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The Dispatch wrote
Arnold on track despite damage
Tuesday, February 19, 2008 3:07 AM
BY BILL BUSH
The cost to repair the Greater Columbus Convention Center after a burst water main could reach $3 million, an official said yesterday.
But the repair work is progressing and the Arnold Sports Festival, which is expected to attract 155,000 people, likely will be on solid ground when the three-day event starts a week from Friday.
“We use every square inch of that building,” said Jim Lorimer, director of the Arnold. “They were swimming in the water, but I was in there the other day and it was looking very good. We are just minimally displaced.”
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I do not think folks recognize how big of an event this is! 155,000 people, most of which are out of towners is a big deal… let’s see big attendance events Columbus has….
Red White and Boom- 500,000 in 6 hours? – ephemeral event
OSU football 150,000-200,000 for a day x 6-8 per annum #1 event + great national media coverage= #1 press/attention/image for the city. A
cornerstone of the local culture, please respect it and not bash it.- Puts food on your table as much as the state govt or Nationwide being here.
Ohio State Fair 800,000 over 14 days? – state-wide exposure
Arnold Classic 155,000 over three days-international exposure for Cols.
Memorial Golf Game- ???? International exposure for Cols.
Not to mention that these visitors spent $32 million in our city last year during those three days. Local businesses raking in an extra $10 million per day is A-OK with me.
I used to love the Arnold when I still booked a lot of local and promotional talent. It was like Christmas for me, I’d have 30-40 people booked for all 3 days at anywhere from 20-200 bucks an hour. This thing is fantastic for Columbus, no doubt about it.
the article in the dispatch today pretty much said in a nutshell, the arnold classic is here to stay. they have no intentions of moving it. it’s good news to know that the LARGEST SPORTS FITNESS CONVENTION IN THE NATION IS IN COLUMBUS. i personally think they should move it up one month to the end of march. the possibility of it being warm is alot better and it’s still early in the convention season. the only thing i don’t like is going to the bars that weekend and seeing all the meatheads with extra tight shirts and extremely dark tans showing off. i’m a big guy but i don’t show off. keep it at the arnold fellas. contrary to what you might believe, most ladies don’t like it, it’s a little scary.
not to get too off topic but does anybody know what percentage of the convention center space and dates is taken up year after year. i was just wandering if they had any expansion plans in the near future.
Friday, February 29, 2008
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Arnold Classic, a Professional Bowlers Association tournament, the Home and Garden show and the Ohio State high school wrestling tournament are some of the events taking place this weekend.
The 20th Arnold Classic pumps more than $39 million into the city’s economy, 10TV’s John Fortney reported.
“Athletes are coming in from China for weightlifting,” said Suzanne Irwin, a spokeswoman for the “Arnold” event. “We have international competitors for table tennis, dance, and bodybuilding – every sport you can think of.”
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Sunday, March 2, 2008
BY DEAN NARCISO
The once-chiseled abs, pecs and quads might have softened, but the intensity that forged the physiques remains.
Twelve previous Arnold Classic champions stood on stage next to cardboard likenesses from their heydays during the Classic at Veterans Memorial last night.
Many are now successful promoters. Some own gyms or nutrition companies. One is grateful to be alive.
All have used their celebrity, whether from magazine spreads or Web sites, to squeeze extra mileage out of pro bodybuilding careers that can take years to peak but can quickly come to an end.
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