Breaking new ground in bowling and in professional sports history, the bowling industry revealed today a “first look” at the historic outdoor lane design for the 2012 Bowling’s U.S. Women’s Open competition. During a press conference held today at the Eldorado Hotel Casino Showroom, the City of Reno and the leading entities in the bowling industry unveiled the Open’s groundbreaking, outdoor lanes design as part of a formal announcement of the arrival of the Open in Reno Tahoe USA.  Bowling’s U.S. Women’s Open – the preeminent global competition in women’s bowling – will be played in Reno, with the historic finals to take place on Virginia Street under the iconic Reno arch and broadcast nationally on ESPN2.

“There is no better brand in professional sports than the U.S. Open, and every year we challenge ourselves to set the bar just a little bit higher. In 2011, we hosted the largest-attended bowling event in history at Cowboys Stadium and this year we are once again breaking new ground. We are literally taking the competition to the streets and making history by hosting the Open’s outdoor finals under the iconic Reno Arch,” said Steve Johnson, executive director of the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America (BPAA).  “This year’s event will mark a number of industry firsts including the first-ever women’s outdoor global bowling competition and the introduction of a brand new senior women’s championship.”

Added Johnson, “And we’re setting the stakes particularly high by once again offering a one million dollar prize to any competitor who rolls a perfect 300 in the championship match, which will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.”

Today’s press conference at the Eldorado Hotel Casino Showroom was attended by a host of bowling industry luminaries and senior representatives from the sport’s leading entities.  Details of the “must see” sporting event were highlighted including:

• More than 300 of the world’s best female bowlers from over 16 countries will be represented at the 2012 Bowling’s U.S. Women’s Open competition
• Reveal of Official “first look” renderings of the U.S. Open lanes, positioned under Reno’s iconic Virginia Street arch
• The groundbreaking competition will be the world’s first outdoors finals for a women’s bowling event
• The finals will be broadcast on ESPN2 on July 3rd at 8:00 PM ET.
• A one million dollar payout will be offered for a perfect 300 game in the championship match of the Open
• A first-ever Senior U.S. Open champion will be crowned in a separate event that will be running in conjunction with the primary U.S. Open
• Joining the Brands of Ebonite International as sponsors of the 2012 Bowling’s U.S. Women’s Open for the second year in a row include: Jani King, the official cleaning company of bowling; and Lipton Naturals, the official tea of the 2012 Bowling’s U.S. Women’s Open. Additional sponsors include: Brunswick Bowling & Billiards, the official lane provider of Bowling’s U.S. Women’s Open; Eldorado Resorts, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus Resort Casinos; Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA); Kegel; Dexter; Bowling Music Network; and Turbo Grips.

In addition to BPAA’s Johnson, speakers and notable attendees at the press conference included: BPAA President John Snyder, Leanne Hulsenberg, the defending Bowling’s U.S. Women’s Open Champion; and Stephanie Nation, former world champion bowler and one of the top contenders for this year’s Open. Additional presenters included representatives from several of the Open’s sponsors: Bob Reid, Vice President Sales & Marketing for Ebonite International; Dwight Dortch, RSCVA Chairman of the Board and City of Reno City Councilman; and Glenn Carano, Director of Marketing at the Silver Legacy Resort Casino.

The 2012 Bowling’s U.S. Women’s Open and Senior Open will take place simultaneously, beginning June 21^st at the National Bowling Stadium, and will culminate with the top five bowlers earning a spot in the finals on June 27^th. For a second consecutive year, the Open finals, will be broadcast on ESPN2 on July 3^rd at 8:00 PM ET.

For additional information and registration details, please visit: www.bowlingsuswomensopen.com.

Please join us in the Eldorado Hotel Casino Showroom on Tuesday, March 6, at 10:30 a.m., when representatives from BPAA, Reno Tahoe USA and last year’s champion, Leanne Hulsenberg, will discuss the details of this event, which promises to generate excitement throughout the region and the bowling world! The 2012 Bowling’s U.S. Women’s Open will take place in Reno from June 21 to June 27.

What: Announcement Regarding Bowling’s U.S. Women’s Open; unprecedented lane design, national broadcast and an incentivized prize for competitors reaching the finals.

Where: Showroom

Eldorado Hotel Casino

345 N. Virginia St.

Reno, NV

When: Tuesday, March 6. 10:30 a.m.

Who: Steve Johnson, Executive Director of BPAA

Dwight Dortch, RSCVA Chairman of the Board and City of Reno Councilman

Leanne Hulsenberg, defending Bowling’s U.S. Women’s Open Champion

Bob Reid, Vice President of Sales & Marketing of Ebonite International

Glenn Carano, Director of Marketing of Silver Legacy Resort Casino

Even though the Safari Club International convention isn’t being held in Reno this year the organization is continuing the annual tradition of the “Feed the Hungry Feast.” The Eldorado Hotel Casino will once again prepare the game donated by Safari Club International members for a special wild game feed at the Reno Events Center on Tuesday, January 31 to benefit the needy.

WHO:

Eldorado Hotel Casino in partnership with The Salvation Army and Safari Club International members.

WHEN:

Tuesday, January 31 from 5 – 7 p.m.

WHERE:

Reno Events Center

400 North Center Street  Reno, NV 89501

DETAILS:

Safari Club International created the wild game feed as part of their Sportsmen Against Hunger movement, which has prepared and served tens of millions of meals since it was created in 1989. This year the Eldorado is making enough food to feed approximately 2,500 people in the Reno-Sparks community. Those that need a hot meal are invited to the Reno Events Center.

