Stamford, CT (March 15, 2004) – Outdoor Life® Network announces that the Gravity Games – the world’s leading action sports competition – will return to Cleveland’s North Coast Harbor for the third consecutive year. The event will take place from September 15-19 and OLN will broadcast more than 20 hours of exclusive coverage during the event.
“Cleveland has a proven track record of hosting this event and drawing fans,” said OLN Vice President of Business Development Brad Friedrich. “OLN’s coverage of the event will capture the unique spirit of the Gravity Games and of the city of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. We’re excited to work with local officials and the organizers to make this a spectacular event.”
The 2003 Gravity Games drew 163,000 spectators, as more than 225 world-class action sports athletes from 13 countries competed in nine events, including bike, inline skating, skateboarding, wakeboarding and freestyle motocross. The Gravity Games held their first-ever live broadcast from Cleveland on September 14, 2003, featuring the freestyle motocross competition. The event also featured performances from two of today’s top bands, Jane’s Addiction and Simple Plan.
"The success of Gravity Games the past two years is indicative of our community's ability to successfully host major events,” said David Gilbert, President & CEO of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. “That has led to a renewed partnership between Gravity Games and Cleveland, and continues Cleveland's rise to be the nation's premier destination for major national and international sporting events."
"This is great news for Cleveland," said Mayor Jane L. Campbell. "We are excited to welcome back the Gravity Games this year. In addition to bringing people downtown, to our hotels, our restaurants, and our waterfront, the Gravity Games also bring national exposure to our great City. I encourage all Greater Clevelanders to attend this awesome extreme sports competition."
"We are pleased that the Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) of Greater Cleveland is able to co-sponsor the Gravity Games for the third consecutive year in a row," said Dennis Roche, Interim President for the CVB. "The 300,000 people in town for the Games bring excitement to our city, and boost the economy."
“The Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners is proud, once again, to sponsor the Gravity Games and to welcome the event back for the third consecutive year,” said Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones, President, Board of County Commissioners. “Generating an estimated $30 million for our local economy, attracting hundreds of thousands of spectators and filling downtown restaurants and hotels with tourists, it is exactly the kind of return on investment the county seeks.”
The Gravity Games is the highest-rated, action sports television event in the United States. NBC aired a total of 10 hours of national coverage in 2003. In 2004, OLN will double that coverage by broadcasting more than 20 hours of the event.
OLN has retained Octagon’s services for the staging of the games in a multi-year agreement. Octagon will continue to provide marketing, sales and event operations support as well as advise OLN on the action sports industry.
In addition to the competitions, the summer Gravity Games also showcase a variety of lifestyle elements that appeal to its young and active audience. Spectators enjoy live music from today’s hottest bands, interactive elements, films, product displays and more. The interactive elements allow spectators the unique opportunity to capture the thrills of the Gravity Games. Spectators can inline skate or skateboard on an obstacle-filled street course, soar on a BMX dirt course complete with jumps, banks and berms or scale a climbing wall. For complete information on the Gravity Games, go to gravitygames.com.
EnterSport Licensing (a division of The Interpublic Group of Companies) is responsible for the development and execution of all Licensing opportunities for The Gravity Games. All inquiries about merchandise licensing for The Gravity Games should go to: Andy Cohan at acohan@entersport.com or Giancarlo Chersich at gchersich@entersport.com.
Outdoor Life® Network is the leader in outdoor adventure and action sports television. Now in more than 58 million homes, OLN is the home of The Tour de France and the ultimate resource for people interested in the outdoor lifestyle. The Network offers exclusive programming in four primary areas: Outdoor Adventure, Action Sports, Field & Stream® and Bulls & Rodeo.
