Visit the Free Chevy Sports Zone at 2008 CMA Music Festival for Celebrity Competitions,...

Visit the Free Chevy Sports Zone at 2008 CMA Music Festival for Celebrity
Competitions, DockDogs, K9s in Flight, BBQ Championship and More

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2008 CMA Music Festival
carries on the tradition of unique interactions between fans and their
favorite celebrities with the free Chevy(TM) Sports Zone. The area will
feature a variety of friendly competitions between Country Music artists,
celebrities, professional athletes and chefs. The area also features animal
events, a state championship qualifying BBQ cookoff, and much more.
CMA Music Festival takes place Thursday-Sunday, June 5-8 in Downtown
Nashville. The popular Chevy Sports Zone will reside at Fifth Avenue and
Demonbreun Street, in the parking lot behind the Sommet Center and to the east
of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The Chevy Sports Zone is open
Thursday through Saturday, June 5-7 (11:00 AM-5:00 PM) and on Sunday, June 8
(11:00 AM-4:00 PM). The Chevy Sports Zone is free and open to the public.
"There are so many fun competitions and activities taking place in the
Chevy Sports Zone during CMA Music Festival that someone could spend all day,"
said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer. "The events showcase several
of our artists in a different light, bringing out both their competitive side
and sense of humor. We encourage everyone to check out all the fun in the
Chevy Sports Zone."
Four Days of DockDogs
Outdoor Channel, America's Leader in Outdoor TV, will host the popular
DockDogs(R) competitions all four days of CMA Music Festival. These events
will take place in the DockDogs' 25,000 gallon mobile pool in the Chevy Sports
Zone. These shows will air in the upcoming eight episode season as "DockDogs'
Music City Championship."
Up to 30 dogs will compete each day in three different events: Big Air(R),
where dogs compete for longest distance jumped from the end of the dock;
Extreme Vertical(R), the high jumping equivalent where dogs attempt to grab a
bumper at increasing heights; and Speed Retrieve(TM), a speed event where the
dog is timed from a "go" signal until a bumper is retrieved at a point a
specific distance from the edge of the dock. These events are open to local
and regional competitors. Interested dog owners should register their dogs at
www.DockDogs.com.
The preliminary competitions will be held on Thursday-Saturday, June 5-7.
Thursday will host two Big Air events (at 1:00 and 3:00 PM). Friday will host
three Big Air events (11:00 AM, 1:30 and 3:30 PM). Saturday will host an
Extreme Vertical Qualifer (11:00 AM), Speed Retrieve Qualifier (1:00 PM), Big
Air (3:00 PM), and the Extreme Vertical Finals (4:30 PM).
On Sunday, June 8, the Speed Retrieve Finals will be at 11:00 AM. Soon
after, the winners from the Thursday-Saturday Big Air events will compete for
the chance to move on to the World Championship to be held in Minnesota later
this summer (1:00 PM for the Amateur Finals; 1:30 PM for the Semi-Pro Finals;
3:00 PM for the Pro Finals).
The Big Air Celebrity Challenge will begin at 2:00 PM. Country Music
artists Marcel, Julie Roberts, Phil Stacey, Keni Thomas, and Mark Wills, CMT
personality Katie Cook, and Outdoor Channel show hosts Lee and Tiffany
LaKowsky, Mike Pawlawski, and Joe Thomas will be paired up with a champion dog
from an earlier competition. The celebrity handler/dog team achieving the
longest jump will be crowned the Big Air Celebrity Champion.
Thursday, June 5
"The Field & Stream Celebrity Total Outdoorsman Challenge presented by
Mobil 1" will present a fun-filled afternoon of contests on Thursday, June 5,
beginning at 12:30 PM. Field & Stream Magazine, the nation's largest and
oldest outdoor magazine, is challenging Country Music artists to dethrone
their two-time Total Outdoorsman Challenge Champion Paul Thompson in an
outdoor skills competition, including archery, air rifle, bait casting and fly
casting. Artists and celebrities participating in this event include Rhean
Boyer of Carolina Rain, Greg Hanna, Daniel Lee Martin, Jeremy McComb, Rusty
Tabor, Bryan White, and Mark Wills. The top-scoring artist will be featured in
Field & Stream as Country Music's reigning Total Outdoorsman. They will also
win a hunting trip with Keith Warren's Hunting and Outdoor Adventures,
compliments of BowTech. This trip will be filmed for broadcast on Outdoor
Channel and Versus networks.
Perennial CMA Music Festival favorite John Misita and his K9s in Flight
"Ultimate K9s Sports Show presented by Waggin' Train Dog Treats" will return
on Thursday, June 5 for three shows at 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM and 3:30 PM in the
Sports Zone Activity Area. K9s in Flight are the premiere Frisbee Dog
entertainers in the world. With more than 15 years of professional experience,
they have dazzled audiences in more than 200 cities and have been seen on The
Discovery Channel, ESPN, The Disney Channel, Animal Planet, HBO, and more. The
amazing K9s in Flight team has also toured with Animal Planet, The NFL
Experience, and Ringling Brothers "Greatest Show on Earth."
Friday, June 6
On Friday, June 6, Field and Stream will hold their Total Outdoorsman
Challenge local and regional qualifying events in the Chevy Sports Zone.
Outdoors enthusiasts interested in testing their archery, air rifle and bait
casting skills should log onto www.fieldandstream.com/totaloutdoorsman to
pre-register. The local qualifier will begin at 12:00 PM. The local qualifier
champion will receive an all-expense paid trip to the 2008 CMA Awards for two.
The top three finishers in the local qualifier will advance to the regional at
2:30 PM for a chance to compete in the Field & Stream Total Outdoorsman
Challenge Championship in Springfield, Mo., Sept. 5-7. Approximately 30 other
top outdoorsmen from throughout the region will also join Friday's regional
competition with the hope of moving onto the finals where they could win
$25,000 in cash and prizes and a spread in Field & Stream.
Also on Friday, June 6, "The Celebrity Sports Challenge presented by
Glaceau Vitaminwater(R)," hosted by Steve Azar will be held at 11:00 AM in the
Activity Area. The Sports Challenge has been a fan favorite event featuring an
array of celebrities and sports champions competing alongside artists in
friendly team competitions of events including baseball pitch, football throw,
hockey shoot-out, soccer kick, basketball free throw and golf chipping. Each
member of the winning team will receive a trophy. In addition, their names
will be added to the perpetual Sports Challenge Cup which is on display at
CMA.
Artist and celebrity participants for the Sports Challenge include:
Deborah Allen, ABC "One Life to Live" actor Bradford Anderson, Jessica
Andrews, Steve Azar, Bomshel, Chad Brock, Carolina Rain, ABC "Young and the
Restless" actor John Castellanos, Brad Cotter, actor Jim Fitzpatrick, Colt
Ford, former MTV "The Real World" star M.J. Garrett, James House, Marcel, Brad
Mates of Emerson Drive, Jason Meadows, John Adam Murph, Larry Stewart, Keni
Thomas, ABC "All My Children" actor Aiden Turner, Two Foot Fred, "The King of
Queens" actor Gary Valentine, Jimmie Van Zant, Bryan White, "AM Choppers Show"
personality Wild Bill and The Wolf from "American Gladiators."
Athletes participating in the Sports Challenge include: U.S. Ski team
member Terry Ahola; LPGA tour player Angela Jerman; wrestler Ray Lloyd;
Olympic swimmer Steve Lundquist; 2004 RE/MAX World Long Drive Champion Dave
Mobley; NFL Tennessee Titans team members: Rob Bironas, Jeremy Cain, Craig
Hentrich, Josh Stamer; and former NFL players Rocky Calmus, Steve Cole, Jesse
Mahelona, Heisman Trophy winner Gino Torretta and Kevin Turner.
Following The Celebrity Sports Challenge in the Activity Area, Outdoor
Life Magazine, The Source for Hunting and Fishing Adventure, will host the
ultimate game-calling contest to highlight the launch of a new conservation
program: "Project Save-A-Stream." Chad Schearer from Shoot Straight TV will
lead professional and celebrity callers, including singer Jason Brown, in a
contest to determine the best turkey and big-game calls. The winner will be
provided with an all-expense paid hunting trip and a $1,000 donation to the
conservation charity of their choice. Information about how the public can get
involved with "Project Save-A-Stream" will be announced and distributed.
