Public Invited to Free Concert for NASCAR Hall of Fame Grand Opening
Country Music Trio Love and Theft to Headline
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (March 15, 2010 – 57 days until opening) – Race fans, tourists, Charlotte residents: All are invited to a full day of free fun May 11, 2010 outside the NASCAR Hall of Fame in uptown Charlotte, N.C., to celebrate its grand opening.
One of the highlights of the daylong event will be a free concert that evening on the Ceremonial Plaza headlined by country music trio Love And Theft, who are preparing to tour with country music superstars Tim McGraw and Lady Antebellum. The stop will be a homecoming for one member of the trio, Charlotte native Eric Gunderson, who grew up in the area and attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The band also features members Stephen Barker Liles, of Florida, and Texan Brian Bandas. Lyric Street recording artist Love and Theft’s debut album, World Wide Open, includes the hits “Runaway” and “Dancing In Circles.”
“I had the pleasure of seeing Love And Theft perform live at Sprint Sound and Speed in Nashville (Tenn.) this year,” said Winston Kelley, executive director of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. “I was not previously familiar with them, and I was absolutely blown away. They were fabulous! Our guests are in for a treat. This is a monumental day in NASCAR and Charlotte history, and it is our privilege to have such a talented trio join us.
“The free concert and all of the free outdoor activities are just small ways we can say thank you to the race fans, Charlotte residents, tourists, NASCAR community, local businesses, elected officials and everyone who has supported this project.”
Opening ceremonies begin at 9 a.m. EDT with all the pomp and circumstance expected of a national tourist attraction. The one-hour ceremony will culminate with NASCAR celebrities, elected officials and other dignitaries officially opening the 150,000-square-foot venue. The opening ceremony will be followed by free outdoor activities from 10 a.m. through the late evening. Activities will include NASCAR celebrities, question-and-answer sessions, strolling entertainment, food vendors, musical entertainment and more.
The star of the show that day will be the NASCAR Hall of Fame itself. Tickets to enter the high-tech, interactive attraction are on sale now and can be purchased at www.NASCARHall.com or by calling 877-231-2010. Tickets are $19.95 for adults, $17.95 for seniors and military, $12.95 for children 5-12, and free for children younger than 5. Memberships provide unlimited entry for one year and start at $25 for children and $50 for adults. Group discounts, facility rentals and sponsorships also are available by calling 704-654-4400.
Schedule of Events
9-10 a.m. Opening Ceremony in Ceremonial Plaza. Admission is free.
10 a.m.-8 p.m. NASCAR Hall of Fame hours of operation. Tickets on sale now.
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Outdoor activities in Ceremonial Plaza. Admission is free.
5-8 p.m. Concert in Ceremonial Plaza. Admission is free.
All Ceremonial Plaza activities that day are free to the public. The Ceremonial Plaza faces Martin Luther King Boulevard between Caldwell and Brevard. Guests are encouraged to use the Charlotte Area Transit System.
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About NASCAR Hall of Fame
Opening May 11, 2010 in uptown Charlotte, N.C., the 150,000-square-foot NASCAR Hall of Fame is an interactive, entertainment attraction honoring the history and heritage of NASCAR. The high-tech venue, designed to educate and entertain race fans and non-fans alike, includes artifacts, interactive exhibits, 275-person state-of-the-art theater, Hall of Honor, Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant, NASCAR Hall of Fame Gear Shop and NASCAR Media Group-operated broadcast studio. The five-acre site also includes a privately developed 19-story office tower and 102,000-square-foot expansion to the Charlotte Convention Center, highlighted by a 40,000 square-foot ballroom. The NASCAR Hall of Fame is owned by the City of Charlotte, licensed by NASCAR and operated by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. www.NASCARHall.com
About Love And Theft
After opening shows for Taylor Swift in 2008 and Jason Aldean in 2009, Love And Theft is gearing up to hit the road with Country music superstars Tim McGraw and Lady Antebellum in 2010. The trio will be busy promoting their recently released debut album, World Wide Open, which features the top 10 smash, "Runaway," and their rapidly rising single, "Dancing In Circles." Love And Theft has been featured on The Today Show, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Access Hollywood, in the pages of Country Weekly and People magazine and has had its music included in promos for ABC’s daytime programming. To learn more about Love And Theft, visit www.loveandtheft.com or follow the band on Twitter at www.twitter.com/lntweet.
About Lyric Street Records
Lyric Street Records is a part of the Disney Music Group. The Disney Music Group is the recorded music and music publishing arm of the Walt Disney Studios.