News & Publications
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May. 27, 2005
COUNTRY MUSIC ARTISTS AND PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES COLLIDE IN THE CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL SPORTS ZONE OPEN FREE TO THE PUBLIC
BASS Anglers and Artists Tournament; Tracy Byrd Golf Challenge; Andy Griggs Celebrity Archery Tournament; NASCAR Busch Series Drivers; and Albert Haynesworth and Friends Cars of Stars are Among the Ev
NASHVILLE – CMA Music Festival is a unique celebration of Country Music and the interaction between fans and their favorite celebrities. The Sports Zone at “Country Music’s Biggest Party™” continues that tradition with a variety of friendly competitions between Country Music artists, celebrities and professional athletes as well as autograph signings, displays, performances and more. CMA Music Festival takes place Thursday-Sunday, June 9-12 in Downtown Nashville. The Sports Zone, located on the grounds of The Coliseum at the foot of the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge, is open from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM on Thursday and Friday; and 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday. Admission to the Sports Zone is free to the public.
“Country Music fans tend to be sports fans, and they enjoy watching their favorite celebrities interact with each other in friendly competition,” said Ed Benson, CMA Executive Director. “In addition, the Sports Zone is a great free area for Nashville families to visit, giving them the opportunity to meet their favorite athlete and taste what CMA Music Festival is all about.”
On Thursday, June 9, some of today’s hottest NASCAR Busch Series Drivers will be signing autographs in the Sports Zone from 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM. Fans will have the opportunity to meet Clint Bowyer (driver of the No. 2 AC Delco Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing); Shane Hmiel (driver of the No. 32 WINFUEL Chevrolet for Braun Racing); Brandon Miller (driver of the No. 21 Reese’s Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing); Tony Raines (driver of the No. 33 Yard-Man/Outdoor Channel Chevrolet for Hevin Harvick, Inc.); and Boston Reid (driver of the No. 5 Lowe’s Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports).
Later on Thursday, the Fourth Annual Andy Griggs Celebrity Archery Tournament will take place from 4:00-6:00 PM. Host Andy Griggs welcomes the following artists and celebrities to his competition this year: Rhett Akins; Tracy Byrd; Greg Cook (of Ricochet); Linda Davis; Troy Gentry (of Montgomery Gentry); Gary Levox (of Rascal Flatts); Daniel Lee Martin; Craig Morgan; Paul Overstreet; Darryle Singletary; Rusty Tabor; Keni Thomas; songwriter Neil Thrasher (last year’s winner); Aaron Tippin; and Lee Ann Womack. The arrows will be flying when these spirited competitors come together.
New this year, The T.G.I. Friday’s Sports Challenge will take place on Friday, June 10, from 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM. The competition will include a variety of games including basketball, football, golf, soccer and more. Steve Azar; Eddie Bush; Brad Cotter; Glenn Cummings; Forty5 South; Alicia Nugent; Danni O’Neill; Chalee Tennison; Jay Teeter; Lane Turner; and Mark Wills will be paired with professional athletes and celebrities including former Cleveland Brown/Philadelphia Eagle Steve Cole; Craig Hentrich of the Tennessee Titans; former WWE Champion and current Smackdown Superstar JBL; Marthia Sides (of CMT’s “Popularity Contest”); actress Karri Turner (“JAG”); Mandy “Mary Ann” Weaver ( from TBS’ “The Real Gilligan’s Island”); members of the Nashville Kats and more.
The Second Annual BASS Anglers and Artists Tournament will take place on Saturday, June 11. Professional anglers Stephen Browning; Ken Cook; Paul Elias; Doug Garrett; Robert Hamilton; Brett Hite; Jay Kendrick; Jimmy Mason; Ray Sedgwick and Thad Takes will team up with Country artists Jason Aldean; Jeff Bates; Kenny Beard; Jeff Carson; Amber Dotson; Porter Howell; Tresa Jordan; David Kersh; Lila McCann and Chalee Tennison. Teams will fish on area lakes during the day before returning to the Sports Zone for the weigh-in at 4:00 PM on the CITGO Bassmaster Tour Stage. Fans waiting in the Sports Zone for the celebrities to arrive for the weigh-in will want to check out Bassmaster™ University from 2:00 – 3:30 PM, where BASS Pros will be revealing their secrets for great fishing.
On Sunday, June 12, car enthusiasts will want to steer into the Albert Haynesworth and Friends Cars of Stars Show from 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM. This is the first CMA Music Festival event for Albert Haynesworth, a defensive tackle of the Tennessee Titans NFL football team. Kix Brooks (of Brooks and Dunn) and Duane Propes (of Little Texas) are among the artists whose cars will be on display.
Also new this year is the Tracy Byrd Golf Challenge, which takes place on Sunday June 12 at 3:30 PM. Tracy Byrd and several of his celebrity friends, including Albert Haynesworth; Brad Cotter; David Kersh; and Chalee Tennison, will participate in golf chipping, putting challenges and demonstrations. Golf pros Doug Curtiss from the Hermitage Golf Course and Brian Jorgenson from the Nashville Golf and Athletic Club will also participate as well as give golf tips.
