THAD MATTA, CLARK KELLOGG, SCOTT HOWSON AMONG FEATURED GUESTS

The Greater Columbus Sports Commission will celebrate its fifth anniversary on Aug. 28 at The Morning Sports Report at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

Ohio State men’s basketball coach Thad Matta and former Buckeye great and CBS analyst Clark Kellogg will be among a host of sports celebrities on hand as the Sports Commission takes a look back at its first five years and a look ahead to what’s coming. Other special guests include Doug Kay, coach of the Columbus Destroyers; Scott Howson, general manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets; Mark McCullers, general manager of the Columbus Crew; Gene Smith, athletics director of The Ohio State University; and Ken Schnacke, president and general manager of the Columbus Clippers.

Linda Shetina Logan, Sports Commission executive director, also will be featured during the program. Jeff Hogan of WBNS-10TV will emcee, and Bruce Hooley of 1460 The Fan will host.

“The Morning Sports Report has grown to become the Sports Commission’s de facto annual meeting, and this year will be extra special as we celebrate our fifth anniversary,” Logan said. “Our city has come a very long way as a sports destination and host city in the last five years, and we couldn’t have done it without the collective work of our funders, all of our sports organizations, Ohio State, and our entire hospitality community. As a team, we’ve accomplished so much for our city, and we are very excited about what the future holds for our community as a sports destination.”

The Morning Sports Report will be held from 7:30-9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 28 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. A Fan Fair featuring a variety of the city's sports teams and organizations will be held from 7:30-8 a.m., with the program at 8 a.m.

Tickets are $65 for an individual seat; $700 for a table for ten and 2 tickets to VIP reception with sports celebrities; $85 for an individual VIP seat and one ticket to the VIP reception with sports celebrities; and $1,500 for VIP table for ten with the opportunity to host a sports celebrity, 10 tickets to VIP reception with sports celebrities, an autographed basketball by Thad Matta and recognition in pre- and post-event promotion. Buy tickets online at www.ColumbusSports.org. RSVP deadline is Aug. 17.

All attendees will receive tickets to the following: Arnold Sports Festival; Columbus Blue Jackets pre-season game; Columbus Destroyers game; Columbus Clippers game; Columbus Crew game; and Ohio State University men’s hockey or women’s basketball game. The ticket package is worth more than $200.

“One of the missions of The Morning Sports Report is to celebrate the variety of sporting events that we have in our community, so we pleased to provide our attendees complimentary tickets to these seven major sporting events,” Logan said.

For more information on The Morning Sports Report, visit www.ColumbusSports.org.

The Greater Columbus Sports Commission was founded in June 2002 to attract professional, amateur, collegiate and youth sporting events to Columbus. In the past four years, the Sports Commission has booked more than 70 events that have generated more than $90 million in visitors spending in Columbus.

Marquee events in which the Sports Commission played a significant role in attracting to or hosting in Columbus include:

• Black American World Softball Championship (September 2003)
• FIFA Women’s World Cup (September 2003)
• NCAA Men’s Basketball 1st & 2nd Rounds (March 2004)
• NCAA Women’s Basketball 1st & 2nd Rounds (March 2004)
• World Cup of Hockey Training Camp (June 2004)
• NCAA Frozen Four (April 2005)
• International Diving Championships (May 2006)
• NSA Girls Fast Pitch World Series (June 2006)
• U.S. Olympic Trials – Synchronized Swimming (December 2006)
• NCAA Men’s Basketball 1st & 2nd Rounds (March 2007)
• NHL Entry Draft (June 2007)

Major upcoming events include:

• USA Track & Field Junior Outdoor Championships (June 2008)
• NCAA Women’s Basketball 1st & 2nd Rounds (March 2009)

MEDIA CONTACT:
Brent LaLonde
Greater Columbus Sports Commission
614-562-0940 (cell)
BLaLonde@ColumbusSports.org
www.ColumbusSports.org

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