In a sector dominated by weather automation, BAMWX.com is rapidly growing with customized weather forecasts for events and sporting teams.
Competing against companies primarily providing automated weather data, BAMWx.com has built a reliable client base of outdoor events with non-automated, meteorologist provided analysis. Though it may be considered to be an unorthodox method of forecasting in this era of weather data automation, prominent figures in minor league baseball are realizing the method comes with great success. The idea often comes with skepticism at first, though it’s only a matter of time before the value in BAM’s service becomes apparent as General Manager Cookie Rojas of the New Orleans Baby Cakes learned.
“We really didn’t understand how accurate they [BAM] could be in helping us with the weather we get here from the Gulf Coast,” Rojas said. “We elected to use it [BAM’s service] and it immediately paid for itself.”
Ultimately, the non-automated forecasts differentiate BAM from other sources of weather such as weather apps, but the ability for event managers to stay in contact with BAM’s meteorologists at all times is what really makes the service valuable. According to Rojas, not only are the forecasts accurate, but BAM’s team helps the Baby Cakes understand the reasoning and risks behind a forecast.
“It’s information you can’t get from traditional weather forecasting platforms,” he said.
More sporting and outdoor events around the country are catching onto what Rojas calls “world class” service. Recent additions to BAM’s list of customers include the Trenton Thunder, Iowa Cubs, NCAA Rowing Championships and Horizon League Championships. BAM meteorologists also provided minute-by-minute weather updates for the race teams of Ed Carpenter Racing and Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports for the Indianapolis 500. Terry Powers, BAM’s Managing Director of Sports and Special Events, suggests BAM’s recent success is built off their ability to give event managers more confidence when making critical decisions related to weather.
“[Event managers] no longer have to guess what actions to take because of the data and information we provide,” Powers said.
BAM’s success has not stopped at sporting events. A few weeks ago, BAM provided forecasts and on-call support for Norfolk Harborfest – America’s largest and longest running maritime festival. BAM Weather has also partnered with Des Moines, Iowa based Go Stagestruck to provide forecast support for The District in Prairie Trail in Ankeny, Iowa and 15 of their festivals, concerts and special events.
“When I learned about the services BAM Weather provides, I knew it was a service each of our clients could benefit from,” said Kim Johnson-Smith, co-founder and CEO of Go Stagestruck. “Knowing we can rely on BAM Weather to provide detailed forecasted as well as make recommendations during inclement weather makes [BAM] more than an asset to the planning team. They are now an extension of our team, and we are thrilled to be working with them this summer!”
Long-time clients of BAM have experienced the benefits of the weather service for several years. Indy 500 Festival President and CEO Bob Bryant says it is BAM’s attention to detail and knowledge of all inclement weather situations that makes their service so valuable.
“We are so confident in BAM Weather and their ability to accurately forecast and monitor the weather, that we have written BAM into our emergency plans as our event weather provider,” Bryant said. “From weekly to daily down to hourly updates, they understand the challenges of an event producer and act as a partner in our planning, preparation and activation.”
To go along with clients like the Indy 500 Festival, the recent growing client base means a growing company with the addition of three new meteorologists at BAM since April. In the end, it’s about providing accurate and timely information so clients can make critical decisions on a daily basis easier – because you never know when mother nature will throw a curveball.
“In my nearly 20 years of working in sports, I never had to postpone an opening day, but sure enough we had inclement weather predicted and our reports from BAMWX helped us make the correct decision when it came to postponing the game and rescheduling it,” Rojas said.
When it comes to the service paying for itself, sometimes it only takes one good forecast to get your money’s worth as the Baby Cakes learned on opening day.
“[This saved] us thousands of dollars in labor costs which we would have incurred in the past –by waiting to see if we could play – while we used various free weather apps or contacted traditional weather service bureaus for information.”
To inquire about BAMWX’s weather forecast service for sports and special events, contact [email protected].