Leisure Delivery System

Leisure delivery systems play an important role in all our lives. They are an essential part of society as they allow us to relax and escape the monotony of everyday life. Leisure delivery systems vary widely in how they cater to the needs of the people. In this post, we will discuss the leisure delivery that is involved with Medieval Times, YMCA and Country clubs.



The goals and objectives of each agency each vary since they are each a different type of leisure delivery service. The objective of Medieval Times is profit. Since Medieval Times is a commercial form of a leisure delivery service, their goal is to make a profit while still providing quality leisure and entertainment so that people will keep returning for more.

The YMCA is a non-profit but fee charging leisure delivery organization. It is primarily run by volunteers but has many professionals which causes the need for a fee based program. The YMCA is interested in meeting important social goals of the community in which it serves.

Country clubs are considered to be private membership organization. It serves as a place of socializing and networking. The country club's goal is to best serve it's members and to make them feel relaxed and pampered. It differs from other organizations by the privitization.

Medieval Times is funded by the people who partake in the leisure endeavour. Again, since Medieval Times is a for-profit form of commercial of leisure, the company gets all of its funds from the people who pay for the leisure service. This allows for the company to be more creative with their spending since it is money that they earned themselves and was not money that was endowed to them.

The YMCA is a non-profit organization that is fee charging. Therefore their money comes from the people who pay the YMCA fees. Also, the YMCA raises money through fundraisers. Since it is non-profit, all of the money earned is not taxed and so all profit made is given right back to the YMCA to help various maintenance projects that might need to be worked on. All in all, the money made goes straight back to the organization so that it can better serve the people.



The country club is a private membership organization, so all of the money that is made is through the members who pay a membership fee. All of the money earned by the country club is used to pay its employees and also keep the accommodations of the club in top shape. Also, the money made from fees, is used to market and sell the club to other individuals interested in joining a club.

Medieval Times serves leisure to middle to high class people. They satisfy needs for those who are looking for special events or unique experiences. The YMCA serves the public at large with less expensive costs, and this attracts low income to middle class people. Also, they provide leisure to children, youth, families, and individuals who want to strengthen their spiritual, mental, physical well-being. Unlike the Medieval Times and YMCA, the country club serves leisure exclusively to high class people, usually with power and influence. They restrict use of their facilities or programs to their members and the members' families and guests. Due to expensive fees, only a small number of people enjoy this kind of leisure. They are sometimes used for business and political matters.

A key element of commercial leisure as shown in Medieval times is that it is a very entertaining and creative form of leisure. Medieval Times is a fun experience and they do a nice job in retaining their customers. A key element of the YMCA that sets it apart from the others is the fact that it is so accessible to a wide range of people. It allows leisure for all incomes, and especially for low income families. The YMCA makes leisure something that all can enjoy. Finally, a key element of country clubs that sets them apart from the others is its exclusiveness. Since country clubs are expensive to join they are very ritzy places to experience leisure. They also provide the feeling of an upscale environment for its members.

YMCA plays a major role in providing leisure to low income to middle class families. It is a very strong leisure service provider. I allows its members to use a facility that is very well kept for a price that is manageable for most budgets. YMCA, in most communities, provides the youth with a place where they can get together with their friends. Perhaps, a case could also be made that YMCAs also contribute to lower crime rates in certain communities. I consider these aspects of YMCA as a strength cause they help to increase the quality of life of the residents of the community. YMCA helps promote a healthy energetic life style which is essential for most Americans given the current trends such as childhood obesity.

While YMCA is a great institution, i would like to say that is definitely has some short comings or weaknesses. First, there is the very big issue of availability. Not all communities have a YMCA. Secondly, the membership fees keep some people from joining. Although they are low, the membership fees can still be a lot for some of lower class families.