Musical performances will happen on the Chevy, An American Revolution All Access Music Tour Stage on Thursday from 6:00 – 7:00 PM; and Friday-Sunday from 5:30 – 6:30 PM. Among the artists scheduled to perform are Forty5 South; The Great Divide; Pirates of the Mississippi; Sammy Sadler; Victor Sanz; Ryan Shupe & the RubberBand; Lane Turner; and Billy Yates. The Chevy, An American Revolution All Access Music Tour celebrates the unbreakable bond between the music we love and the cars we love to drive and features priceless "backstage" music memorabilia and interactive games at which attendees can win fun, valuable prizes. Visitors also have the chance to check out the cars that inspire the stars, such as the Chevy SSR, the all-new HHR and the legendary Silverado
Throughout the four day event there will be special appearances from TNA Wrestlers including Abyss, America’s Most Wanted (“Wildcat” Chris Harris and “Cowboy” James Storm), Jeff Jarrett, Chase Stevens and Traci. Also appearing will be the Premiere Cheerleading and Dance, home of the Tennessee All-Stars (42-time National Cheerleading Champions).
For more family fun, hop on the interactive inflatables; play the latest video games at the Coca-Cola Video Game Truck; see NASCAR driver Stacy Compton’s No. 59 interactive race car, sponsored by Bush’s® Baked Beans; visit the Nashville Sounds booth; and test your skills in a Nashville Predators interactive hockey game. On Friday and Saturday, cast away for a birdie as golf and fishing collide in a new game called Par Fishing.
The Sports Zone borders The Coliseum, which is home to the Nightly Concerts. Artists performing at the Nightly Concerts throughout the four nights include Trace Adkins, Dierks Bentley, Big & Rich (w special guest Cowboy Troy), Diamond Rio, Sara Evans, Josh Gracin, Andy Griggs, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Jo Dee Messina, Craig Morgan, Joe Nichols, Dolly Parton and The Grascals, Rascal Flatts, Julie Roberts, Kenny Rogers, Sawyer Brown, SHeDAISY, Blake Shelton, Sugarland, Travis Tritt, Keith Urban, Van Zant, Phil Vassar, Gretchen Wilson, Lee Ann Womack, Wynonna and Trisha Yearwood, with others to be announced.
Advance-purchase tickets for each nightly show at The Coliseum cost $30 plus applicable handling fees, and can be purchased through the CMA Music Festival Box Office at the Gaylord Entertainment Center, 501 Broadway, Nashville, Tenn., or toll-free at 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378). Tickets will also be available through Ticketmaster at (615) 255-9600, at www.ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlets. Ticket prices are subject to change.
Single concert tickets will also be sold during CMA Music Festival at The Coliseum ticket office beginning Thursday, June 9.
Admittance to the free Sports Zone is also included in CMA Music Festival’s four-day ticket package. Packages are divided into four categories, based on the level of reserved seating at The Coliseum (the Gold Circle and Floor Level ticket packages are already sold out). Four-day ticket packages include the Nightly Concerts at The Coliseum; Daily Concerts at Greased Lightning® Daytime Stages; daily admittance to the Wrangler® Fan Fair (Exhibit Hall) featuring the Acoustic Corner; Bush’s® Baked Beans Family Zone; Fun Zone; Sports Zone and performance stage; CMA Music Festival After Hours™; free in-town shuttles; the CMA Music Festival Program Book; CMA Music Festival pin; special discounts to area attractions, restaurants, shops and more.
LEVEL Full Price 14 and younger
Gold Circle SOLD OUT N/A
Floor (Field) SOLD OUT SOLD OUT
Lower Level $125 $86
Club Level $125 $86
Only a limited amount of four-day ticket packages for CMA Music Festival remain! Order over the phone by calling toll-free, 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378); visit www.CMAfest.com to download an order form to fax or mail; visit www.ticketmaster.com to buy online or charge-by-phone at (615) 255-9600. Prices do not include applicable handling fees. Ticket prices are subject to change without notice. All sales are final and non-refundable.
For up-to-the-minute information about tickets, travel information, schedules, artists appearing and more, visit www.CMAfest.com and sign up for e-news or purchase official CMA Music Festival merchandise.
2005 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. MJI Programming, a division of Premiere Radio Networks, is the official radio broadcaster. Chevy, An American Revolution, is the official automotive partner of the CMA Music Festival. Promotional partners include Bush’s® Baked Beans, Carl Black Chevrolet, Chick-fil-A®, CremeSavers® candies, Coca-Cola®, Crisco®, Greased Lightning®, HCA/TRI-STAR, NBC Daytime, Prilosec OTC, and Wrangler®. Fan Fair is a registered trademark of CMA.
About Chevrolet
Chevrolet is a division of General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM). GM, the world's largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader since 1931. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 324,000 people around the world. It has manufacturing operations in 32 countries and its vehicles are sold in 200 countries. In 2004, GM sold nearly 9 million cars and trucks globally, up 4 percent and the second-highest total in the company's history. GM's global headquarters are at the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.