TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

Late last year, city leaders announced that Bakersfield will once again host the Amgen Tour of California, the country's most prestigious professional bicycle race. The tour is set to begin May 13 in Santa Rosa and conclude May 20 in Los Angeles. Bakersfield scored the event's only individual time trial, set for May 17. On that leg, some of the world's top cyclists are to race against the clock unaided by drafting or their teammates.

We asked the Bakersfield Sports Foundation to tell us what this means for Bakersfield, our economy and our community.

NAME: Jay Rosenlieb

TITLE: Vice president of the Bakersfield Sports Foundation

Question: For our readers who aren't familiar with it, what exactly is the Bakersfield Sports Foundation?

Answer: The Bakersfield Sports Foundation, a nonprofit, was formed in 2009 for the purpose of promoting health, wellness and fitness through athletic competition and activities in the greater Bakersfield area. In addition to being the private partner with the city of Bakersfield and the county of Kern in the effort to bring Amgen to our area in 2010 and now in 2012, the BSF has provided grant money to the Police Activities League, the Sheriff's Activities League and the Southern Sierra Council of the Boy Scouts of America to assist those organizations and others in sponsorship of athletic events and competitions.

Q: What is the foundation's annual budget?

A: BSF is fairly new and its fundraising has been limited to the sales of sponsorships in connection with the 2010 and 2012 Amgen stages.

Q: If someone wants to help, how do they get involved?

A: Supporters can assist with the 2012 Amgen Stage 5 by registering as a volunteer at www.visitbakersfield. com/amgen or by becoming a member of the Peloton Club by contacting velobob@aol.com.

Q: This is our second Amgen tour. Why do you think race organizers chose us?

A: The time trial in 2012 offers a challenging course combined with easy traffic control and great viewing opportunities along the entire route. And who can forget the climb up the bluffs at the finish?

Q: What have you heard from the tour organizers about why they came back to Bakersfield?

A: The tour organizers were blown away by the local effort in 2010. The huge crowd was not expected and was one of the largest on the tour in 2010. Bakersfield opened its arms to the 2010 tour stop, provided great hospitality, and provided a great backdrop for the world to see.

Q: What is the selection process for Amgen? What criteria do they look at?

A: The selection process starts with a request for proposals. More than 100 cities provided proposals for the 2012 race. Organizers look at community support and involvement as one of the primary criteria. They also look at the course leading into or out of the city and the appropriate venues to host the facilities and teams.

Q: What was the economic impact of the last tour? Was it all that we hoped it would be? Why or why not?

A: The economic impact exceeded our expectations in 2010. Any time you gather 15,000 people from in town and out of town, more than a few dollars are spent on hotel rooms, meals and gasoline. The economic impact should be even greater this time as the entire tour (teams, support personnel and tour organizers) are scheduled to stay in Bakersfield the night before the race and the night of the race. This alone will take up 450 to 550 rooms per night.

Q: What lessons have we learned from the last time Amgen was here? What will we do differently or better this time?

A: Communication is key. The local organizing committee (representatives from the BSF, the city of Bakersfield and the county of Kern) met regularly and e-mailed one another daily, if not hourly! Because the entire race in 2012 will be within the greater Bakersfield area, more volunteer involvement and community support will be necessary.

Q: What was the Sports Foundation's role in putting together the successful bid?

A: The successful bid was a cooperative effort of the BSF, the city of Bakersfield and the county of Kern. Prospective funding sources and community supporters were contacted to lend credence to the bid.

Q: What are the long-term vs.short-term benefits of bringing the tour to Bakersfield?

A: The tour stop in 2010 demonstrated to the Amgen organizers that this local organizing committee could produce a superior event. The tour stop on May 17 will demonstrate to the cycling community throughout the country, event promoters throughout the country and sports enthusiasts in general that Bakersfield is the place to be to watch and compete in large-scale sporting events. This will support a positive image for Bakersfield, which in turn will bring more events to town. More events means more tourism revenue, which in turn means more events, and so the story goes.

Q: How much more valuable will the local portion of the 2012 tour be in light of the fact that it's a one- or two-night affair as opposed to only a few hours?

A: Hotels and restaurants will be the biggest beneficiaries of the 2012 tour here in Bakersfield. I would not be surprised to see every hotel sold out and restaurants booked for the two evenings.

Q: How much more exposure might we get given the drama that the time trial is expected to create?

A: Stage 5 was the deciding stage in 2010 and there is every reason to believe that it will be the deciding stage in 2012. The time trial is an individual event -- no teammates, no drafting, just the rider and his bike. The field is shaping up nicely, and we can expect to see riders at close to 55 miles per hour on some parts of the course and the top finishers separated by only hundredths of a second.

Q: What is the foundation doing to maximize the benefits of hosting the tour?

A: It's doing all that it can to promote Bakersfield and Kern County as the places for wellness and fitness. Bringing this world-class event to town is a great way to do that.

Q: There's always a lot of debate about investing in sports infrastructure and marketing as a means of generating economic activity. How significant are sports in general to the local economy, in terms of year-round impact?

A: Participation rates in organized leagues (soccer, football, baseball and basketball to name a few) and leisure and recreational activities (hiking, walking and cycling) are likely at or above those of other cities. Our facilities are great. Further, Bakersfield regularly hosts youth sports events at regional and state levels (examples are CIF wrestling and ASA softball) that attract athletes from other cities and states. Those events also bring in parents and family members, meaning increased hotel stays and spending in local restaurants and businesses.