's a large, continuing commitment that the ALSD is making on behalf of its membership.” 

 

“It is exciting to be part of a new understanding uncovered through research in this industry. We are looking for answers and want to learn more from current trends. The question is the same for us as it is for the teams. 'How do we view premium seating now and ensure the industry will thrive in the future, regardless of economic pressures?' Having recently worked with 47 teams across the four major leagues, I better understand their willingness to share information and data in order to affect a positive outcome.” 

 

Dr. Titlebaum can be reached using the following contact information:  

 

Peter J. Titlebaum, Ed. D. Associate Professor,
Department of Health and Sport Science Coordinator, Sport Management Program
The University of Dayton
300 College Park
Dayton, OH 45469-1210
(937) 229-4222 Office

 
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