The Waterloo Region Esports Commission (WREC) provides a number of services and resources to support esport event hosting. Please see below the available areas of support and should you have any questions do not hesitate to contact us for more information. If you are just getting started, feel free to complete our RFP to start planning your event or contact the Director of Sport Hosting and Co-Chair of WREC, Allister Scorgie for further information
Event Hosting Assistance
WREC provides access to financial support, as well as providing information on grant opportunities available to esport events. If you are interested in further information on event hosting grants in the region and province, please contact WREC.
Bid Development
WREC has extensive experience in bid development and we can work with you to identify the key elements of your bid proposal and support you in the development of a professional bid package that highlights the best that Waterloo Region has to offer. Contact WREC to request our standardized bid documentation.
Accommodations & Housing
With thousands of hotel rooms as well as campus housing at Conestoga College, University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University – WREC can provide a variety of accommodation options to suit your needs and work with you to secure the best option for your event by liaising with properties to develop room blocks and contracts.
Venue Familiarization Visits
WREC can provide support in developing site visit itineraries for event organizers and connect visitors with the key stakeholder groups in the region to ensure every box is checked off during an inspection visit while providing a great hosting experience.
Esports Venues
WREC can coordinate securing any of Waterloo Regions state of the art esports venues. With the combined resources of multi-municipalities, and a wide range of sport assets we can provide all of the options to stage your event. Whether it’s a conference facility like Bingemans, the Esports Hub at Conestoga College or our largest sport and entertainment venue, The Aud, we can source your venue needs for events across the Region.
Partnerships
WREC can coordinate on behalf of an interested bid group public funding and stakeholder partnerships to support events, community letters of support and/or funding and VIK from local organizations, institutions and sponsors.
Marketing, Public Relations & Social Media
Combined with the resources of Explore Waterloo Region, WREC can provide numerous supports to ensure your event is reaching the local and regional community. Depending on the scope and objectives of your event, WREC can assist you in developing a strong social media presence, contacts with media and press professionals across a large network, development of content and a presence on explorewaterloo.ca as well as press opportunities.
Tourism & Culture
WREC can provide up to date information on things to do in Waterloo Region when competitors are off of the field of play, including attractions, group friendly restaurants & catering, city information and community events.
Transportation
WREC can provide information on transportation services to and from and within Waterloo Region for visiting players, officials and spectators. For more information on the transportation services, and airport services available, click HERE.
Volunteers
Need volunteers? WREC has a database of dedicated volunteers from across the region that can be shared for recruitment to support your event. We can also coordinate with local universities and the college to engage the student population for your event, specifically the esports community.
Want to volunteer? Click HERE to sign up as a sport event volunteer in the WREC volunteer database.
Advisory Services
With extensive event experience, ranging from community and regional events to some of the largest sporting events in the world, WREC can provide a lens of expertise to support your overall event plan. WREC is available to sit on bid committees, host organizing committees and provide overall advisory support to any event in the Region of Waterloo.
Tools & Templates
WREC can provide the below supports to assist in event planning:
- Bid Evaluation
- Economic Impact Evaluation
- Event Contract Template
- National and International Contacts
- Bid Template
- Sport Event Marketing Template
- Transition Plan Template