2002: LEANN RIMES AT THUNDER
2002-03-27T10:44:10
NEW THUNDER SPONSOR TO MAKE SHOW SIZZLE
Tricon joins Thunder, bringing added attractions to event
March 27, 2002. Louisville, KY. The Kentucky Derby Festival is pleased to announce the addition of a sixth major corporate sponsor of Thunder Over Louisville. Derby Festival and Tricon officials today released details of added attractions to the Festival’s Opening Ceremonies: Thunder Over Louisville, to be held April 20. Tricon joins Caesars Indiana, Ford Motor Company, Radio One, Thornton Oil Corporation and United Parcel Service as the major sponsors of the region’s largest annual event.
“It’s tremendously gratifying that another major corporation has stepped forward to show its support of Thunder, and of our local community,” said Derby Festival President and CEO Michael E. Berry. “It was only about six weeks ago that the entire show was in jeopardy. Now, thanks to the generosity of Tricon, the show will not only go on, it will include some special features that will blow the show out of the water.”
"Tricon is delighted to become one of the primary sponsors of the 2002 Kentucky Derby Festival Opening Ceremonies, Thunder Over Louisville," said David Novak, Chairman and CEO, Tricon Global Restaurants, Inc. "Our sponsorship will give Louisville a Thunder first. Tricon is thrilled to bring Grammy Award-winner LeAnn Rimes to perform at a special pre-fireworks concert. In addition, we’re adding a red, white and blue light show on the bridge to compliment the patriotic theme. Thunder promises to be a show that Tricon employees and the community will be proud of," added Novak.
Tricon’s sponsorship allows the Derby Festival to enhance its Opening Ceremonies by adding a patriotic light show to originate from the Second Street Bridge. The red, white and blue computerized lights will heighten the spectacle and add a dimension to the show that will extend along both sides of the bridge. This special feature has not been seen since the Festival’s 1998 Opening Ceremonies. Tricon’s sponsorship of the event allows the Festival to bring back an attraction that otherwise would not have been possible.
Tricon’s sponsorship also makes possible the addition of a first-time attraction for Thunder – “The Spirit of America Stage.” This floating stage on the Ohio River will appear as part of the “Parade of Thunder” fireworks barges and will showcase Grammy Award-winning singer LeAnn Rimes. At the conclusion of the air show, directly preceding the fireworks, Rimes will perform a short set of live music. During this time, a large American flag will be towed by helicopter above the crowd.
The stage will include a “concert quality” light show and fireworks at the conclusion of the artist’s set. Rimes’ performance will be heard throughout the Thunder venue over a 425,000-watt Thunder sound system. The “mini-concert” will also be included within the Thunder TV program and broadcast live on Radio One stations. In addition, it will be broadcast on July 4, 2002, to more than 800,000 U.S. military personnel stationed all over the world via the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.
Thunder Over Louisville will be held this year for the 13th time. It features the latest in pyrotechnic technology, with products from fireworks manufacturers from around the globe. Last year, an estimated 500,000 to 700,000 people lined both sides of the Ohio River to watch the all-day event. The Thunder Air Show is ranked among the top five air shows in the nation.
This has been a challenging year for Thunder Over Louisville. The events of Sept. 11, the uncertain economy, and questions about whether air shows would be permitted nationally had made fund-raising and event-planning difficult. Said Berry: “Times have been tough lately, but thanks to the significant contributions of our corporate community, the public will be treated to a truly sensational Thunder in 2002. Never before has there been so much to celebrate.”
Thunder Over Louisville – the Derby Festival’s Opening Ceremonies – is one of the more than seventy events produced by the Derby Festival in the spring. The Derby Festival is an independent community organization supported by 4,000 volunteers, 325 businesses and civic groups, Pegasus Pin sponsorships and event participation. It entertains more than 1.5 million people in a two- week period and has a local economic impact of more than $90 million. Thunder alone contributes $31 million to both sides of the Ohio River. This involvement has made the Festival the largest single attended event in Kentucky and one of the leading community celebrations in the world.
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