A Message From the Director
Dear Greater Columbus Sports Commission supporter:
We at the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, in partnership with our friends at Huntington Park, are looking forward to hosting the 2009 Big Ten Baseball Tournament at our new downtown ballpark, which opened April 18 as the new home of the International League's Columbus Clippers.
This will mark the first time in 15 years that the Big Ten Conference has taken its baseball tournament to a neutral field, and we feel honored to host the conference's top six teams in a four-day tournament that will run May 20-23. The Sports Commission and Huntington Park have a one-year agreement to host the tournament, and it is our goal to show unmatched community support so that we can make the event a spring tradition in Columbus.
Playing the tournament in Huntington Park will be a privilege for the Big Ten's best players. I attended opening day festivities at the new park and was simply blown away by the entire experience. The park is beautiful, and I encourage all to get out to a game. Having the Clippers playing in a beautiful new park in the Arena District will benefit our city as a tourism destination and will allow the Sports Commission to bid on events like the Big Ten Baseball Tournament that we would not have been able to bid on in the past.
Huntington Park is not the only facility in town making news. Columbus Crew Stadium recently celebrated its 10th anniversary by beating the Kansas City Wizards 3-2 on May 9. The stadium was the first soccer-specific stadium built for a professional team when it opened in 1999, and since then it's helped Columbus become one of the leading soccer host cities in the nation. In addition to Crew games, the stadium has hosted men's World Cup qualifiers, Women's World Cup, MLS Cup, MLS All-Star Game, Men's College Cup and many others.
Thank you again for your support of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, and we hope to see you at the 2009 Big Ten Baseball Tournament.
Sincerely,
Linda Shetina Logan
Executive Director
Tickets still on sale for 2009 Big Ten Baseball Tournament
Individual game tickets to the 2009 Big Ten Baseball Tournament to be held May 20-23 at Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio, are still on sale.
Individual game tickets to the 11-game, four-day event are available for $10 each, plus applicable surcharges, at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets will also be available at the Huntington Park box office throughout the tournament.
Columbus, Value City Arena to host McDonald's All-American Basketball Games in 2010
McDonald's Corp. announced recently that Columbus will host the McDonald's All-American High School Basketball Games on March 31, 2010 at The Ohio State University's Value City Arena.
The McDonald's All-American Games are recognized as the premier showcase for the top high school basketball talent in the country. Each year, 24 boys and 24 girls are selected from a pool of more than 2,500 nominees nationwide. The games will benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio.
McDonald's, The Ohio State University and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission worked together to bring the All-American Games to Columbus.
GCSC Promotes Columbus at NASC Sports Event Symposium in Denver
The Greater Columbus Sports Commission staff was in Denver in April to attend the National Association of Sports Commissions' Sports Event Symposium, an event Columbus will host in April 2010.
Columbus and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission were chosen in April 2008 to host the NASC Sports Event Symposium, the sports marketing industry's most prestigious annual conference. The conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency and the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
Kastenholz Latest Employee to Earn CSEE Certification
GCSC project manager Kate Kastenholz recently completed certification to become a Certified Sports Event Executive (CSEE), making the Greater Columbus Sports Commission one of the few organization in the country to have each of its staff members certified.
The Certified Sports Event Executive program, open only to members of the National Association of Sports Commissions is a continuing-education style program where participants are provided with cutting edge knowledge from topics relevant to the sports event industry. Modules cover a variety of topics that increase participants' efficiency and effectiveness in the workplace.
Morning Sports Report to be Held July 30
Mark your calendars for July 30, when The Morning Sports Report, the Greater Columbus Sports Commission's annual meeting, will be held at 8 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency Columbus.
Recent Bookings
- Big Ten Baseball Tournament (2009)
- Ohio State Bowling Association Men's State Tournament (2009)
- USA Swimming Speedo Junior Short Course (2009)
- McDonald's All-American Basketball Games (2010)
- NAGAAA (North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance) World Series (2010)
- NCAA Division I Men's Swimming & Division Championships (2010)
- National Association of Sports Commissions Sports Event Symposium (2010)
Current Bids
- USA Diving Spring National Championships (2010)
- USA Volleyball Club Tournament (2010)
Upcoming Events In Greater Columbus
- Big Ten Baseball Tournament (May 20-23, Huntington Park)
- USA Wrestling Central Kids, Cadet and Junior Regional Championships (May 22-24, Greater Columbus Convention Center)
- OHSAA Boys Tennis Championships (May 29-30, Stickney Tennis Center)
- OHSAAA Baseball Championships (June 4-6, Huntington Park)
- OHSAA Track & Field Championships (June 5-6, Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium)
About the Greater Columbus Sports Commission
The Greater Columbus Sports Commission was formed in June 2002 to provide leadership, guidance and marketing expertise in attracting regional, national and international sporting events and activities to bolster Greater Columbus economically and socially.
Staff
- Linda Shetina Logan, Executive Director
- Brian Timm, Director of Corporate Partnerships
- Gwen Verhoff, Senior Events Manager
- Jeffrey John, Sales Manager
- Kate Kastenholz, Project Manager
- Brent LaLonde of LaLonde Communications, Media Contact
Board of Commissioners
- Brian Ellis, Chair – Nationwide Realty Investors
- Paul Astleford – Experience Columbus
- Butch Moore – The Dispatch Printing Company
- Michael Priest – Worthington Industries/Columbus Blue Jackets
- Rhett Ricart – Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority
- Joey Schottenstein – Schottenstein Stores Corporation
- Gene Smith – The Ohio State University
- Dennis Welch – American Electric Power
Join Our Team
The Greater Columbus Sports Commission is continually in need of volunteers to support the various sports events held in Columbus. For more information about volunteer opportunities, contact the GCSC's Gwen Verhoff, senior events manager.
Contact Us
Greater Columbus Sports Commission
Administrative Offices
45 Vine St
Columbus, OH 43215
614-221-6060
800-331-0092
Email