Greater Columbus Sports Commission

A Message From the Director

Dear Greater Columbus Sports Commission supporter:

Welcome to the Spring 2009 issue of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission's e-newsletter.

As we enter another busy March, we at the Sports Commission are gearing up for another year of bidding on and hosting amateur, collegiate, youth and professional events in Greater Columbus.

Two major events that the Sports Commission helped bring to town will be held in the first half of the year, as the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament is held at Nationwide Arena later this month and the Big Ten Baseball Tournament is held at the new Huntington Park in May. The Big Ten tournament will be the first special event to be held at the new baseball stadium, and we hope it becomes a spring tradition for Columbus.

The NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament, hosted by The Ohio State University, will return to Columbus for the first time since 2004 when first- and second-round games are held March 21 and March 23. The Ohio State Buckeyes, Big Ten champs for the fifth-straight season, will be among the four teams competing in Columbus, and we are working with the university to promote the games. Single-game tickets go on sale March 18 at www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com.

Also scheduled in March are Ohio High School Athletic Association state tournaments, including girls basketball, boys basketball, wrestling, ice hockey and gymnastics. These events are the first of 17 OHSAA state tournaments hosted in Columbus throughout the year, and I encourage everybody to get out to a game and support both the student-athletes and the OHSAA for bringing these state championships to our city. Tickets to most championships are available at www.ticketmaster.com.

This is an especially busy weekend, with the Arnold Sports Festival downtown and the PBA Tour Don Johnson Buckeye State Eliminator Championship at Sequoia Pro Bowl and the OHSAA Wrestling State Tournament at the Schottenstein Center. All are tremendous events for our city to host.

To stay up to date on all events, please visit our Web site at www.ColumbusSports.org on a regular basis. Among the many features you'll find is an updated Calendar of Events that includes hundreds of professional, collegiate and youth sporting events.

Thank you again for your support of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission.

Sincerely,
Linda Shetina Logan
Executive Director

Columbus, Huntington Park to host Big Ten Baseball Tournament

The Big Ten Conference and Greater Columbus Sports Commission announced in December that Huntington Park, the home of the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, will serve as the host site for the 2009 Big Ten Baseball Tournament. The event will mark the Big Ten's first neutral-site baseball tournament since 1994.

"We are excited to announce that the 2009 Big Ten Baseball Tournament will be held at Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio," said Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany. "Moving the baseball tournament to a neutral site will allow the conference office and the local organizing committee to promote this event throughout the season. In addition, playing at an outstanding facility like Huntington Park will enhance the experience for our student-athletes, coaches and fans. We're looking forward to the first pitch of the tournament in May."

Read full story »

March Madness returns to Columbus with Women's NCAA Tournament, five OHSAA state tournaments

March Madness will again take over Columbus throughout March as the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament is played at Nationwide Arena for the first time and the Ohio High School Athletic Association hosts five state tournaments in our community in March.

First- and second-round games of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament will be played at Nationwide Arena March 21 & 23, and the event will feature the Big Ten champion Ohio State Buckeyes.

It will be the first time our city has hosted the women's basketball tournament since games were played in St. John Arena in March 2004 on the same weekend that Columbus also hosted the NCAA men's basketball tournament and the OHSAA girls high school basketball championships.

Read full story »

John joins Sports Commission as sales manager

The Greater Columbus Sports Commission has named Jeffrey M. John to the position of Sales Manager, Executive Director Linda Logan announced. John will be responsible for attracting state, local and regional sporting events to Greater Columbus, as well as being the Sports Commission's primary liaison to hotels.

"Jeffrey has a long and successful track record working in the sports marketing industry, especially in Ohio, and we are thrilled to have him join our team," Logan said. "Jeffrey will allow our organization to continue to bring a wide variety of sporting events to Columbus."

