| Our Annual Fundraiser |
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Mark your calendars!
2008 Fight Night for Kids presented by Time Warner Cable is coming January 24th!
If interested in a table, please call Jeff Beaver at 704-688-8520. If interested in advertising your company or product in our program, please click here.
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Welcome New Members! |
Summit Sports & Entertainment Group,
Bronze Level
Thanks to David Johnston (CEO) and Carl Scheer (Board Chairman), good friends of the Sports Commission for many years.
Silver Level
David Kernall amd his staff have one of the region's top dealerships since opening at their present location in 2002.
Keffer VW is the Sports Commission's Official Automobile Provider, and we are excited to have them on board.
Located at 13651 N. Statesville Avenue in Huntersville, they can be reached at (704)766-2121 and you can find out more by visiting www.keffervw.com
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| ACC Championship
Advertising Packages Available |
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The 2008 ACC Championship Tournament is coming to Charlotte March 13-16. Here is your opportunity to have your advertising message in front of an affluent crowd of ACC basketball fans.
Even better, the advertising package provides you 2 books of ACC tournament tickets along with 2 tickets to the Legends Brunch. |
Contact Ashley Nordan at Our State Magazine ashley@ourstate.com or at 704.331.2718.
Let her know the Sports Commission sent you!
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| Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Basketball Tournament |
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Mecklenburg County Park & Rec will hold its annual event over the weekend of January 18-20 and the 21st, the MLK Jr Holiday.
For more information contact Ken Koonce at (704)353-1247
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| CHARLOTTE REGIONAL SPORTS COMMISSION
Board of Directors
Mike Crum
Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority
Chairman
Sally Ashworth
Lake Norman Convention & Visitors Bureau
Jim Bailey
Red Moon Marketing
Tim Crist
Wachovia Corporation
Treasurer
Tom Donaldson
McGuire Woods LLP
Group
Secretary
Jim Garges
Mecklenburg Co. Parks & Rec.
Vicki Hamilton
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Kym Hougham
Wachovia Championship
David Johnston
Summit Sports & Entertainment
Stephen Joyner
Johnson C. Smith Athletics
Ron Kimble
City of Charlotte
Jim Murphy
Davidson College Athletics
Mark Norman
Johnson & Wales University
Chuck Price
Bank of America
Dan Rajkowski
Charlotte Knights
Judy Rose
Charlotte 49ers Athletics
Jeff Ross
Charlotte Bobcats
Carl Scheer
Charlotte Checkers
Marcus Smith
Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
Henry Thomas
Carolina Panthers
Frank Yoho
Piedmont Natural Gas |
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| Please visit the following websites for local sports schedules: |
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NEED SPORTS?
www.charlottesports.org | |
Greetings!
Happy New Year! Take a look at the exciting news for 2008.
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Message From Jeff Beaver, Executive Director 
As we begin a brand new year, I get really excited when I look ahead at the sports scene for the Charlotte Region in 2008 and beyond. While these past 12 months made for a banner year in and of itself - the 2007 NCAA Division II Track & Field National Championships, the ICF Wildwater Junior World Championships, the Wal-Mart FLW Bass Fishing Tour and the CIAA Football Championship, to name a few - the next several months will prove to be something to behold and something we can all be proud of.
The Sports Commission's 9th Annual Fight Night for Kids presented by Time Warner Cable will attempt to push the total grants we will have made to local children's charities over the one million dollar mark at our January event. Bobcats Arena will be the site of 3 of the country's best and most exciting basketball tournaments- the CIAA Men's and Women's, the ACC Men's and the NCAA Division I Men's East Regional - all during the month of March. USA Canoe/Kayak's Olympic Team Trials will take place at the US National Whitewater Center in April followed by the NCAA Division II Men's Golf Super Regional in May and the USA Youth Outdoor Track & Field Championships in June. And, this only gets us through the first half of the year!
Add to these great new events the annual PGA tournament and the NASCAR races in our Region as well as the great high school, collegiate and professional games we are able to experience, and we really do have a fantastic schedule to choose from; something for every fan of every sport! And the icing on the cake is the recent announcement for Charlotte to host the ACC Football Championship game in 2010 and 2011 at Bank of America Stadium.
A special "Thank You" goes out to everyone who helps to make the Queen City the center of sports in the Southeast. It takes a quality group of partners to ensure our tradition of great events in the Charlotte Region, and we are fortunate to be surrounded by such great teammates!