The country club is another strong leisure service provider. It provides its members with a natural and calm environment where they can come to relax and just enjoy the whether. They provide various outdoor services such as golf courses and tennis courts. In addition, the country clubs also provide its members with a place where they can come to mingle and build a a better social network. I believe that these aspects of country clubs are a strength because they help promote a sense of community within its members. The biggest weakness of country clubs, in our opinion, is their exclusiveness. I believe that country clubs would be a much more successful venture if they weren't so exclusive to the upper class. Country clubs should be a little more accessible to the middle class. This would, in my opinion, make these country clubs a much more enjoyable experience as they would then attract a wide diversity of people.

Medieval times is also a very strong leisure service provider. They are an excellent source of entertainment for kids as well as adults. The whole experience is just amazing. The whole scenario of knight with their gallant horses jousting for the honor of their kingdom is very exciting for a child of any age.The only disadvantage that comes to mind when thinking of medieval times is its accessibility. Medieval times are only located in major cities so that people in small cities have to commute to experience it. The cost of the commute when added to the total cost can then be a factor that might keep some families from visiting. Also the price of entry in itself can be kind of expensive with adult tickets costing close to $ 40 and children ticket being $ 35 dollars. This makes it very hard for middle and lower class families to visit medieval times as the total cost of the tickets can be hard to mans\age for those running on a budget.

As previously stated, the goal for Medieval Times is to earn profit. In past years, they have not fulfilled this goal. This is evidently shown by a 1997 court case between the IRS and Medieval Times that ended up with Medieval Times filing for bankruptcy. Medieval Times owed the IRS about $10 dollars in taxes. Instead of paying for those taxes, the company declared bankruptcy so that the IRS didn't "seize any assets," according Alan Friedman, the Medieval Times bankruptcy lawyer. However, in recent years the company has showed no signs of downfall.



The goal for the YMCA is to meet the social needs of its community. In general, communities like to get healthy and active at the same time. Those with a YMCA in their community expect to get these things out of it. Luckily for them, the YMCA fulfills these expectations in many ways. One opportunity that the YMCA provides for its community is Activate America. This program is intended to help our nation's growing health crisis by having our country's best experts give health advice and by creating activities such as Pioneering Healthier Communities and September's America on the Move Week to get community members active.

The Country Club's goal is to give members a place to socialize and network in a very relaxed but also healthy fashion. These goals are fulfilled because the Country Club provides various opportunities for members to do so. Some of these healthy opportunities range from the utilization of the club's tennis courts to the ability to exercise in the swimming pool. Members can also socialize with each other in a friendly game of golf or they can enjoy a nice dinner at the country club's restaurant. All in all, the country club is a great place for a community to become a part of to relieve stress and meet new people.

In conclusion, the Medieval Times,the YMCA and country clubs all show how three different types of leisure service delivery organizations all provide leisure to a range of people form various socioeconomic status. They all fulfill the the one general main objective of providing leisure opportunities to all.

Sport Management : Boston Red Sox by YongJoo Lee

The Boston Red Sox is one of the best Major League Baseball team. They belong to American League Eastern Division. The Red Sox has been established in 1901, and it was a dominant team in Pittsburgh Pirates in the first World Series in 1903. They were one of the longest championship droughts in baseball history. The Boston Red Sox is the most successful Major League Baseball team of the last decade.

History of Red Sox
Ban Johnson declared the first National League in the States. This was first case of the new Boston franchise, which was not the official nickname until 1908. CY Young was the only pitcher in baseball’s first 100years to win 500 games. Joe Wood came to Red Sox at the end of 1908 season, and made him the successor of the great CY Young. In 1915, Duffy Lewis, Tris Speaker, and Harry Hooper, the legendary Red Sox’s outfields, played strong hitting performance at the World Series of baseball. And, the Red Sox won the next four to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies for the championship. Babe Ruth, who was the remarkable player at the season and at the World Series, also played in Red Sox. Babe Ruth contributed a lot to make Red Sox win the championship. We can definitely say that Babe Ruth is not only best player in the Red Sox, but also in the history of American baseball. In 1934, Tom Yawkey took over a Boston franchise, and he built a successful ballclub that mirrored the passion of its owner. 1990 was one of the most memorable plays in Red Sox history, because Tom Brunansky made a wonderful save the final game by catching in the right field corner. In 2002, The Red Sox began a new era, because John Henry took over the ownership group. In 2007, Red Sox had a dream season by winning the championship.

