Week-long sports celebration set for LR
Central Arkansas civic leaders and athletic organizations teamed up today to announce the first-ever "GameWeek in The Rock," a week-long celebration of football and baseball that begins Aug. 27.
The Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau is sponsoring the program, which will be chaired by Rex Nelson, the alternate federal co-chairman of Delta Regional Authority who is a board member of both the Arkansas Travelers and the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.
The week includes the final eight Arkansas Travelers games, as well as the kick-off of the high school and college football seasons in the Little Rock area.
"This represents a great tribute to the Travs and Ray Winder Field where 74 years of baseball memories have been established," Nelson said in a press release. "It also provides a fitting manner to kick-off what has become an autumn ritual -- high school and college football."
A full run-down of the week's events -- which also feature a football class for women, taught by former Arkansas Razorback players Clint Stoerner, Oscar Malone and Anthony Lucas; a speech by former University of Oklahoma and Dallas Cowboys head coach Barry Switzer at the Little Rock Touchdown Club; a lunch lecture with Bill Valentine, David Bazzel and Bruce James; free movie screenings of “Rudy” and “Field of Dreams" -- is available after the jump.
Arkansas Travelers Say Goodbye to Ray Winder Field
During GameWeek, the Arkansas Travelers, AA minor league baseball team, will play their final games at Ray Winder Field, beginning with the Tulsa Drillers on Aug. 27 at 2 p.m. and Aug. 28 and 29 at 7:10 p.m. and concluding with a six-game home series against the Springfield Cardinals Aug. 30 through Sept. 3. On Aug. 28 through Sept. 1, the games begin at 7:10 p.m. On Sept. 2, the game begins at 1 p.m., and on Sept. 3 at 2 p.m.
Several promotions will be held at Ray Winder Field throughout GameWeek, including a book signing which will be held prior to the game on Saturday, Sept. 2. The signing will feature three Arkansans who have authored books about Arkansas baseball - Todd Traub, Jim Bailey and Terry Turner. The Travelers concession stand will sell the books, and fans will be invited to visit a table in the concourse for the book signing, which will begin at noon and continue through the end of the third inning.
Other promotions include “Think Pink” night on Aug. 28; “Frat Tuesday” on Aug. 29; “White Pants Wednesday” on Aug. 30 and “Clean Out the Closet Night” on Aug. 31. A fireworks celebration is scheduled to follow the Travelers final night game, scheduled for Sept. 1. Prior to the Sept. 2 game, Travs fans can have their picture taken with their favorite player as part of “Photo Day.”
The final game at Ray Winder Field will be held on Sept. 3. To commemorate the occasion, t-shirts will be given to the first 1,500 fans that enter the gates.
Arkansas High School and College Football Kicks Off
The 2006 central Arkansas high school football season will kick off at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29 as the Benton Panthers and Bryant Hornets square off in the “Salt Bowl,” held annually at War Memorial Stadium. They will be the first teams to play on War Memorial’s new artificial turf. The high school football frenzy continues the next day, Wednesday, Aug. 30 as the Little Rock Catholic Rockets meet the Sylvan Hills Bears in at War Memorial Stadium. Kick-off is at 7 p.m.
The inaugural college football game in Arkansas is also a GameWeek feature. The Henderson State Reddies and the University of Central Arkansas Bears face off in the “Capital City Classic” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31 at War Memorial Stadium.
Other Sports Events Scheduled
A number of other sports-related events will take place during GameWeek in the Rock. Radio station KABZ-FM “The Buzz” will host Football 101, a football class for women, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29 at Rumba Revolution, located in the River Market District.
For $25, participants will learn the fundamentals of football from local sports celebrities. Class teachers include former Arkansas Razorback players Clint Stoerner, Oscar Malone and Anthony Lucas; NFL Referee Walt Coleman; Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Sports Editor Wally Hall and 103.7 The Buzz hosts Justin Acri, Tommy Smith and Randy Rainwater.
The Little Rock Touchdown Club will host Barry Switzer, former University of Oklahoma and Dallas Cowboys head coach, at the season's first meeting. The meeting will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 28, at the Embassy Suites in west Little Rock, located at 11301 Financial Centre Parkway.
From noon-1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30, the Central Arkansas Library will host a lunch lecture about Arkansas baseball and football, presented by three Arkansans who know their sports – Bill Valentine, General Manager of the Arkansas Travelers, and former Razorbacks David Bazzel and Bruce James. Each will speak about his sports experiences. The lecture will be held in the Darragh Center Auditorium in the main library, and attendees are asked to bring a brown bag lunch; drinks will be provided by the Library. Currently, the Library has over 70 sports films and books available for checkout.
At the Market Street Cinema, two sports movies will be shown free to the public. “Rudy,” a movie that showcases football, will be shown on Sunday, Aug. 27, and “Field of Dreams,” a movie about baseball, will be shown on Sunday, Sept. 3. Both movies will begin at 7 p.m.
Other Little Rock attractions are getting in on the sports action. At the Little Rock Zoo, for each paid adult, one child may get in for free throughout GameWeek.
For more information, visit www.GameWeekinTheRock.com or call the LRCVB at 501.376.4781. The site features a complete list of activities for GameWeek in The Rock, along with information about the teams competing, special promotions and more.
Comments
What a trumped up piece of .....
Our so called political leaders trying to take credit for a culture and a society they actually refuse to support. This is what passes for politics today.
Each on of these events is taking place anyway but these guys want to associate their name with these for no reason, like no one would attend unless they announced it. Of course when the regular citizen actually needs their influence or support they are too busy sucking up to the greed is good crowd.
