Wisconsin's outdoor sports enthusiasts may have reason to celebrate next year, as ESPN has declared Madison a definite possibility to host next summer's Great Outdoor Games. The Outdoor Games, now in its fifth year, lasts for four days and features sports in four areas: fishing, sporting dogs, target shooting and timber sports.
\It's a fantastic opportunity to showcase what's great about our city,"" said Ald. Austin King, District 8.
According to Eric Lopez, assistant director of the games, the climate of Madison is perfectly suited to what the event requires.
""We look for open land that is close to water,"" Lopez said. ""Madison has the proper infrastructure to host an event of this size and nature.""
Wisconsin's atmosphere is also a positive factor, as many of the sports offered by the competition-such as timber sports and sporting dogs-are highly popular in the state and many Wisconsin residents have attended previous Outdoor Games.
""Wisconsin as a state is perfect for outdoorsmen and women,"" said Elizabeth Land, publicist for ESPN Outdoors. ""There's such a variety of things to do.""
Other benefits are Madison's proximity to larger cities such as Chicago and Milwaukee, and its positive track record with events, such as the Ironman competition.
""We are growing in terms of our ability to attract big events like this,"" King said.
The event would be economically beneficial to Madison, as the previous Outdoor Games have drawn an average of almost 60,000 spectators over a four-day period. Additionally, last year's competition received 17 hours of airtime on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2.
""The media exposure alone will do great things for Madison ... everything people hear about what goes on here-they like it."" King said.
If ESPN chooses Madison as home for the event, they would need several locations for all the activities. According to Park Superintendent Jim Morgan, the Alliant Energy Center could serve as a focal point of the contest, Quann Park for archery and shooting and Olin-Turnville Park for bass fishing.
Concerns about hosting so large an event are minimal.
""Certainly it might cause some traffic problems and noise disruption, but people who don't like it tend not to live in urban areas,"" King said.
While it is still too early to know for sure, the outlook for Madison is good. ""We're really hoping to do a deal here,"" Land said. ""It's a terrific town.\
