San Jose Grand Prix packs a huge economic wallop

What San Jose annual event draws more than 150,000 spectators, generates $40 million in economic impact and is broadcast to more than 50 countries? If you said the San Jose Grand Prix, you’re correct – and it’s less then three months away. This year’s race weekend is July 28-30.

The leadership of the Grand Prix listened to fans’ suggestions from last year and modified the race track to allow for a more competitive event. Officials also added more bridges and other improvements to help everyone move around the course more easily and improved several viewing areas with better sight lines for the race. This year’s event also will feature Kathryn Legge, Champ Car’s first female driver, who won the Formula Atlantic race here last year. Tickets are available and race information can be found at www.sjgp.com. It will be another great year for the city’s premier downtown event.

This week marks the 10th anniversary of the REACH Youth Scholarship Program. Congratulations to everyone who has helped make it a terrific success. Special thanks to Ronnie Lott and Robert Braunstein of Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area for their involvement from the beginning.

Go Sharks!!

Dean Munro
Executive Director

There’s no more important event for young California wrestlers than the California USA Wrestling Dave Schultz Kids/Cadet Freestyle State Championships, and it returns to San Jose for the third consecutive year May 12-14. Included with the event will be Fila Junior Men’s and Women’s championships.

As many as 2,500 athletes – girls and boys 7 years old up to college freshmen – plus families and coaches will participate in the state championships in the Greco-Roman and freestyle disciplines. The event also serves as a qualifier for regional and national competitions this summer.

The championships are named for the late Palo Alto Olympic gold medalist who won championships at Palo Alto High, Oklahoma State and the University of Oklahoma as well as seven world championship medals. The Sports Authority worked with California USA Wrestling and the San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau to create a home in San Jose for the event.

Plan now for your company or organization to participate in the The First Tee of San Jose Invitational presented by AT&T – a full day of golf, food and fun Monday, July 17 at CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin – which benefits The First Tee® of San Jose, the San Jose Sports Authority’s youth golf program.

Sponsorship packages for one or two foursomes range from $3,000 to $10,000. Email Tracie Morris or call (408) 288-2937 to reserve your place. About 1,000 youngsters will be introduced to golf in 2006 as a result of this program.

Meanwhile, class schedules and registration forms for The First Tee® of San Jose are available for download at http://sjsa.org/youth_events/youth_eagles.asp or www.thefirstteesanjose.org.

Thirty-four Santa Clara County high school students – here’s the complete list – have been nominated for one of the five REACH Youth Scholarships to be awarded at Wednesday’s 7:30 a.m. awards breakfast hosted by NFL Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott at the San Jose Marriott.

The REACH program – the acronym stands for Recognizing Excellence, Adversity, Courage and Hard work – is an important way in which the Sports Authority contributes to the youth of our community. The Sports Authority has raised $79,000 from sponsors to fund 55 scholarships during the program’s 10 years. Bridge Bank is the presenting sponsor for the program, and this year’s other sponsors include: Hewlett-Packard, San Jose Marriott, San Jose Sharks, National Tennis Championships, Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area and Southwest Airlines.

This year a total of $9,000 in scholarships will be awarded to the five nominees whose essays explain how they overcame adversity in their lives by playing high school sports. All nominees will receive a gift.

A fast, flat course that starts and finishes downtown and loops through Japantown and the Rose Garden has been announced for the inaugural Rock ’n’ Roll Half Marathon on Oct. 8 in San Jose.

The race is expected to attract 15,000 runners to San Jose and will feature entertainment stages at each milepost of the 13.1 mile race as well as at the finish line at the Plaza de Cesar Chavez. Enter at http://www.rnrsj.com/home.html.

For the first time in its history, the NCAA has combined its men’s and women’s Division I Tennis Championships at one site, and Stanford will host the inaugural event May 18-29 at its Taube Tennis Center.

Tickets are available at www.gostanford.com for the event, which is the centerpiece of a series of complimentary community events and clinics that will fill the month of May in Palo Alto.

Can you think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon with three friends than settling down in your seats at Municipal Stadium with a plate of barbecued chicken, ribs or sandwich to watch the San Jose Giants play the Modesto Nuts?

Here’s your chance to do it free Sunday, May 28, the Memorial Day weekend. Just visit our Web site here, fill in the email form, and if your entry is drawn, an afternoon of exciting San Jose Giants baseball will be yours. The entry deadline is midnight Thursday, May 18. The winner will be notified by email and telephone on Friday, May 19, and the tickets will be available for pick-up at Municipal Stadium.

The defending California League champions are making big improvements to Municipal Stadium including replacing the electronic scoreboard with a state-of-the-art video board in the outfield.

The 2006 San Jose Grand Prix presented by Taylor Woodrow is fast approaching. In addition to more bridges, improved sightlines and new general admission viewing, I wanted to touch on a couple of areas that are very exciting about this year’s race.

Safety is our No.1 priority, and we’ve taken several important steps:

• Leveling the track at the rail crossings on Almaden Boulevard and Market Street, which will allow for more speed.
• Widening the turn from Almaden Boulevard to Park Avenue as well as the track along Park, and widening the turn at Balbach and Market streets – all of which will enhance safety and passing opportunities.
• Flipping the pit lane and straightaway on Almaden, making a smoother and safer exit from the pits for the drivers and better viewing for the fans.

Also new for 2006 is the Pit Lane Suite 25, which offers unprecedented viewing and a full food and beverage package to give fans and businesses a five-star experience without the headache of planning. Included in Pit Lane Suite 25 are private hospitality with tiered seating for all three days; an all-inclusive food package including breakfast, lunch and snacks; an all-inclusive beverage service including beer, wine and mixed drinks; and a VIP Pit Walk-Thru and race programs.

If you want further information on Pit Lane Suite 25, tickets or the Grand Prix itself, please visit our website at www.sjgp.com. We look forward to seeing you at the race in July.

Board member Stacy Carroll is marketing director for Westfield Valley Fair. Stacy oversees all the marketing events and programs that take place at Valley Fair.

Her career experience in includes working for the San Jose Sharks as an account manager. During that period she also worked on the Siebel Open tennis tournament at HP Pavilion. She sold specialty merchandise and advertising for Metro newspaper before being named director of sales and marketing for the Hotel De Anza in downtown San Jose.

Stacy is a native of the area and grew up in Saratoga. She graduated from San Diego State University with a B.S.B.A. in Marketing. She also serves on the marketing committee for the San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau.