The ABA (American Bicycle Association) has signed a three-year extension to keep the ABA BMX Great Northwest Nationals bicycle motocross (BMX) competition at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond, Oregon.
The Great Northwest Nationals is part of the ABA’s national series, which spans across the U.S. and Canada. The 2009 event, presented by Team BMX Oregon and the Oregon Sports Authority, will be held at the Hooker Creek Event Center April 3-5.
The 2008 Great Northwest Nationals had more than 1,200 riders from across the country competing in numerous age divisions. Attendance for the three-day festival topped 8,000.
“The 2008 Great Northwest Nationals in the Hooker Creek Event Center at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds was amazing,” said John David, director of new track development of the ABA. “With record numbers in 2008, we are very excited about the continued growth and expansion of this great event for the next three years. This new multi-year agreement could not have been realized without the support of Team Oregon BMX and the Oregon Sports Authority,”
The Hooker Creek Event Center, a multi-purpose indoor arena, is the largest of the buildings at the fairgrounds with 279,000-or-so square feet of space. The complex has hosted more than 100 sporting and entertainment events each year, including professional sports, concerts, monster trucks and Supercross motorcycle racing.
“The excellent response from the Central Oregon community and the overwhelming turnout of riders from the American Bicycle Association in bringing the Great Northwest Nationals to Redmond made this a wonderful experience,” said Tracy Stephens of Team BMX Oregon. “Team BMX Oregon is proud to be part of hosting this event showcasing a fabulously exciting sport open to amateur and professional biking enthusiasts alike. There is truly no more beautiful a location than that of the Hooker Creek Event Center amidst the beautiful Cascades. We look forward to growing stronger and bigger as a sport and community in the upcoming years.”
The mission of the Oregon Sports Authority is to position the state of Oregon as the preferred location for select amateur and professional sports events, franchises and related activities in order to enhance the quality of life of Oregonians and to stimulate the state’s economy, officials said.
“We are delighted that the ABA BMX Great Northwest Nationals will be returning to Redmond for the next three years,” said Drew Mahalic, chief executive officer of the Oregon Sports Authority. “The event is a terrific opportunity for Oregonians to watch some of the top BMX racers in the country for free. We are looking forward to growing the sport of BMX in Oregon.”
The ABA, formed in 1977, is headquartered in Chandler, Arizona and is considered the sanctioning body of BMX. The organization organizes BMX racing for boys, girls and adults throughout the U.S. and Canada. With 60,000 active members, 274 racing facilities and a 27-event national race schedule, the ABA is one of the largest promoters of action sports.
To find local races or to view the national event schedule, visit ababmx.com.