Saturday, June 7
Teams competing in the Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned CMA Music
Festival BBQ Championship will begin their all-day cooking process in the
Sports Zone Back Lot early on Saturday, June 7. Teams will compete in four
categories: pork ribs, pork shoulder, beef brisket and chicken for a chance to
win a share of more than $17,000 in cash and prizes to be distributed to
category winners. Judging will be on Sunday, June 8 at 3:00 PM.
At 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 7, four-time World Champion and President of
Championship Bull Riding (CBR), Tuff Hedeman, will host the CBR/RFD-TV
Celebrity Bull-Riding Challenge in the Sports Zone Activity Area. Singers
Jason Brown, Josh Newcom of Indian Rodeo, Danny Rivera, Keni Thomas and Trent
Willmon will team up with champion bull riders Wesley Silcox, Ladden
Ledbetter, Jake Littlefield, Travis Sellers, and Steve Woolsey from both CBR
and the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in a contest to see which team can score
highest in overall ride and style. The goal is to stay on the mechanical bull
for at least 8 seconds, and the winner will be determined by the audience.
Crowds are encouraged to come and cheer for their favorite competitors.
The Fiesta Celebrity Grilling Challenge will begin at 2:00 PM on Saturday,
June 7, in the Sports Zone Activity Area, hosted by Lee McWright, Executive
Chef for Fiesta Gas Grills. Artists and celebrities will be paired with
professional chefs in a culinary competition. Television personality Lorianne
Crook, Jamie O'Neal, Country Music Hall of Fame member Mel Tillis, and Mark
Wills will be paired with such culinary experts as Chef Jason Brumm, owner of
acclaimed Nashville restaurant radius10; Chef George Harvell from the
legendary Loveless Cafe; Chef Karl Trohaska from Sheraton Hotels; and
Executive Chef Brian Uhl from Sunset Grill, Midtown Grill, and Cabana (where
he is also part owner), among others. Each participant will receive a new
Fiesta Blue Ember Grill.
Emma Feigenbaum (Everyday Food Associate Food Editor and co-host of PBS
television series "Everyday Food") and Kay West (food critic, freelance
journalist and People correspondent) will be among the judges.
Sunday, June 8
"The Third Annual New Holland/Michael Peterson Celebrity Tractor Race"
will begin at 11:30 AM on Sunday, June 8, in the Sports Zone Activity Area. A
blend of Country Music artists, athletes and celebrities will join Peterson in
a race against the clock through an obstacle course on a New Holland compact
Boomer(TM) compact tractor. Additional participants include: GAC personality
Suzanne Alexander; Alvarado Road Show; "Western Beat" host Billy Block; Mark
Collie; Ira Dean; CMT "Can You Duet" participants Joey Feek & Rory Martin
Feek; new Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Jimmy Fortune; Greg Hanna; CEO
of the National Biodiesel Board Joe Jobe; Rolling Stones' keyboardist Chuck
Leavell; Darby Ledbetter; Zane Lewis; Country Music historian/journalist
Robert K. Oermann; Danny Rivera; Ray Scott; Keni Thomas; Jimmie Van Zandt; GAC
"Country Music Across America" host Storme Warren; Trent Willmon; Billy Yates;
and NFL Tennessee Titans players Rob Bironas, Kerry Collins, Daniel Loper, and
Michael Roos. Following the race, participants will autograph a tractor which
will later be auctioned off with part of the proceeds going to the National
FFA and to the winner's charity of choice.
Judging for the CMA Music Festival BBQ Championship will begin at 12:00 PM
on Sunday, June 8, in the Sports Zone Backlot, followed by the Awards Ceremony
at 3:00 PM in the Activity Area. The Grand Champion of the CMA Music Festival
BBQ Championship will receive $2,500, a CMA Awards trip package for two
including accommodations, an invitation to take part in the prestigious
KCBS-sanctioned American Royale competition, and eligibility to participate in
the Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (better known as
"The Jack") in late October in Lynchburg, Tenn.Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and
Executive Producer of the CMA Music Festival Tony Conway are among the judges
for the BBQ Championship.
One of the competing barbecue teams will be selling BBQ in the Chevy
Sports Zone all four days. In addition, new for 2008 is the Sports Zone Cafe
where hungry fans can enjoy hamburgers, hot dogs, soft drinks and cold beer.
