For Immediate Release Contact: Kristen McIntoshFebruary 25, 2010 Executive Editor,

SportsEvents

Magazinekmcintosh@coveypubs.comor(251) 968-5300

SPORTSEVENTS

MAGAZINE NAMES INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALSTO ANNUAL READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS

Dozens Of Planners and Organizations RecognizedFor Excellence In Hosting Sports Events

GULF SHORES, ALA.—

SportsEvents

Magazine, the sports eventsindustry’s only magazine dedicated to helping organizers of sportsevents be more successful and efficient with their events, hasannounced the list of honorees of its Annual Readers’ Choice Awards.The special feature will be included in the January 2010 issue of

SportsEvents

Magazine and spotlights industry professionals fromacross the country who have exhibited a high level of professionalism,creativity and excellence in hosting sports events.The industry professionals profiled in

SportsEvents

Magazine’s January2010 issue were nominated by readers of the magazine and by theirindustry peers. The sports event planners have garnered attention inthe industry for their ability to recognize and rise above the variouschallenges of running sports events, for their innovative and creativeapproaches to planning and executing sports events, for their ability toinspire others, for their dedication to their jobs, and for their passionfor sports—for providing opportunities for thousands of youth andadults to compete in the sports they love.The list of 2010 honorees represent a distinguished and diverse class,from the industry’s many different segments—including sanctioningbodies; national, regional and local administrators; event rights

holders; promoters; destination marketing officials; and otherorganizations.In addition, the Annual Readers’ Choice Awards included a category forsports event planners to nominate their favorite destinations andvenues for hosting sports events. These winners included conventionand visitors bureaus, sports commissions, and fields and facilities fromacross the country that have a proven history of providing both thephysical attributes and commitment to hospitality and service thatsports event planners demand.The

Rab’s Country Lanes

was acknowledged for its excellence withinthe Sports Facility category. “When we put the call out to readers to nominate sports planners andsports-friendly destinations and venues for

SportsEvents

Magazine’sAnnual Readers’ Choice Awards, we asked them to recommend onlythe best,” said J. Talty O’Connor, publisher of

SportsEvents

Magazine. “We believe our select group of planners, destination marketingorganizations, and fields and facilities.

Rab’s Country Lanes

, not onlymeet but exceed the high demands of producing successful sportsevents today.” In addition to being profiled in the Readers’ Choice Awards specialfeature, the sports planners and organizations will receive a certificatewith a special “Sports Event Planning Excellence” seal tocommemorate their award, along with complimentary copies of theJanuary 2010 issue of

SportsEvents

Magazine that includes the specialfeature. Honorees also will receive a digital version of the seal to beused for promotional purposes in identifying them as providingexcellent service in sports event planning.

About

SportsEvents

Magazine

SportsEvents

Magazine is a nationally distributed magazine read byowners and planners of sports events and sports competitions,including national governing bodies, regional directors, leaguemanagers, coaches associations, sports commissions and other sportsevent owners. It is designed to help planners be more effective,informed and successful with sports events. Each issue includesarticles containing tips and techniques by recognized authorities, aswell as news, interviews, sports destination spotlights and other topicsrelevant to sports planners.

Skater’s Edge Sourcebook,Baseball/Softball Fields & Facilities,

and

Soccer Fields & Facilities

directories are also published under

SportsEvents

Magazine. In