Three back-to-back youth tournaments. 80 teams each. Five courts playing at a time. One very hardworking venue staff. And one big win for everyone involved. These were the figures from the National Travel Basketball Association's recent championship events that took place in Myrtle Beach. What's the take-away for other event owners this year?

If COVID-19 has been the big monkeywrench in 2020, the NCAA is ready with the WD-40. The organization recently announced that it would work toward hosting scaled-back fall championships in the spring for Division I. Of course, that leaves a lot of questions and many of those pertain to the hosts who had previously been selected for 2020 fall action.

Smartphones allow users to control everything remotely, and now the same technology can be applied to sports facilities. SMART (short for Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology) systems are creating better efficiency in venues, enhancing safety and enabling owner control. Oh, and it can also make venues more inviting. Learn more here.

If you're searching for silver linings in the massive dark cloud that is 2020, it's worth noting that this year is the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, giving women the vote. So it's fitting that this year, one of the most outdated traditions in sports - men's-only golf courses - is dying out, at least in the UK. The U.S. needs to catch up.

Want to send a strong signal that your city is back in the game and open for business? SportAccord has launched the host destination application processes for future editions of its SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit and Regional SportAccord events. All information, including links to the various bid packages and event owner background, is here.

Make no mistake: Going to the Masters gives you cred among fellow golf fans. (The fact that you can wear some of the great apparel is another great, albeit silent, statement). So this year, in lieu of having fans present, the Masters is still giving ticket holders (and nobody else) access to the exclusive swag. What can we learn from this?