Ball Park
From 1901 to 1911, the Huntington Avenue Grounds was the ballpark of the Red So. The Huntington Avenue Grounds played host to the first American League and National League World Series in 1903. The stadium was 635 feet, which is really big. It is now occupied by Northeastern University.
Since April 20, 1912, Fenway Park became ballpark of the Red Sox. It is located in Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. And it is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. The capacity of Fenway Park is 35,000. The construction cost of Fenway Park is $650,000(14.3 million dollars in 2008).
The Green Monster is the nickname of the field wall in the park, which is a popular target for right-handed hitters. In spite of the name, the Green Monster was painted in 1948, before that it was covered with advertisement. The Green Monster was built to prevent the ball going out of the stadium.

Uniforms
The Primary home uniform for the Boston Red Sox is white color, and there is “Red Sox” letter on the chest. The home uniform has been in use since 1979. The away uniform is grey color, and there is a blue letter of “Boson” on the chest. The team wears red sweatshirts and solid red stockings at home game. They sometimes change their uniform, however there is no big difference in order to keep the images of Red Sox.

Players
David Ortiz is one of the greatest hitter, who is from Republic of Dominica. He has played for Boston Red Sox since 2003. His nickname is “Big Papi.”
Ortiz won five times for all star, and holds the Red Sox single-season record for home runs with 54, set during the 2006 season.
Joshua Patrick Beckett is one of the greatest pitchers, who play for Boston Red Sox. He is a right-handed starting pitcher. During his career in the playoffs, he was the MVP at the 2007 ALCS award with the Red Sox.

Lastly, the Boston Red Sox is still located in the high rank of Major League Baseball. As I am fan of the Red Sox, I learned lots of informations about Red Sox that I had not known before. I strongly hope that Red Sox will end up with good results for the rest of the games.

Sports Management: Naperville Park District by Syed Hasan

"The Naperville Park District provides leisure experiences that enhance the quality of life for our community." This is the mission statement for the Naperville Park district. It summarizes very nicely what I believe is a general trend that can be seen throughout history. There are thousands of examples present in almost every culture that involve great leaders building parks, monuments and plazas for the benefit of the general community. It is in the very nature of humanity to surround itself with beauty.This trend continues into the modern era and the River walk is an excellent example of this. The Riverwalk was built and dedicated in 1981 as a celebration of Naperville’s Sesquicentennial (150th) anniversary. Embraced as a gathering place, the River Walk has become a focal point of the community, drawing visitors from far and wide to take in its beauty; it is recognized as one of the most picturesque spots in the Midwest. To make the Riverwalk dream a reality, residents donated their time, money and materials to turn the once forgotten DuPage riverfront into a beautiful park that has won many state and national honors. Virtually any time of year, there is something happening on the Riverwalk. From the early spring all the way through fall, there are art and craft fairs, walk-a-thons, festivals and special events. Even throughout the holidays, the Park District hosts its Santa House on the River walk. These sort of events promote a social atmosphere within the community and help instill a sense of unity.
The River walk is mantained by the Naperville Park District. The Naperville Park District, created in 1966, is an independent municipal agency serving a community of 140,000+ residents.The District maintains and operates more than 2,500 acres overall comprised of more than 130 parks and facilities and serves approximately 60,000 participants each year through more than 900 recreational, arts and environmental programs and events for all ages. This, inturn, opens up alot of employment opportunities for those seeking a recreational career. The Naperville Park District offers both regular and short Term employment opportunities as well as internships. These can all be applied for by turning in an online application along with a resume. The river walk itself also acts as a stimulus for the local economy as it attracts visitors from all over the suburbs. This translates into greater profits for the nearby restaurants. The Naperville Park District plays a major part in giving the city its great reputation. This, in turn, helps attracts home buyers leading to a rise in home value in the area.
Beautiful sculptures like the one above are scattered all around the river walk and help make the visit very enjoyable as they challenge one's imagination. My visit to the park was amazing. Walking along side the river was a very relaxing experience. Alot of the local wildlife was also seen throughout the trail. The park also offers a outdoor pool. This is a very popular spot with teenager and serves as a great source of revenue for the park district. Overall, The River Walk is a wonderful attraction which allows the visitor to connect with nature and is a must for anyone seeking a fun, family oriented outdoor experience.