Read full story »

A Message From the Director

Columbus, Huntington Park to host Big Ten Baseball Tournament

March Madness returns to Columbus with Women's NCAA Tournament, five OHSAA state tournaments

John joins Sports Commission as sales manager

Recent Bookings

Current Bids

Upcoming Events In Greater Columbus

About the Greater Columbus Sports Commission

Staff

Board of Commissioners

Join Our Team

Contact Us


A Message From the Director Dear Greater Columbus Sports Commission supporter: Welcome to the Spring 2009 issue of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission's e-newsletter. As we enter another busy March, we at the Sports Commission are gearing up for another year of bidding on and hosting amateur, collegiate, youth and professional events in Greater Columbus. Two major events that the Sports Commission helped bring to town will be held in the first half of the year, as the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament is held at Nationwide Arena later this month and the Big Ten Baseball Tournament is held at the new Huntington Park in May. The Big Ten tournament will be the first special event to be held at the new baseball stadium, and we hope it becomes a spring tradition for Columbus. The NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament, hosted by The Ohio State University, will return to Columbus for the first time since 2004 when first- and second-round games are held March 21 and March 23. The Ohio State Buckeyes, Big Ten champs for the fifth-straight season, will be among the four teams competing in Columbus, and we are working with the university to promote the games. Single-game tickets go on sale March 18 at www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com. Also scheduled in March are Ohio High School Athletic Association state tournaments, including girls basketball, boys basketball, wrestling, ice hockey and gymnastics. These events are the first of 17 OHSAA state tournaments hosted in Columbus throughout the year, and I encourage everybody to get out to a game and support both the student-athletes and the OHSAA for bringing these state championships to our city. Tickets to most championships are available at www.ticketmaster.com. This is an especially busy weekend, with the Arnold Sports Festival downtown and the PBA Tour Don Johnson Buckeye State Eliminator Championship at Sequoia Pro Bowl and the OHSAA Wrestling State Tournament at the Schottenstein Center. All are tremendous events for our city to host. To stay up to date on all events, please visit our Web site at www.ColumbusSports.org on a regular basis. Among the many features you'll find is an updated Calendar of Events that includes hundreds of professional, collegiate and youth sporting events. Thank you again for your support of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission. Sincerely, Linda Shetina Logan Executive Director Columbus, Huntington Park to host Big Ten Baseball Tournament The Big Ten Conference and Greater Columbus Sports Commission announced in December that Huntington Park, the home of the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, will serve as the host site for the 2009 Big Ten Baseball Tournament. The event will mark the Big Ten's first neutral-site baseball tournament since 1994. "We are excited to announce that the 2009 Big Ten Baseball Tournament will be held at Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio," said Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany. "Moving the baseball tournament to a neutral site will allow the conference office and the local organizing committee to promote this event throughout the season. In addition, playing at an outstanding facility like Huntington Park will enhance the experience for our student-athletes, coaches and fans. We're looking forward to the first pitch of the tournament in May." Read full story » March Madness returns to Columbus with Women's NCAA Tournament, five OHSAA state tournaments March Madness will again take over Columbus throughout March as the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament is played at Nationwide Arena for the first time and the Ohio High School Athletic Association hosts five state tournaments in our community in March. First- and second-round games of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament will be played at Nationwide Arena March 21 & 23, and the event will feature the Big Ten champion Ohio State Buckeyes. It will be the first time our city has hosted the women's basketball tournament since games were played in St. John Arena in March 2004 on the same weekend that Columbus also hosted the NCAA men's basketball tournament and the OHSAA girls high school basketball championships. Read full story » John joins Sports Commission as sales manager The Greater Columbus Sports Commission has named Jeffrey M. John to the position of Sales Manager, Executive Director Linda Logan announced. John will be responsible for attracting state, local and regional sporting events to Greater Columbus, as well as being the Sports Commission's primary liaison to hotels. "Jeffrey has a long and successful track record working in the sports marketing industry, especially in Ohio, and we are thrilled to have him join our team," Logan said. "Jeffrey will allow our organization to continue to bring a wide variety of sporting events to Columbus." Read full story »	Recent Bookings Big Ten Baseball Tournament (2009) Ohio State Bowling Association Men's State Tournament (2009) NAGAA (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 McDonald’s All-American Basketball Games (2010) Mizuno Hoosier Mideast (Volleyball) Qualifier (2011) See all bookings & bids Upcoming Events In Greater Columbus PBA Tour Don Johnson Buckeye State Classis (March 2-8, Sequoia Pro Bowl) OHSAA Wrestling State Tournament (March 5-7, Schottenstein Center) Arnold Sports Festival (March 6-8, various Downtown locations) OHSAA Girls Basketball Championships (March 19-21, Schottenstein Center) NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament (March 21 & 23, Nationwide Arena) OHSAA Boys Basketball Championships (March 26-27, Schottenstein Center) NCAA Women's Division I Swimming and Diving Championships (March 20-22, McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion) See more events 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. Read more about us 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
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