Corporate Challenge set to begin in March

Thirty two years ago, city employees had an idea. They started on a smaller scale, providing nine events to compete in for participants from companies around the valley.

Now, that idea, the Corporate Challenge, has blossomed into the largest amateur sporting event in Nevada. Last year, more than 18,000 employees from companies across Las Vegas turned out.

This year, Corporate Challenge coordinator Andrea Anzalone is hoping for possibly up to 20,000 entrants. Registration ends Friday.

The Corporate Challenge, hosted by the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation, spans 11 weeks, beginning in March and ending in mid-May.

There are about 41 sporting events, including traditional ones such as basketball, soccer, swimming, tennis and softball. There also are other competitions, such as a trivia challenge, poker and chess.

“We added different events, whether it was the trivia contest, chess, we do volunteer programs, so if you may not be athletic and you still want to contribute, you can volunteer at a nonprofit and get bonus points for that as well as volunteering at the events specifically to work,” Anzalone said.

The competition is split into three divisions based on size to even out the playing field. Last year, 60 teams competed, with some teams being comprised of participants from multiple companies. This year, Anzalone is shooting for 60 to 70 teams.

“I give presentations all the time to companies that have never heard about us, especially newer companies that come to Vegas, because we’re so transient, we get so many different people that come in, they’ve never heard about it, and that’s why we want to spread the word about the uniqueness of Corporate Challenge,” she said.

For companies with 1,000 or more employees, registration is $2,400; for 301 to 999, it’s $2,200; and for one to 300, it’s $2,000.

Registration forms and fees can be mailed or delivered to the City of Las Vegas Parks and Recreation department.

“It’s not just for health and wellness, but it is for camaraderie, not only internally but externally as well,” Anzalone said. “These companies may not see each other for the entire year, but when Corporate Challenge comes along, this is a chance where they can come and play and have a great time and work off some of those stressors or the monotony of work and have fun, and so a lot of companies look forward to that.”

Contact Betsy Helfand at bhelfand@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BetsyHelfand on Twitter.