The Naperville Park District has a bright future planed for its parks. For the river walk, the park district plans countless renovations in order to maintain the beauty of the park. This would be accompanied by many new extensions to attract new visitors as well. For questions or comments regarding the Naperville Park District, call (630) 848-5000.

Campus Recreation Programs: The ARC

By: Tom Roth




The ARC is a recreational facility that provides recreation and wellness opportunities for students as well as community members. The facility consists of numerous gyms where sports such as basketball, volleyball, racquetball or other activities can be played. The Arc also has an indoor and outdoor swimming pool along with a rarity in an indoor ice arena. A fitness center can be found in the ARC with weight lifting equipment, free weights and cardiovascular machinery. It also offers opportunities outside of the facility such as intramural sports and off campus recreational trips.

The campus recreational facility was first opened in 1971, first being named the Intramural-Physical Education Building, also known as IMPE. In 2005, IMPE was shut down so that a complete renovation could take place. This renovation began in March of 2006 and came to a total cost of $82.7 million dollars, funded completely by student fees. This was done to create more space for activities and increase the overall quality of the center with improvements all over the facility. After the renovation was completed, the name of the facility was changed to the ARC (Activities Recreation Center), which remains located on 201 E. Peabody Drive. Nevertheless, the renovation was a huge success and has provided new opportunities for members to partake in.



One automatically becomes a member of the ARC by enrolling in the university by paying the Service Fee when he or she first enrolls. Other eligible members of the ARC consist of community members and university affiliates that have to pay fees in order to utilize the facilities. The ARC provides various employment opportunities including event management, facility management, personal training and wellness services just to name a few. In order to possibly attain one of these positions, one must attend an information session, submit an application, resume and cover letter, and go through an interview.



Some trends that have becoming popular within the ARC are internal recreational programs that are comprised of traveling to off campus sites. For example, the ARC is sponsoring a trip to the Florida Everglades for a canoeing trip. Other “Adventure Trips” include a backpacking trip to Hoosier National Forest in April and a hiking and camping trip to Mammoth Cave that already occurred in October. The only major issue that arises in relation to the ARC comes from students and parents of students that complain about paying the mandatory Service Fee when the students might not be utilizing the facilities on campus as much as other might be.

The ARC sees leisure as a chance to become free from the demands of work and become more involved in the community in a healthy way. Its main goal is to be a source for students on campus, community members and university affiliates and to increase their health and wellness. The benefits received by members of the ARC consist of a chance to becoming healthier, become an active member of the community and have fun.



I had a very positive experience when I visited the ARC. I utilized the basketball courts as well as the fitness center. Both were very high quality resources that gave me know problems as I used them. However, one negative aspect of the basketball courts that I wanted to use was that there was usually a line that you had to wait if you wanted to play with the high competition. Similarly with the fitness center, there were so many people there that it was seldom to be able to just right onto a weight lifting machine. I usually found myself waiting in line to grab a bench or use some of the free weights. On a better note, the machinery was top notch and the basketball courts and hoops were in great condition. The way in which the ARC fits into the leisure delivery system in by giving its members opportunities to take a break from their lives and take part in something that will make them feel better in many ways, while possibly doing something that they thoroughly enjoy. Just like the Ancient Israelis used the Sabbath Day as a source of leisure, we as students and community members have the ARC!