Posted by: YaThink | August 9, 2006 01:43 PM
is this a dig at NLR for being the state's Sports and Enertainment capital of AR. One last hurrah I guess for the Travs would have sufficed but having others involved softens the blow of knowing you're losing your baseball franchise.
Posted by: sports observation | August 9, 2006 01:51 PM
Apparently, I missed something. I don't see where any political candidate's name showed up in the article, or any political leader other than Rex Nelson, who is no longer the Governor's lackey, nor do I understand the idea that our political leaders don't support athletics or Traveler Baseball. Also, apparently the writer doesn't understand the idea of promotion. That is where you put something out there for the public to see that otherwise might be overlooked in the everyday press of living.
Posted by: dobert | August 9, 2006 02:08 PM
Who Cares !!!!!!!!! Tax supported sports is a total waste of our tax money. Whatever public money is spent on sports should be given back to the people who were forced to pay it.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 9, 2006 02:10 PM
"alternate federal co-chairman "
Quite a title.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 9, 2006 02:16 PM
Oscar Malone...man, I hadn't thought about him in a while. Wonder what he is up to?
Posted by: rosso | August 9, 2006 02:36 PM
I don't think 99% of the LR citizens could care less if the travels move to NLR or not.
If NLR is willing to pay for the Trav's, good for them.
Posted by: My Name is Earl | August 9, 2006 02:37 PM
I'm glad our tax money was being tossed to Stone Ward to help promote this garbage.
That's like the city slapping the Travs in the face during the team's last week.
Now they're glad the Travs are playing during their precious "Sports Week." But for the last 74 years, they couldn't give two shits.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 9, 2006 03:40 PM
Geez, you people who see things as a polarized Little Rock vs North Little Rock issue are so myopic. I would love to see a single municipal government for the two or even better a single county-wide government but even with separate governments the two cities' interests are complimentary.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 9, 2006 03:51 PM
For those who kind find negativity in this, please GET A LIFE...
Posted by: Complainers Unite | August 9, 2006 05:26 PM
Its not just complaining. People are sick of having perfumed smoke blown up their ear while people with influence just scam the city for their own benefit. Let them eat cake, fiddle while LR burns. We're just sick of it. That's all.
Posted by: YaThink | August 10, 2006 07:35 AM
If you want to do something... get off your ass and do it. That's what these folks are doing.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 10, 2006 08:50 AM
Doing? What is it they are doing? Announcing events that were already planned and popular? Congratulations. That's leadership.
Posted by: YaThink | August 10, 2006 08:59 AM
It's called promotion... marketing... public relations.. creating a buzz for sports in Central Arkansas. All of these events can now feed off one another and be packaged together to boost awareness and participation.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 10, 2006 09:09 AM
My point. We agree.
We're tired of promotion, marketing, and public relations in place of leadership.
Thanks
Posted by: YaThink | August 10, 2006 09:27 AM
Leadership in what? These are high school and minor league sporting events, not politics... Please.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 10, 2006 11:56 AM
My mistake.
Thank God LR is finally being recognized as the sports capitol of central Arkansas. Attendance will double for each of these exciting events generating millions from people who would otherwise not even realize it was the first week of September.
What a boon. If only we had the gratitude to see how fortunate we are to have these kinds of people to show us what a wonderful place we live.
Posted by: Thanks Again | August 10, 2006 12:54 PM
No, No. My mistake. Perhaps you should go crawl into a whole so you can keep away from all these despicable community activitists and sports enthusiasts. These folks should be shot for trying to promote Central Arkansas sports to intelligent people like yourself. What the hell are they thinking?
Posted by: No. Thank you. | August 10, 2006 02:14 PM
OK, I'm sorry I hurt your feelings.
I was only trying to make the point that the LRCVB might develop or promote an agenda with our tax dollars that would be of at least regional interest rather than wasting time and money repackaging a few local events that each already had a sponsor.
It comes off as so much 'lets pretend.' Its more of that 'next great American city' nonsense. And that is what finally makes it political. These are the same people with influence that want to pretend rather than build the next ' nice little town in the foothills'
Like anyone in denial, until you recognize the delusion you can't begin to take meaningful corrective action. All the pretense and pie in the sky big bucks nonsense is robbing us of the opportunity to build ourselves a nice home.
Build something worth promoting and then spend a few ad bucks. Game Week? Very few arkansas sports fans were likely to miss the opening weekend of high school and college football. And, LR promoting the death of the Travs is the hieght of hypocricy. Just like Ray Winder, not a penny while it had a team, now that it stands empty, millions.
Posted by: So Sorry | August 10, 2006 02:56 PM
I would just respond by directing you to the numbers. Hotel and restaurant tax collections, hotel occupancy and convention attendance in Little Rock are all at all-time highs. The River Market with the Clinton Center, the Game and Fish Nature Center coming soon and all of the new or recently-rennovated hotel space is attracting people, and believe it or not, LR is becoming a destination. All you have to do is look at the numbers to see that. So, I have trouble knocking LRCVB too much. There job is to promote what we have, and with record numbers, it's hard to knock them.
Posted by: Look at the numbers | August 10, 2006 03:50 PM
Lies, damn lies, and statistics. The largest tax cut in American history. With inflation and population growth every number is larger that last year. Little Rock is not in decline, yet, at least not in a free fall. You like numbers, see NW Arkansas, that's growth.
But, I'm not arguing numbers with you. My point was about vision, maybe judgement, and even a little respect for people's intelligence.
How much did we spend on Game Week?
Posted by: How Much???????? | August 10, 2006 04:20 PM