NEW HAVEN, Conn., Jan. 29, 2009 — Spurred by the success of a single sporting event last summer, New Haven will be host to the Northeast Zone Championships featuring a minimum of six Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) sports involving 2,500 young athletes this summer.
“This is a major success story for our area because we are expecting between 6,000 to 7,000 people will be involved as participants or spectators, and it may well lead to even more AAU events coming here in the future,” said Ginny Kozlowski, President/CEO of the Greater New Haven Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The CVB worked with the AAU’s Team Connecticut as well as National President Bobby Dodd, the Metro New York and New England Districts to bring the Northeast Zone Championships for athletes aged 9 to 14 years old to Greater New Haven.
Baseball, basketball, track & field, gymnastics, karate and diving are the sports committed to date to bring in participants from Maine to Virginia and stretching west to Ohio from July 1-7. This event allows more participation for teams and individual athletes in a quality championship at a locale within driving distance of New York and the New England regions.
New Haven’s hosting of this premiere event was announced during a 3 p.m. media conference January 26 at Cafe Bottega (910 Chapel Street, New Haven). Speakers included Mayor John DeStefano, Jr., National AAU President Bobby Dodd, and Connecticut AAU Governor Jack Bethke. Metro New York Governor Cecil Watkins and New England Governor Ed Skovron (who also serves as the National AAU Baseball Chair) were on hand to support the announcement.
“The success of the Girls AAU 11 and Under National Basketball Championship Tournament last summer paved the way to these events,” said Ms. Kozlowski. “There were 435 participants, and it was the only AAU division with a substantial increase of team participation over the previous year. The AAU also values our ability to provide quality venues that are convenient and economical.”
Bethke, who has volunteered with AAU for 18, serving 14 of those as Connecticut AAU Governor, has long promoted New Haven as a “convenient, welcome and accessible venue for such events.” Organizations committed to serving as partners include the City of New Haven, New Haven Board of Education, Yale University, Southern Connecticut State University, the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce as well as the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun. The Connecticut Sun, with the Connecticut District AAU and the Greater New Haven Convention & Visitors Bureau, will host a Connecticut District AAU Night on Friday, June 19, 2009 to support the Championship events.
Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. welcomed all: “The City of New Haven is thrilled for this opportunity to host so many athletes and their families and is confident of the offerings available in both state-of-the art facilities and dining, lodging and cultural experiences. The Greater New Haven area has long been an advocate of the sense of sportsmanship, volunteerism and sense of community that the AAU organization upholds.”
About AAU (http://www.connecticutaau.org)
Mission Statement: To offer amateur sports programs through a volunteer base for all people to have the physical, mental, and moral development of amateur athletes and to promote good sportsmanship and good citizenship.
The Greater New Haven Convention and Visitors Bureau markets the New Haven region to leisure travelers, groups and sporting events to enhance the region’s economy and quality of life.
Contact:
Giulia Gouge
Greater New Haven Convention & Visitors Bureau
203.777.8550 x107
http://www.visitNewHaven.com
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