Business View Magazine - Sept 2023

245 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 10, ISSUE 9 GOCAL- ONTARIO CONVENT ION CENTER AND TOYOTA ARENA well above pre-pandemic levels. As for other valued relationships, Krouse acknowledges, “Our strategic partner in Toyota of Southern California cannot be underestimated. Nor can our partnership with Stater Bros Markets, which is a huge contributor in the region to the underprivileged. They’re a big partner of ours that we enjoy a great relationship with, along with Coca-Cola and others. These are all important people to us because they believe in our same views. They have a quality, service-driven culture, they have all the things that we stand for.” Finding Opportunity Through GOCAL, Krouse operates another entity known as Go Sports, which is the Greater Ontario Sports and Entertainment Authority. He relays, “That organization was created to focus on sports, and one of the big projects that we’ve been working on is how to harness all of the elements related to the 2028 Olympics.” Although the venues for the 2028 Olympics have already been determined, there are opportunities for Greater Ontario to host advanced training and preparation events for the Olympics in other venues. “It’s an opportunity for us to grow because they all come in a month or more in advance, to prepare, train and be ready for the competition. In addition to that, this is a region where a lot of youth sports and tournaments happen. So, beyond the Olympics, there’s all this other sporting opportunity.” he says. Go Sports has recently booked an event called the Savannah Bananas at Quakes Stadium, a Minor League Baseball Stadium. “They’re a baseball team that is like the Harlem Globetrotters of basketball, and they’re funny, crazy, all of that,” conveys Krouse. “That sold out, and they have a 12,000-person waiting list if tickets come available.” In a recent study conducted by GOCAL, it was revealed that people in the region perceive the organization as a significant player and want to see it expand its reach and impact. Looking ahead, Krouse highlights GOCAL’s