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| Issue: # 017 |
September 5, 2008 |
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Wenatchee Valley Sports Council News
 Greetings!
I absolutely LOVE this time of year here in Washington. The days are still sunny and not-so-warm and the nights are crisp. A little dew wets the slower-growing grass in my front yard and I can combine my three favorite things... FOOTBALL, FISHING & HUNTING.
A busy September is already underway with the days dwindling until we get a good look at our brand spankin' new Town Toyota Center (Game On!).
Enjoy this issue and if you find yourself in downtown Wenatchee this month, keep your eyes peeled for a bright orb flying near the fountain. It's a bird, it's a plane...read below for more.
Happy Trails
Eric Granstrom - Wenatchee Valley Sports Council |
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 Town Toyota Center Grand Opening Countdown is On! The Greater Wenatchee Regional Events Center Public Facilities District voted to approval the management firm's budget at its meeting August 28th. The next step is to finish up the building and sign on the dotted line to turn ownership of the 4,300-seat, indoor, multi-purpose arena over to the PFD from Global Entertainment and International Coliseums Corporation. 
"I can't believe how much it changes on a daily basis!" was the exclamation of General Manager Rob Cline when asked about the construction update. "It's incredible how much Hunt Construction and its subcontractors have turned things up a notch to try to come in on the contracted date," said Cline. "Substantial Completion" as set out in the construction contract between Global, Hunt and the PFD is September 17th and they're not going to be far off. Not bad for a building that had significant delays in the beginning with a switch of general contractors and horrific winter weather!
Following the Grand Opening and public reception October 5th, the first booked event for the Town Toyota Center is the NCW Quilt Guild - Harvest of Quilts October 10th-12th. Disney's High School Musical The Ice Tour is October 29-November 2 followed by Jazz artist Chris Botti November 13th.
Wenatchee's Junior A hockey team, the Wenatchee Wild, will play its first home game at  the Town Toyota Center on October 16th against the Topeka Roadrunners in the first of a three-game series. Tickets are on sale through the Wild's website at www.wenatcheewild.com or through the Town Toyota Center at www.towntoyotacenter.com. The indoor soccer team, the Wenatchee FiRE FC of the Professional Indoor Soccer League begins its home schedule on November 15th against the Stockton Cougars. Tickets for FiRE games are available through the team's website at www.paslwenatcheefirefc.com.  Global Entertainment expects the Town Toyota Center to earn nearly $840,000 in its first year of operation. Following a profitable period over the first five months of operation, Global expects some losses in the slower months of April through September.
According to Director of Sales, Linda Haglund, the addition of naming-rights sponsor Town Toyota has opened several other doors of possibilities in sponsorships. Global's budget has the management firm hoping to earn nearly half-a-million dollars in advertising revenue in it's first year.
(photos and images provided by Global Entertainment, Wenatchee Wild and Wenatchee FiRE) |
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37 Teams Survive 100+ Desgrees at 33rd O'Terry's Tournament Deming's Steel Trowel survived a wild game with Shoreline's Malfunkshun 20-19 in the final game of the 33rd Annual O'Terry's Lads & Lasses Softball Tournament August 17th. The win gave Steel Trowel and manager Mark West their second-consecutive O'Terry's Tournament Championship.
Despite sweltering sun and temperatures well into the 100's, 37-teams helped raise over $2,500 dollars for the Wenatchee Valley Sports Foundation Scholarship Fund.
Other division champions were:
King Koncrete - Shamrock I
Steve's Motley Crew - Shamrock II
Bad News Bears - Shamrock III
Jim's Pharmacy - Shamrock IV
MJM/Hampton Fruit - Blarners I
Mars Hills Sports - Blarners II
Tim's Chips - Blarners III
BDK Engineering - Blarners IV
Chatter's Warriors - Lephrechaun
 Farwest Paint edged Doyle's Public House 3-2 in the Toilet Bowl Championship. A huge debt of gratitude is owed Pat Terry for his efforts in coming out of "retirement" for the 33rd Annual tourney. Thankfully, Pat agreed to direct Walla Walla Point Park during the two-day event. His experience and expertise really came into play when three teams that had registered to play didn't show.
At one point, Native Stone's first game at Hydro Park was interrupted in the first inning so that they could pack up and move to Walla Walla Point Park (thank you Native Stone) to be put into a different division. Native Stone ended up finishing 3rd overall for the tournament.
