West Virginia University may not have been able to get a win when Texas Christian University visited the Mountain State last week, but the City of Bridgeport certainly did. For the second time this year, a Big 12 football program that agreed to utilize city amenities for their pre-game activities walked away more than pleased.

 

This time, TCU Associate Athletic Director Michael Sinquefield couldn’t say enough good things about the Horned Frogs’ time in Bridgeport – from landing at the North Central West Virginia Airport to their stay at the Wingate Inn and Bridgeport Conference Center – from beginning to end.

 

“The feedback I’ve received is all good,” said Sinquefield about those involved with the team as well as a large plane of alumni that also flew – and stayed – in Bridgeport. “It was fabulous. People did a great job. I would have to say that, absolutely, we’ll be back.”

 

For those that think what those at the airport and the Conference Center did was what teams traveling to other cities encounter, Sinquefield said what took place way by far the exception and not the norm.

 

“The thing that really impressed me was you could tell how important our stay was to everyone. From the time we stepped off the plane until we left, it was obvious,” said Sinquefield. “It’s happened before, but it’s unusual. When you’re playing in the major markets, you’re just another customer in another market. When you get into a smaller area like Bridgeport, it’s different. I can tell you that during (TCU’s) days as a member of the Mountain West Conference, wherever we traveled in the league we were just another customer.

 

“Here, everyone went above and beyond,” he continued. “Granted, winning puts a great spin on everything, but when you’re constantly met with a handshake and a smile you notice.”

 

Greater Bridgeport Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Chairman Drew Pomeroy, who was joined by BCC General Manager Scott Duarte in greeting the team at the airport, said people he teams with on trying to secure Big 12 teams to come to the city now have references to utilize in trying to get those teams to stay here prior to games in Morgantown.

 

“As the TCU administrators indicated, word travels fast in athletics.  We have two glowing reviews from two of the top teams in the league.  I would certainly think that would bode well for future business,” said Pomeroy.

 

Pomeroy said CVB officials will work with Duarte, NCWV Airport Director Rick Rock and others on trying to bring teams in. Although the visits are done for the year, there are nearly a half dozen opportunities for teams to stay here next year.

 

“We are continuing to develop our sports marketing strategy.  It is very important to us that we stay innovative, and strategic in our initiatives,” said Pomeroy “Word is that the folks in Morgantown would love to get some of this business.  We need to make sure that that we are the hunted, not the hunters.”

 

In order to get those schools to hunt down Bridgeport as their pre-game base, Pomeroy said work will begin very soon on working with Big 12 schools.

 

“The schedule comes out in the middle of the month.  At that time we will reach out to the football operation folks to try to line up a site visit (from them),” Pomeroy said. 

 

If Pomeroy needs a reference, he’s definitely got one in Sinquefield. The TCU AD, who was a football operations director in a previous life, listed the benefits exactly as those sold by the local group led by Pomeroy.

 

“Being able to fly in, get off the plane and be (at the hotel) literally in minutes was incredible, particularly considering that West Virginia is one of our more difficult trips,” said Sinquefield. “You can’t fly and stay in Morgantown and, even though the folks in Washington (Pa., where the team stayed in 2012) were fine, you have to fly into Pittsburgh, wait, and take a longer bus ride.

 

“Here, it’s a matter of minutes to get to a hotel and we were immediately made to feel at home,” he continued. “When you take over a hotel, it really becomes your home.”

 

Baylor also left with a good taste in their mouths following its stay. Duarte said he received a hand-written thank you note from BU Coach Art Briles and the Bears have already said they will return in 2016. As for Coach Gary  Patterson of TCU, Duarte said he was kind and polite.

 

“He spent a lot of time by himself, but everyone from the head coach, the assistants, the players and staff proved to be courteous and great to work with,” said Duarte. “We were pretty sure Coach Patterson was pleased.”

 

Sinquefield said he never got any comments from Patterson about  the trip. However, he said that’s probably the best sign possible.

 

“I’ve been with him since 1997, 1998 and when doesn’t tell you anything that means it’s a good thing. I can tell you for sure the food was just spectacular,” said Sinquefield.

 

Duarte said the group of players put away plenty of food.  Unlike the Baylor players who hit the pasta hard, Duarte said TCU was into the southern foods that were available at the specifications of the team’s nutritionist.

“They went through a great deal of fried chicken; the entire specified quantity to be exact. I think every bit of the 100 pounds of drum sticks and about 75 pounds of wings breasts and thighs were gone,” said Duarte with a laugh. “That’s what we want. When you’re cooking a meal, the best sign is to see very few things left.”

 

While the team flying in was a definite benefit, the city got a bonus when an alumni flight opted to come in on game day. Sinquefield said a group of 83 individuals flew in and received the same hospitality. However, there proved to be a problem that Sinquefield said confirmed the level of commitment the local folks had in making sure everyone was treated with great hospitality.

 

“Those folks were greeted when they came in on their plane in a spectacular manner. The airport was just fabulous and hats off to them  for stepping up for our VIP  plane that came in,” said Sinquefield. “Everything with that visit went smoothly, but there was a hiccup.”

 

The hiccup had nothing to do with anything involving Bridgeport or the services offered. Rather, Sinquefield said when the plane was departing to head back to Texas, a mechanical issue forced it to return.

 

“Those individuals ended up staying the night and you could see the effort that was made to get them accommodations,” said Sinquefield. “Even though everyone was happy because we won, you can get a little bit irritated when you have something like that where it’s out of your control. As it turned out, they were taken care of by everyone and I’ve had nothing but positive feedback.”

 

For those that think having the teams stay locally isn’t important, Pomeroy said the impact on these trips is in the tens of thousands of dollars and getting several teams would have an impact well into the six figures. Not bad for a group that makes a stay not lasting much longer than 24 hours.

 

“This is incredibly important for us.  There is the initial impact of a 170 person travel party being in Bridgeport, but in addition the ancillary folks (the VIP plane) that become part of the trip adds to the impact … That is (more than 200) people outside of West Virginia that spent a great deal of money in Bridgeport, which is a significant impact on the local economy,” said Pomeroy. “If you talk to the restaurant folks I think that they will be quick to point out that that dinner tabs were a lot more than hamburgers and French fries.”

 

The greatest testament of all came from Sinquefield when asked how he would sum up the whole experience from the team and the others that visited.

 

“When I met Scott and Drew, I didn’t know who they were and what they did, but they greeted us at the airport and they were at the hotel before we were and were visible everywhere. From that point forward, it was a great experience,” said Sinquefield. “It was first class. There’s not a wart on this anywhere.”

 

Coming from a Horned Frog, there’s no higher praise.

 

Editor's Note: Top photos, courtesy of the Bridgeport Conference Center, show what greeted TCU upon their arrival. Bottom photos of Coach Gary Patterson following his team's win against WVU and CVB Chairman Drew Pomeroy by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com.