The 2000 Summer Gravity Games, which concluded Sunday
in Providence, RI, "exceeded expectations," as fans came to
the event's downtown venues "in droves, and organizers said
nearly everything went off without a hitch," according to
Shalise Manza of the PROVIDENCE JOURNAL. Gravity Games
Event Dir Wade Martin said that on Saturday, a Games-record
78,500 fans attended, which, projecting a similar number for
Sunday, would bring the event's nine-day total to 350,000.
Martin: "That's 50,000 more than what we expected. Our
goals were ambitious. We're very pleased." Martin and
Gravity Games Exec Dir Scott Seymour attributed the
increased crowds to this year's event being held in the
summer, rather than in September like last year. Other
contributing factors included good weather and "broad
awareness of the Games, helped by more advertising and
marketing of the event both locally and throughout the
region." Martin and Seymour said that "talks were held
towards keeping" the Games in Providence beyond next year,
the final year of the three-year contract (PROVIDENCE
JOURNAL, 7/24). Also in Providence, Doug Chapman noted that
last year's Games drew 200,000. Gravity Games PR
Coordinator Andy Erbelding: "School is out this time and the
weather has been very cooperative" (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL,
7/23). In Boston, Tony Chamberlain reported that the city
of Providence "opened itself up and [gave] the very heart of
downtown" to the Games. NBC Sports VP/Programming Jon
Miller said that the Games "represent the second largest
remote production next to the Summer Olympic Games" for the
network. Miller: "These are the sports that are growing."
Miller added that the Games will reach 100 million TV
viewers (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/21). NBC will air taped coverage
of the event beginning October 8 (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 7/24).