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Meineke Car Care Bowl
Wake Forest Demon Deacons, trailing at halftime to the Connecticut Huskies 10-0, scored 24 second half points to win the 2007 Meineke Car Care Bowl, 24-10. Led by QB Riley Skinner (29 for 38 passes, 268 yards, 1 TD) the Deacs' offense awoke in the 2nd half and rolled to their ninth win of the season and their 20th win in the last two years.
Wake WR Kenneth Moore made 11 catches (112 yards) giving him 98 receptions for the season and breaking the ACC single-season record previously held by NC State's Torry Holt.
It was a disappointing end to UConn's best season. Though they were picked to finish seventh in preseason Big East predictions, they finished with a school record nine wins, a Big East Co-championship, and a national ranking. The Huskies were playing in only the second bowl game in their short football history since making the move from D-IAA six years ago. 
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Fight Night for Kids presented by Time Warner Cable
Our 9th annual Fight Night for Kids presented by Time Warner Cable takes place on January 24, 2008 at the Charlotte Convention Center in the Center City. Over the first 8 years of this premiere gala, more than $860,000 in grants have been made to 42 local children's charities. In this year's event, we are going to "Push to a Million" as we attempt to exceed the $1,000,000 mark in total grants since 2000.
Celebrities scheduled to appear include boxing greats Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini and Eric "Butterbean" Esche, as well as local champs Kelvin Seabrooks and Calvin Brock. Also, NASCAR driver Brian Vickers, TV star Jay Thomas and 3 Time National Champion Appalachian State Head Football Coach Jerry Moore will be available to meet and greet everyone in attendance.
Our fantastic Live and Silent Auctions will include a multitude of unique items for everyone's bidding pleasure: fabulous jewelry, great hunting trips, super dinner and wine packages, to mention a few. And, at the evening's conclusion, we will announce the winner of the raffle for a brand new 2008 Mercedes, courtesy of Beck Imports of the Carolinas.
Mark your calendar now for Charlotte's premiere fundraiser for children - Thursday, January 24th - and, for more complete information and to reserve your table, visit www.charlottesports.org and click on the Fight Night for Kids site.
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ACC Football Championship in Charlotte
The Dr. Pepper ACC Football Championship game is coming to Charlotte! The Queen City will play host to the conference's championship games in 2010 and 2011 at Bank of America Stadium. These will be the 6th and 7th annual editions, having been in Florida in Jacksonville (2005-2007) and in Tampa (2008-2009) prior to coming to our Region.
The proposal to the Conference by Charlotte's Local Organizing Committee emphasized our central location and easy access within the footprint of the 12 league schools as well as our tradition and commitment to providing quality experiences for the athletes and fans who visit Charlotte for sporting events of all kinds.
Information will be available on our Championship website: www.accfootballcharlotte.com or you can contact the Sports Commission at (704) 688-8520.
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Annual High School Team of the Year Award
The Sports Commission recently named Mt. Pleasant High School as the recipient of our 2007 "High School Football Team of the Year" Award. The award, which was presented to Head Coach Michael Johns live on WBTV's "Football Friday Night," is annually presented to the Charlotte area team that best exemplifies the spirit of high school football through hard work, dedication, perseverance and sportsmanship.
The Tigers, who won their first conference title in 25 years, ended their season with a 14-1 record after finishing the 2006 season at 6-7. Previous winners of the award are A.L. Brown (1997), Vance (1998), Butler (1999), Independence (2000, 2002, 2005, 2006), Piedmont (2001), Charlotte Latin (2003), and Charlotte Catholic (2004).
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Congratulations to...
The Mecklenburg Aquatic Club had 32 swimmers named to the Scholastic All American Team for 2006-2007. This was more than any other USA swimming club in the country!
The Charlotte Boxing Academy has 3 boxers who qualified for the Silver Gloves Regional Championship in Augusta, Ga. Sage Knox, Ebbie Perry and Carl Perry all won N.C. Silver Glove titles to advance.
Charlotte Latin's Branden Hanson is one of sevenfinalists for the Joe Montana Quarterback of the Year Award, recognizing the nation's top high school signal caller.
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Hoop Days in Charlotte
If you're a college basketball fan, you're in the right place being in Charlotte this spring - CIAA, ACC, NCAA - the acronyms fill the alphabet! Starting on February 25th, the CIAA will be back in Charlotte for the third year of great competition and camaraderie. Next up is the ACC Men's Basketball Tournament, beginning on March 13th. Games are sold out! Finally, the NCAA Division I East Regional Men's Basketball Tournament brings it's madness to the Bobcats Arena on March 27th and 29th. A limited number of hospitality packages - including tickets - are available, but other than that, it's another sell out. There will be, however, an open practice held on Wednesday, March 26, from noon to 4pm. The arena will be open and staffed just like on game day, so come by, grab lunch and be a part of the action!