Action tips off Monday, Jan. 9, when forward Antoine Walker and the Idaho Stampede takes on Erie BayHawks and recently acquired guard Donald Sloan at 10 a.m. PT, and features three more contests that day, with games scheduled to tip off at 12:45 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. The schedules for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday also include four games each, and follow the same tip off times as Monday’s slate.

The NBA D-League Showcase welcomes general managers, player personnel staff, and scouts from each of the 30 NBA teams who will be in attendance to evaluate the league’s talent. Conceived prior to the 2004-05 season, the NBA D-League Showcase provides an opportunity for NBA D-League players and coaches to perform in front of NBA general managers, player personnel executives and scouts over four consecutive days at one location. The 2012 event will feature each NBA D-League team competing in two games each over four days.

* One of these two games will be shown on NBA TV on Jan. 10 (11.a.m. ET)
+ One of these two games will be shown on NBA TV on Jan. 11 (11.a.m. ET)
# One of these two games will be shown on NBA TV on Jan. 12 (11 a.m. ET)
^ One of these two games will be shown on NBA TV on Jan. 13 (1 p.m. ET)

Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster sales locations, by phone  at 800-745-3000, or the website www.ticketmaster.com/event/17004758DD0B5EAF, Silver Legacy Box Office and the Reno Events Center Box Office.

For more information please visit: http://www.nba.com/dleague

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“We are excited to partner with the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority to bring the 2012 NBA D-League Showcase to the city of Reno,” said Reed. “Reno will become the center of the basketball world for four days in January, as all 30 NBA teams are expected to attend what has become the premier in-season destination to scout basketball’s top prospects.”

Conceived prior to the 2004-05 season, the NBA D-League Showcase provides an opportunity for NBA D-League players and coaches to perform in front of NBA general managers, player personnel executives and scouts over four consecutive days at one location. The 2012 event will feature each NBA D-League team competing in two games each over four days.

“Being awarded the 2012 NBA D-League Showcase is an awesome honor,” said Santos, Jr., who is part of a local ownership group, Bighorns Basketball, LLC, which includes, Stephen Adams and Jeffrey Adams, that purchased the team over the summer, giving the Bighorns local ownership for the first time in their three-year history. “We will have all 16 D-League teams in Reno at one time, along with numerous representatives from the NBA front office and scouts and executives from every NBA team.”

“Hosting the NBA Development League Showcase presents a number of opportunities for Reno Tahoe. Our locals, and visitors, will have the privilege of watching great athletes, many of whom they will soon see on NBA teams,” said Joe Kelley, Interim President & CEO of the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority. “It also gives the community a forum to prove that this destination can produce successful professional sporting events. We couldn’t be more excited about the Showcase coming to area.” The 2012 NBA D-League Showcase is estimated to generate direct, local economic impact in excess of $1 million.

As the NBA D-League’s local franchise, the Bighorns are coming off a highly successful 2010-11 campaign in which they won a franchise-best 34 games and captured their first Western Conference championship. Their 2011-12 season tips off on the road on Friday, Nov. 25, when the team visits the Bakersfield Jam. The team will return to Reno to host its first home game of the season against Bakersfield at the Reno Events Center on Friday, Dec. 2.

Twenty-three percent of players on 2010-11 NBA end-of-season rosters had NBA D-League experience, many of whom participated in an NBA D-League Showcase since its inception in 2005.  During its seven-year history, more than 30 NBA D-League players have earned GATORADE Call-Ups from the NBA D-League to the NBA during or after the NBA D-League Showcase; while an even larger number benefited from the exposure afforded them at the NBA D-League Showcase.

Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster (sales locations, by phone at 800-745-3000 or the website  www.ticketmaster.com/event/17004758DD0B5EAF, Silver Legacy Box Office and the Reno Events Center Box Office beginning at 10:00am on Wednesday, November 2nd.

Stop by booth 409 to spin our wheel for a chance to win a FREE trip to Reno! Plus, we are giving away pine nuts and fresh sage hand-picked from the hills surrounding Reno. Post pictures or comments on our Facebook page for additional entries!

Join the conversation to stay in the know, view pictures from this year’s convention and WIN!

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The Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority (RSCVA) is pleased to announce the HelmsBriscoe Annual Business Conference 2012 will be held in Reno Tahoe USA! Celebrating the organization’s 20 years as the global leader in meeting procurement, more than 1,800 HelmsBriscoe Associates and Partners will meet in Northern Nevada for the event.

“It’s been a great 20 years thanks to the dedication of our Associates and Partners,” said Peter Shelly, HelmsBriscoe’s Executive Vice President and Annual Business Conference Chairperson. “We’re looking forward to a great event, and we couldn’t be more pleased to have our 20th Anniversary ABC in such a culturally rich and geographically diverse region like Reno Tahoe.”

In 2010, HelmsBriscoe generated $675 million in gross bookings, representing 25,000 events and 3.86 million room nights worldwide. The company has more than 1,200 Associates in more than 50 countries, and prides itself on finding the best possible options to fit its clients’ budget, size and entertainment needs. In its 20 year history, the company has grown to be the largest site selection meeting planning organization globally.

“The RSCVA is very excited to be a part of this event,” said John Leinen, RSCVA VP of Convention & Tourism Sales. “The destination team has a great relationship with HelmsBriscoe and its Associates, and this is a phenomenal opportunity to showcase Reno Tahoe’s beauty, amenities and meetings facilities to an important and influential group business resource. Through hosting this most important industry event, RSCVA is looking to generate additional, incremental business for the destination and to build effective relations with the HelmsBriscoe Associates.

The 2012 HelmsBriscoe ABC will be held from January 25-27. Hotel headquarters include John Ascuaga’s Nugget Casino Resort, Peppermill Resort Spa Casino and Silver Legacy Resort Casino.