Osprey join forces to relocate downtown
It will house a much-needed interactive Visitor's Center for Destination Missoula and will be a ticketing outlet for, not only Osprey baseball games, but many other events in Western Montana.
"This unique partnership will fill a void for an entertainment, retail, and tourism hub in the heart of historic downtown Missoula," explained Osprey Executive Vice President Matt Ellis. "We are very excited to be a player in such an important project for downtown. We feel the energy and life created by our retail and visitor center model will be a valuable addition to the entire downtown."
All three parties' (Missoula Osprey, Destination Missoula, and Glacier Country Tourism) business offices will be located on the second floor of MSO Hub.
The Retail area of MSO Hub, located on the main floor of the building, is an impressive 4,500 square feet. Long time Downtown Missoula retailer Kim Klages Johns has joined the team to oversee the retail operations for MSO Hub. The retail is going to be all about Missoula and our great State of Montana with local souvenirs, Made in Montana merchandise, and local sports team apparel featuring the Missoula Osprey and University of Montana. The Made in Montana retail area is especially exciting to the project team with a specially created area just for local businesses that make products in Montana.
"We really want our retail to be everything about Missoula and Montana," explained Ellis. "Dedicating retail space to local Montana businesses fits perfectly with what we are trying to do. Our retail area is about showing off everything Missoula and Montana has to offer. We are creating a space for Montana based businesses to do just that, show off their amazing products to locals and out of town guests."
Destination Missoula's Visitor Center, located in the heart of the retail, provides all you need to know about Missoula and the many exciting things to do, places to stay, and locations for great food and drink. Destination Missoula will have Visitor Information Center staff on hand to assist guests as they arrive. The Center will have a seating area for visitors to relax while planning their trip or making reservations for restaurants, lodging, and activities.
The Box Office, also located in the heart of the retail, will be the official ticket outlet location for Missoula Osprey Professional Baseball and events at Ogren Park Allegiance Field. In addition, the MSO Hub Box Office will be offering a program for local events and non-profit organizations to be able to sell their event tickets at MSO Hub. MSO Hub wants to be a complete community center with event schedules, details, and tickets being offered.
The much anticipated grand opening of MSO Hub is scheduled for Wednesday, June 1 assuming all tenant improvement construction goes as scheduled. In addition, to the Grand Opening the first weekend should be an eventful one. The Osprey and MSO Hub will participate in First Friday on June 3rd and Sunday Streets on June 5th. On Saturday, June 4th, individual tickets will go on sale for the upcoming Osprey baseball season at the new MSO Hub box office. This will be the first opportunity for fans to get tickets for special Osprey games like Opening Night and their amazing Fireworks Nights. The 2011 home opener for the Osprey is slated for Wednesday, June 22 versus Helena.
MSO Hub - The Key Players
Missoula Osprey Professional Baseball Club has become a leader in the community in terms of quality family entertainment. The Osprey are affiliated with the Arizona Diamondbacks and have over 34 former Osprey who have made the Major Leagues since moving to Missoula in 1999. The Osprey have become known for quality affordable family entertainment. They manage, on behalf of Play Ball Missoula, Ogren Park Allegiance Field. In addition to Osprey and local youth baseball games, the stadium has hosted everything from concerts to community non-profit events. Last season, the Osprey hosted over 100,000 attendees to events at Ogren Park Allegiance Field.
Destination Missoula, also known as the Missoula Convention and Visitors Bureau, is the official marketing organization for attracting visitors and conferences to Missoula. Among their many efforts, they work to bring leisure and business travelers to Missoula, new events and conferences into our area, and to educate the public on the value of tourism which is a $250 million annual economic boost to the Missoula area.
Glacier Country Tourism, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to a balanced partnership among Flathead, Glacier, Lake, Lincoln, Mineral, Missoula, Ravalli and Sanders counties to effectively market the region to visitors and to educate the public regarding the value of tourism, while encouraging respect for the outstanding environment and quality of life found in Montana. The Board of Directors consists of merchants, restaurateurs, campgrounds, hoteliers, attraction operators and other parties interested in promoting Western Montana's Glacier Country to visitors.
MSO Hub - The Name Says it All!
So why MSO Hub for the name?
MSO - MSO is the official airport designation for Missoula which fits nicely with our Tourism partners. For our purposes, it stands for everything that Missoula has to offer.
Hub - Hub stands for being the center of activity. Not only is our location in the heart of the Downtown Missoula retail district, but our mixed use retail and services model makes MSO Hub a definite center of activity for Missoula!
MSO Hub - For More Information
Missoula Osprey - Matt Ellis, 406-543-3300, [email protected]
Destination Missoula - Barb Neilan, 532-3250
Glacier Country Tourism - Racene Friede, 532-3234