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YSPN Update
The Young Sports Professionals Network will resume January 16th for the Charlotte Bobcats game with a pregame networking hour at Buckhead Saloon.
If interested in attending (discounted ticket prices available), please contact Caroline Smith at csmith@charlottesports.org or call 704.688.8520! |
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Events 2008
ACC Legends Brunch 2008
Join us for a memorable event as the ACC member institutions honor their own. Come see alumni of past tournaments who are being recognized for their on-the-court contributions and successes. Alumni confirmed for this event are: Bill Curley, Boston College; Elden Campbell, Clemson; Mike Gminski, Duke; Charlie Ward, Florida State; Kenny Anderson, Georgia Tech; Lefty Driesell, Maryland; Tim James, Miami; TBA, North Carolina; Lorenzo Charles, NC State; John Crotty, Virginia; Glen Combs, Virginia Tech; and Len Chappell, Wake Forest.
The Westin Hotel will be the host for this event on Saturday, March 15th starting at 10am. Individual tickets are $35, or $350 for a table of ten. To purchase your tickets or table, please contact Chris Clouden at 704-688-8531 or cclouden@charlottesports.org.
River Roar 2008
Are Bealer Wholesale, the Charlotte Checkers, CRVA and Johnson & Wales ready to defend their titles? Save the date, Friday, June 6, for the Charlotte Regional Sports Commission's annual Corporate Raft Race at the US National Whitewater Center. Six person teams led by a trained guide will compete against the clock as they navigate the Competition Channel.
Trophies and medals will be handed out to the top teams in each division. We will also have food and beverage specials available so round up your team and plan to make a day of it! Space is limited so contact Chris Clouden to reserve your raft(s), 704-688-8531 or cclouden@charlottesports.org.
USA Fencing Junior Olympic Championships
February 15th - 18th the top Junior (20 & under) and Cadet (17 & under) fencers in the country will descend upon Charlotte for the Junior Olympic Championships. The Charlotte Convention Center will host this event featuring competitions in Epee, Foil and Sabre for men and women respectively. The Sports Commission is assisting the Local Organizing Committee with securing sponsorships. For more information visit, www.usafencing.org.
US Olympic Team Trials
Come out and watch Whitewater Olympic hopefuls compete for a spot to the Beijing Games. From April 25 -27, the US National Whitewater Center will be overflowing with Olympic spirit and country pride as US athletes compete in the Olympic Team Trials for Whitewater Slalom. In addition, athletes from countries such as Canada, Brazil and Ireland will compete in the Intercontinental Cup Qualifiers.
Tickets will be $10 each day or $15 for a 3 day pass sold in advance at Ticketmaster. Tickets at the event will be $15 per day or $20 for 3 day pass. For questions about tickets or sponsorship opportunities, please visit http://web.mac.com/slalom2008
or www.usack.org.
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Want to be a VOLUNTEER?
If your company is looking for employee volunteer opportunities, or if you are simply interested in volunteering individually, sign up now on our volunteer database for any of the events listed above. Go to www.charlottesports.org and click on the homepage link.
Volunteering is a great way to make contacts, network with other industry professionals, help the community and maybe score some tickets to an event!
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Sports Calendar
January
· CRSC's 9th Annual Fight Night for Kids presented by Time Warner Cable (1/24)
February
· US Fencing Junior National Championships (2/15-18)
· CIAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament (2/25 - 3/1)
March
· ACC Men's Basketball Championship (3/13-16)
· NCAA Division I East Regional Men's Basketball Tournament (3/27 & 3/29)
April
· Charlotte Jumper Classic (4/11-13)
· The Palisades Collegiate Classic Golf Classic (4/13-15)
· The Bass Federation National Championship, Lake Wylie (4/23-26)
· FLW Wal-Mart National Guard Open, Lake Norman (4/24-27)
· US Olympic Team Trials for Whitewater Slalom (4/25-27)
· Queens Cup Steeplechase (4/26)
· Wachovia Championship (4/28-5/4)
May
· NCAA DII Men's Golf Super Regional Tournament (5/4-7)
· NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge (5/08)
· NASCAR Sprint All Star Race (5/17)
· Coca Cola 600, Lowe's Motor Speedway (5/25)
June
· USA Track & Field Youth Championships (6/24-27)
Click here for a PDF Calendar of Events! | |
Please click the following links to see a listing of our Members:
Thank you for your continued support of the Charlotte Regional Sports Commission! If interested in joining, please contact me directly at (704)688-8536.
Sincerely,
Jeff Beaver
Executive Director |
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