Visit Broken Arrow Tourism Board Meeting - June 9, 2026

The Visit Broken Arrow Tourism Board met on June 9, 2026, to discuss the 2026 Rooster Days festival recap, approve a hotel rebate for the FCA Women's Championship, authorize the purchase of 3D event letters, and select a marketing agency for FY27. Board members also debated sponsorship levels, Airbnb lodging tax collection, and a potential lodging tax increase.

Consent Calendar

• Meeting Minutes (April 13, 2026) – Approved. (Note: The agenda initially listed Board of Adjustments minutes, but this was corrected; the item was approved unanimously.)
• Meeting Minutes (May 12, 2026) – Approved by a unanimous vote.

Discussion Items

• Rooster Days 2026 Recap – Tiffany Shepard, Broken Arrow Chamber, presented statistics: attendance of 32,700 (down from 2025), peak attendance on Saturday, 95 parade participants, record-breaking run attendance of 650. Marketing partnerships with influencers Mike Collier and Mary Hathaway generated significant online engagement. A new media partnership with Zellner Media Group yielded over 1 million impressions and 184 radio commercials. The 2027 festival is confirmed for May 13–16.
• Sponsorship Structure & City Contribution – Board members expressed concern that the City of Broken Arrow provides over $50,000 in cash ($20,000) and services (police $26,000, plus parks and streets department support) to Rooster Days, while receiving minimal branding. The title sponsor TTCU pays $20,000 for extensive benefits (parade position, stage time, logo placement, VIP parking, etc.). The board discussed renegotiating the sponsorship package, possibly offering only cash or services, and ensuring Visit BA and city logos appear prominently. The motion passed to direct staff to work with the Chamber to review the sponsorship structure and bring a proposal to the board.
• FCA Women's Championship Hotel Rebate – Gary (FCA representative) reported that the 2026 event drew 109 athletes from 11 countries to Indian Springs Golf Club. Hotel room nights generated were 80 of 300 hoped, with many athletes using Airbnbs (46) or staying in Tulsa. The board approved a $3,333 hotel rebate (motion, second, unanimous vote).
• Purchase of 3D Event Letters – Staff proposed purchasing two sets of large 3D foam letters ("I ❤ BA" and "Broken Arrow") not to exceed $16,818.67. The letters are portable, weather-resistant, and intended for events, conferences, and photo opportunities. A board member suggested adding a selfie stand to help visitors capture the full letters. The board approved the purchase with the addition of a selfie stand (unanimous).
• Selection of Marketing Agency for FY27 – After reviewing 23 RFPs, a committee narrowed to five finalists who completed a sample project (marketing faith-based conferences). The board selected Sparkloft Media (Portland, OR) for a one-year contract. Sparkloft will visit Broken Arrow four times and focus on destination marketing strategy. The board approved the selection unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Votes:
  • Meeting minutes (April 13 and May 12) approved.
  • FCA Women's Championship hotel rebate of $3,333 approved.
  • Purchase of 3D event letters up to $16,818.67, with added selfie stand, approved.
  • Marketing contract with Sparkloft Media approved.
• Directives:
  • Staff to work with Chamber on revised Rooster Days sponsorship structure and bring back to board.
  • Staff to research Airbnb lodging tax collection, including legal requirements and examples from other cities, and present to board at next meeting.
• Discussion: Board expressed interest in a potential lodging tax increase (currently 4% vs. Tulsa's 5% with 8% in TID). Staff will ask City Manager Spurgeon if he is ready to discuss the matter.
• Next Meeting: The board will hear updates on the Christian Interpreters Conference (July 9) and the APO conference (July 13-15). The next regular meeting is expected in July 2026.