We believe there was only one case of heat stroke among all 481 competitors, their families, umpires and volunteers on hand over the weekend.  The majority of the teams participating were from Western Washington and come to the Wenatchee tournament for the weather. However, I'm sure they didn't quite expect THIS much sunshine! For all the results and team pictures, go to our Sports Foundation's website at www.wvsportsfoundation.org/id6.html. Next year, the plan is to include a beer and wine festival in conjunction with the 34th O'Terry's Tournament, so stay tuned! |
 September/October Means Hunting and Fishing at Its Best! Nothing quickens the heart rate like the sound of a bull elk bugling at first light in an alpine meadow or the staccato tug of a downrigger rod as a bright King Salmon strikes. Both are experiences just a few miles apart in the Wenatchee Valley in September and October.
According to Fishin' Magician Dave Graybill, salmon fishing on area rivers really comes into its own in September and anglers should expect a great steelhead fishery when it opens in October. Graybill says fly fishermen who were disappointed with high-running streams this summer can expect some quality fishing experiences this fall.
September brings archery seasons for elk and deer throughout the area as well as modern firearm hunts for high mountain bucks. Hunters need to be aware of access restrictions due to high fire risk on County, State, BLM, DNR and National Forest Lands. September also means the return of the Salmon Festival in Leavenworth (Sept. 18-21). For more on the 18th Annual Event, go to www.salmonfest.org.
 According to DF&W figures for 2007, hunters harvested over 4,000 animals in Region Two and expectations for 2008 are similar. The number one "IF" factor is how the herds in Chelan County faired through a deep snow season last winter. Elk hunters can expect average, to below-average success on the Colockum herd. General Guidelines to Hunting Dates
Sept. 1-30 - Early Archery Deer
Sept. 8-21 - Early Archery Elk
Sept. 15-25 - High Buck Modern Firearm & Muzzleloader
Oct. 4-10 - General Modern Firarm Deer
Oct. 4 - Jan. 19 - Quail and Chukar
Oct. 11 - Jan.25 - Migratory Game Birds (Duck/Goose)
Oct. 18 - Jan. 19 - Pheasant
Oct. 25 - Nov. 2 - General Modern Firearm Elk |
 It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's a Blimp?!?! That's right, the Wenatchee Valley Visitors Bureau has purchased a 10-foot wide helium blimp.
Expected to be delivered in the next couple weeks from Above & Beyond Balloons in Irvine, California, the sun-shaped balloon will be used to advertise the Visitors Bureau's new logo (seen at right) as its theme of, "What Would You Do With 300 Days of Sunshine?"
The sunshine balloon will be the featured theme of the Visitor Bureau's booth at the Seattle Ski Fever & Snowboard Show October 24-26. While the show will feature mostly snow and ice, Wenatchee's booth will feature sun and fun with representatives from the hotel/motel association wearing floral shirts and sunglasses. The Visitors Bureau will team up with Mission Ridge and Leavenworth Chamber during the three-day show at the Qwest Field Expo Center to invite winter-time visitors to North Central Washington. |
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Do You Have an Event for our 2009 Calendar?
Work has begun on our 2009 Wenatchee Valley Sports Council Calendar of Events. If you have an event you'd like listed on our website as well as on the Visitors Bureau's interactive calendar, send it right away. To do so, email the information to sports@wenatcheevalley.org or mail it to 25 N. Wenatchee Ave., Suite C-111, Wenatchee, WA 98801.
In addition, your event may be listed in our 2009 Sports Events Guides that is distributed to over 12,000 people throughout the sports industry in Washington. If you need help contacting local hoteliers about room blocks for your sporting event which will host travelers from outside the area, give Eric Granstrom at call at 509-663-3723 or 800-572-7753. |
Sept. 6 Tour de Vine Bike and Wine Tour, 8am (Arlberg Sports)
Sept. 20-21 Octoberfest Mixed Doubles Tennis Tournament at WRAC |
 Summer Guides Now Available The Summer Guide has all the info on fun activities and tours, attractions and restaurants and places to stay while in the Wenatchee Valley. There's also a fold-out map to help you get there.
For your free copy of the Wenatchee Valley Summer Guide, stop in at any area hotel/motel, or our Visitors Centers located in the Apple Commission Office at Olds Station or downtown in the Grand Central Building next to the Owl Soda Fountain. Or, if you'd like a Summer Guide mailed to you, email your request to: info@wenatcheevalley.org. 
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Thank you for being part of the Wenatchee Valley Sports Council on-line community. If you'd like more information about the Sports Council, go to our website!
Sincerely,
Eric Granstrom
Wenatchee Valley Sports Council |
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