The Chevy Sports Zone hosts numerous additional activities and exhibits as
well. Visitors can check out the NASCAR vehicle display including the E85
Corvette Indy Pace Car, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s specialty Silverado, the Dale
Jr. Foundation Tahoe, and the FLW wrapped Silverado 10x20. In addition,
anglers of all ages can meet and get tips from FLW fishermen Luke Clausen and
Larry Nixon, experience the FLW Fishing Simulator and catch a fish in the
Chevy trout pond. A-Rod wannabes can swing for the fences by playing the new
MLB 2K8 XBOX game out of the MLB Silverado, practice in the Cal Ripken, Jr.
Baseball Clinics, or test their arms at the MLB Fast Pitch Challenge. Fans can
also experience the XM Satellite Radio Ultimate Listening Tour and register
for a chance to win an XM handheld radio. The U.S. Air Force will have a real
life F-16 Fighter Falcon on display.
Outdoor Channel, America's Leader in Outdoor TV, will give attendees the
chance of a lifetime to become a television personality as part of "Cast and
Call." This exciting new promotion will offer the opportunity to be a guest
star on an Outdoor Channel hunting or fishing show. To audition, fans should
stop by Outdoor Channel's Motor Moose.
Fans can recycle rechargeable batteries and cell phones at the
Call2Recycle(TM) Center. truTV(TM) will preview their newest real life, high
stakes series which follows oil-drillers in west Texas, "Black Gold"
(premiering on the network on Wednesday, June 18 at 10:00 PM). Waggin' Train
will hand out free 100% natural dog treats. Cutter(R) and Repel(R) Insect
Repellent will also hand out free samples.
Other Chevy Sports Zone partners include: BullFrog(R), Armour(R) Vienna
Sausages, Chill Cooling Towels, Bluegreen Corporation, BowTech Archery, Kansas
Kansas City BBQ Society, Shire Pharmaceuticals, U.S. Border Patrol, and U.S.
Smokeless Tobacco.
Tickets to the individual Nightly Concerts on the VAULT (TM) stages at LP
Field are on sale for $40 for reserved seats on the Lower and Club levels, and
$30 for general admission in the upper deck of LP Field (plus applicable
handling fees). To order tickets call 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378); visit
www.ticketmaster.com to buy online or charge-by-phone at (615) 255-9600. The
Nightly Concerts are also included in the Festival's four-day ticket packages
and can be purchased through the same means.
For more information on the 2008 CMA Music Festival, including a list of
artists appearing and a schedule of activities, please visit www.CMAfest.com.
CMA Music Festival is organized and produced by the Country Music
Association. CMA Board member Tony Conway is the Executive Producer of CMA
Music Festival. Premiere Radio Networks is the official radio broadcaster.
Chevy: The Official Ride of Country Music. Borders(R): The Exclusive Music &
Book retailer of the CMA Music Festival. Wrangler(R): The Exclusive Jean of
the CMA Music Festival. Additional promotional partners include, American
Airlines, Armour(R) Vienna Sausages, Bluegreen Corporation, BullFrog(R), Carl
Black Chevrolet, Championship Bull Riding, Call2Recycle(TM), CMT(TM),
Coca-Cola(R), Dr Pepper(R), Field & Stream, Fiesta Gas Grills, GAC Great
American Country, Glaceau Vitaminwater(R), Greased Lightning(R) Cleaning
Products, Kansas City BBQ Society, Mary Kay(R), McDonald's(R), New Holland,
Outdoor Life, Repel(R), RFD-TV, Rocky Boots, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Southern
Living Magazine, Tetley(R) Iced Tea, truTV(TM), U.S. Air Force, U.S. Border
Patrol, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco, VAULT(TM), Waggin' Train, and Wrigley's
Spearmint, Wrigley's Doublemint, Wrigley's Juicy Fruit, Wrigley's Big Red,
Wrigley's Winterfresh. Fan Fair(R) is a registered trademark of CMA. EMT
services are provided by Vanderbilt Sports Medicine and Vanderbilt Life
Flight. Fan Fair(R) is a registered trademark of CMA.
SOURCE CMA

Wendy Pearl, +1-615-244-2840, Scott Stem, +1-615-244-2840, or Maria Eckhardt,
+1-615-244-2840, all of CMA