Sacramento’s Memorial Auditorium will be Site of Welcome Gala Attended by All Cyclists, City Officials and VIPs

SACRAMENTO (March 24, 2010) — The Sacramento Sports Commission, the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau and AEG will host the Official Team Presentation and Gala for the 2010 Amgen Tour of California on Friday, May 14, at Sacramento’s Memorial Auditorium. The annual pre-race event is a favorite among fans and cyclists alike and has sold out in each of the four previous years.

In attendance to participate in the festivities will be professional cyclists who will race in the Amgen Tour of California, including Lance Armstrong and Levi Leipheimer, celebrities, local dignitaries and retired racers. Elected officials and other representatives from host cities throughout the state also will attend, as will executives from AEG and race sponsor Amgen.

Now in its fifth year, the Amgen Tour of California, a road cycling race similar to the Tour de France, has quickly grown to be one of the nation’s most popular sporting events. The Official Team Presentation and Gala is a unique opportunity for cycling enthusiasts and race supporters to meet and mingle with the world-class cyclists competing in the race, as well as celebrity race fans and other local dignitaries. All of the professional cyclists competing in the 2010 Amgen Tour of California will attend the evening reception where the riders will be introduced on stage. Several of the best-known riders, many of whom have competed in the Tour de France and previous Amgen Tour of California races, will also be interviewed by well-known cycling analysts on stage.

“The opportunity to host the opening gala and official rider introduction is something we look forward to with great excitement,” said Steve Hammond, president and CEO of the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Not only will this event bring a substantial economic boost to this community, it also allows an opportunity to showcase Sacramento on a world stage by bringing some of the world’s best athletes to our city.”

The evening will include an elegant dinner by award-winning caterer Classique Catering, the team presentation, a variety of entertainment and the opportunity to bid on one-of-a-kind live and silent auction items.

The program will begin at 6 p.m. at the Memorial Auditorium.

For the event, there are two different ticket options – Red Jersey and Yellow Jersey. Red Jersey tickets are $300 each, or $2,500 for a table of 10. Yellow Jersey VIP/sponsored tables are $3,000 for a table of 10, and are closer to the stage and include an invitation to the VIP reception. A portion of the ticket price is tax deductable.

For tables and ticket information, contact Stacy Mello at 916-808-8984 or slmello@cityofsacramento.org. For additional information on weekend events, call the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau at 916-808-7777. For more information about the Amgen Tour of California, please visit www.AmgenTourofCalifornia.com.

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