Columbus has been chosen to host the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance’s (NAGAAA) Gay Softball World Series in 2010, Greater Columbus Sports Commission executive director Linda Shetina Logan announced today.

The Gay Softball World Series will attract approximately 3,000 people to Columbus for a five-day tournament to be held at Berliner Park, the nation’s largest softball complex with 31 fields. The Gay Softball World Series features four divisions of play A, B, C, & D. The event will be held Aug. 19-23, 2010. Opening ceremonies would be held on Aug. 18, 2010.

“We are thrilled to host the Gay Softball World Series in 2010,” Logan said. “Not only do we have the best softball complex in the nation, but Columbus is also a culturally diverse city that will enable us to host the best Gay Softball World Series to date.”

Dallas Aldridge, commissioner of the Columbus Lesbian and Gay Softball Association and co-chairman of the Columbus Bid Host Committee probably appreciates Berliner more than anyone at this point. “We’re fortunate to have a great partnership with the city and the Sports Commission and such a great facility like Berliner. Columbus will be the first city in many years able to host the entire Series in one complex.”

The Greater Columbus Sports Commission and the Columbus Lesbian & Gay Softball Association joined forces to bid on the tournament. The NAGAAA Board of Directors and member city delegates chose Columbus over Dallas to host the 2010 tournament.

The North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance features 37 gay and lesbian softball leagues and more than 12,000 members in 35 North American cities. The 2008 Gay Softball World Series was held in Seattle and the 2009 event will be held in Milwaukee.

The Greater Columbus Sports Commission was founded in June 2002 to attract professional, amateur, collegiate and youth sporting events to Columbus. Since its inception, the Sports Commission has attracted more than 90 events that have generated more than $90 million in visitor spending. For more information, visit www.ColumbusSports.org.

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

Return to Press Releases