Articles: Press Release
Equestrian Events, Inc. Announces Changes
for 2009 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event
Contact:
Jane Atkinson, Event Director, 859-233-2362 or eeiusa@alltel.net
Marty Bauman, Press Chief, (508) 698-6810, info@classic-communications.com
Equestrian Events, Inc. Announces Changes for
2009 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event
Lexington, KY-February 16, 2009 - As a result of construction projects at the Kentucky
Horse Park, Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI) is announcing some major changes for the
2009 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, the only annual Four Star Three-Day Event in
the Americas. Scheduled for April 23-26, the event draws over 100,000 spectators
and is seen by millions more on worldwide telecasts, including a one-hour special
on NBC in the United States.
Honored with the 2008 Best of Lexington Award in the Special Events category by
the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA), Equestrian Events continues to move
forward and adapt to the changes at the Horse Park that will be fully completed
by the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Even before it is the Test Event
in 2010 for the Eventing World Championships, Rolex Kentucky 2009 will be the first
time some of the Park changes come into play. Some of the changes in 2009:
The Stadium
The arena where the Dressage and Jumping Tests for Rolex Kentucky were previously
held is being totally rebuilt to create a new Stadium. This new facility, in the
same location as the previous arena, will be a whole new experience for spectators,
as well as horses and riders, and is leading to some sweeping changes for 2009 and
beyond.
Prior to the start of construction, the Lake Grandstand-constructed from funds donated
by Equestrian Events, Inc., the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation and legions of supporters
of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event-was carefully and painstakingly dismantled.
Located on the south side of the arena with the Park's picturesque lake behind it,
each piece of the Lake Grandstand was numbered and coded and is being stored for
re-assembly at a later date at one of the Park's other outdoor arenas. The Lake
Grandstand has 2,325 bench seats, 1,883 of them covered and 24 spaces for disabled
seating.
New Permanent Grandstand
A new permanent grandstand structure, with 7,289 chair seats, 4,630 of which will
be covered, plus 102 spaces for disabled seating, is being constructed on the north
side of the stadium where the Patron Club and Equestrian Club tents and their temporary
grandstand seating were located. The Park Grandstand also houses restrooms and concession
areas underneath the second tier of seating. There will be three entrances to the
grandstand. The entry level goes directly to the uppermost row of the first tier
of seating and disabled seating is on that level. Stairs at the entry level go
up to the first row of the second tier of seating.
Temporary Uncovered Grandstand Seating
Rolex Kentucky organizer Equestrian Events, Inc. is renting uncovered grandstands
to provide a total of 15,000 seats in the new Stadium. These stands will be located
on the south side of the arena by the Park's lake and on the west side of the arena.
New Arena Surface
A new arena surface will greet horses and riders at Rolex Kentucky 2009, but the
surface isn't new to the Horse Park or to the horses and riders that competed in
the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany. The German company OTTO Sport-und
Reitplatz GMBH is installing its state-of-the-art riding surface on the Stadium
arena and the attached warm-up area and will have its inaugural use at the 2009
Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. However, the same surface was installed in 2008
in the Park's Walnut Ring and used extensively last year, to wide acclaim, for Jumper
classes at various A and AA-rated hunter/jumper shows at the Park.
Patron Club and Equestrian Club Tents Moved
Due to its size, the Park Grandstand utilizes all the ground from the edge of the
original arena back to Nina Bonnie Boulevard, ground where the Patron Club and Equestrian
Club tents and uncovered grandstand seating were previously located. The Patron
Club and Equestrian Club tents are being relocated across Nina Bonnie Boulevard
to the fence line surrounding the High Hope Steeplechase Course. The tents will
overlook the infield of the course, where several major obstacles on the Rolex Kentucky
Cross-Country course are located. Grandstand seating for Patron Club and Equestrian
Club subscribers will be an additional charge, allowing these Event attendees to
choose which grandstand seating they prefer and to sit with friends who are not
subscribers to these two ticket options. Video screens will be located in each
tent to provide almost larger-than-life viewing of each day's competition.
East Side of Stadium
The East side of the Stadium, where temporary grandstands have previously been located,
will now be used for the Patron Plus tent, a private hospitality tent, along with
the grandstand for Riders, Owners, Grooms and Competitor Guests.
South Side of Stadium
The configuration of the lake side of the arena is changed, and two grandstands
with increased seating will be located here along with the Doggery, the grandstand
targeted especially for dogs and their human companions.
West Side of Stadium
The permanent Sponsor Hospitality Pavilion, previously located on the north side
of the arena, has made way for the new Park Grandstand, requiring the creation
of a new Sponsor Pavilion on the west side of the arena. The West Grandstand that
was located near the lake remains in the same relative position, but increased in
height by one row (36 rows) and in width by 6'.
Most visitors to the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Website have already been introduced
to the newest ticket purchasing option from Equestrian Events, Inc., online ticket
sales. While the Ticket Order Form may still be downloaded and mailed or faxed to
the EEI Office, and orders may still be placed via telephone, those who like the
ease and speed of placing orders online now have that option.
"We are proud of our longstanding commitment to providing outstanding entertainment
as well as world-class equestrian competition," said Event Director, Jane Atkinson.
"The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event has always been produced by Equestrian Events,
Inc. with a strong commitment to giving spectators an exciting and comfortable experience
and we believe that these changes will go a long way in accomplishing that goal.
The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event features this country's best horses and riders
and international stars vying for their share of $250,000 in prize money and a chance
at the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. The winning owner is awarded $65,000
and the winning rider receives a Rolex timepiece. The classic Kentucky Julep Cup
is presented by Equestrian Events, Inc. to the winning owner and winning rider
as a reminder of their accomplishment.
For more information on the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, please visit the Rolex
Kentucky website at www.rk3de.org. To receive the ticket brochure for the 2009
Event, send your name and address to Equestrian Events, Inc., P.O. Box 12110, Lexington,
KY 40580-2110, (859) 254-8123 (9:00 am - 4:00 pm, M-F), (859) 254-5116 (fax), or
rktickets@alltel.net.
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