MORNING SPORTS REPORT TO PROVIDE DISH ON COLUMBUS SPORTS SCENE

MIKE VRABEL, KIRK HERBSTREIT AMONG SPEAKERS
AT GREATER COLUMBUS SPORTS COMMISSION ANNUAL MEETING

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Columbus sports fans will have a unique opportunity to get the inside scoop from some of the city’s top sports teams and representatives when the fourth-annual The Morning Sports Report is held Wednesday, July 16 at the Hyatt Regency.

Former Ohio State football star Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots and former OSU quarterback Kirk Herstreit of ESPN and 1460 The Fan will be the featured speakers. Other special guests include Scott Howson, president of the Columbus Blue Jackets; Mark McCullers, president and general manager of the Columbus Crew; Tom Ryan, Ohio State wrestling coach; Ken Schnacke, general manager of the Columbus Clippers; and Jim Renacci, president and general manager of the Columbus Destroyers.

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 annual meeting,” Logan said. “Our city continues to develop as a sports destination and host city, and we couldn’t continue to attract sporting events to Columbus 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 Wednesday, July 16 at the Hyatt Regency. 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 football and recognition in pre- and post-event promotion. Buy tickets online at www.ColumbusSports.org.

All attendees will receive a ticket package worth more than $225 to the following: Columbus Crew game vs. Kansas City Wizards on July 17; Columbus Clippers game; Buckeye Fuel Wars Race at National Trail Raceway; Ohio State University athletics event; Columbus Blue Jackets game; 2009 Arnold Sports Festival; 2009 OHSAA Girls Basketball Tournament; and 2009 Columbus Destroyers game

“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 Track & Field Championships (June 2008)
• NCAA Women’s Basketball 1st & 2nd Rounds (March 2009)
• National Association of Sports Commission’s Sports Event Symposium (April 2010)

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

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