In a parliamentary sitting in April 1997, the Government of
Botswana passed a motion to investigate the poor performance of
the countryʼ’s national sport teams (Government White Paper, 2002).
This led to an appointment of a five-person committee to carry out
the investigation. The absence or poor state of sport facilities was
cited as one of the major factors contributing to poor performances
of the national sport teams at local and international sporting events.
One of the major recommendations of the committee was that the
government should construct Integrated Sport Facilities (ISFʼ’s) in
various areas throughout the country. The government responded
swiftly by constructing such facilities in the districts of the northwest
(Maun,), north-east (Masunga), south-east (Molepolole) and
central (Serowe). The idea was that they should be accessible to
all sportspersons and the general public. The facilities include: a
stadium with spectator seating and a covered stand with a carrying
capacity ranging from 4,000 to 6,000; warm up track; softball pitch
with approximately 1000 seats; two volleyball courts, two netball
courts, two tennis courts and a basketball court without seats.
Also included are ticket rooms and kiosks; internal road, bus and
car parks; public washrooms; a club house with a meeting room
that can seat up to 30 people; cafeteria and bar and refreshment
area. The main objective of setting up the ISFʼ’s was to promote
participation in recreation and sport by ensuring that they are
accessible to as many citizens as possible. Making the benefits
of recreation available to the public requires that individuals and
community leaders are aware of and buy in on the benefits of
specific programs. The job of recreation professionals therefore is
not only to provide opportunities for achieving the benefits, but to
get the word out about these opportunities. Unless all professionals
in the leisure profession promote and articulate the benefits of
leisure, the tremendous value that sports facilities adds to human
welfare will not be recognized and appreciated fully. These benefits
are understood by leisure professionals, academicians and students
alike. However, experiencing the benefits by the public at large, as
well as special populations, will not reach its full potential without
techniques designed to educate and influence the public regarding
available opportunities (Mowen & Baker, 2009). The Government
of Botswana has intensified the need for adequate participation
in sports through directives that public education awareness
campaigns should be undertaken through the Directorate of Sport
and Recreation (DSR) in order to sensitize the nation on the
importance of sport through printed leaflets, workshops, seminars,
radio programs and sport festivals (Government White Paper,
2002). However, for the efforts of government in terms of mass
participation in sport to be realized, the available facilities have
to be marketed well to ensure adequate usage and sustainability.
They should also be visible, more available for athletes and
consequently sport will be better promoted. These will enhance
massive participation in sport at different levels enabling the
community to use these sporting facilities for sport development,
recreation and social welfare.Access to these facilities is free and the observation is that the
cost of the public facilities in most cases is subsidized which can be
considered a social service type of approach to pricing. However,
there is an opportunity to use the ISFʼ’s to charge gate takings,
advertising space, stadium rentals, conference room rentals and
lease of tuck shops. In this study the aim was to assess strategies
used to market the ISFʼ’s using place, price, product and promotion
collectively named the marketing mix and first expressed by
McCarthy (1964) as quoted by Bennett (1997). The marketing
mix approach ensures that when a product or service is made
available to the consumer, it has been planned, designed, packaged,
promoted and delivered in such a manner that the consumer is
not only persuaded to buy, but also to repeat the experience as
often as possible (Madhu, 2010; Malcolm & Martin, 2003). In
view of the need for more sources of funding for the sustenance
of the facilities, it is necessary for facility administrators to ensure
that marketing strategies are put in place that will ensure that