NATIONAL WESTERN EVENTS CENTER TO HOST "SATURDAY AT THE SUMMIT"

Denver -- Mayor Wellington E. Webb, Congresswoman Diana DeGette, and Denver Summit Executive Director Debbie Willhite today announced that the National Western Events Center will be the location for a major entertainment called "Saturday at the Summit" for the eight world leaders during the Denver Summit of the Eight. The event will be held Saturday evening, June 21, 1997.

"The National Western Events Center carries a well-known western tradition as the home of the National Western Stock Show and is host to thousands of international visitors each year," Mayor Webb said. "While the details of the entertainment have not yet been announced, "Saturday at the Summit" will provide the city with the opportunity to highlight one of our most well-known and cherished facilities."

"Its very appropriate that the gala will take place at the National Western Complex, where it will showcase a unique and important aspect of Denver both past and present," said Congresswoman Diana DeGette.

"The National Western Events Center will play a significant role in the overall context of the Summit," Debbie Willhite, Executive Director of the Denver Summit of the Eight said. "Traditionally, the Saturday night event allows the host country to highlight its culture, entertainment and its hospitality to the world's leaders. We are confident that the National Western will be up to the task of hosting this spectacular event."

Sharon Magness, International Ambassador for TCI and Jean Galloway, Vice President, Community Affairs for KUSA TV, are the co-chairs of "Saturday at the Summit." Harry Thomasson, an internationally known TV producer, will be the Executive Producer for "Saturday at the Summit." Thomasson and his wife, Linda Bloodworth Thomasson, are known for the critically acclaimed television programs Evening Shade, Designing Women and Hearts of Fire among others. The Thomassons also produced the movies The Man from Hope and A Place Called America which were featured at the 1992 and 1996 Democratic Conventions.

The National Western Events Center is a state of the art facility that was built in 1994 as an addition to the National Western Complex. It was part of a $30 million bond issue fund that was passed by Denver voters in 1988. The facility covers five and a half acres. The main arena has over 5,000 stadium style seats for patrons and when chairs are set on the floor, the seating capacity is raised to almost 7,500 people.

The Events Center has been host to a variety of activities including the Volunteers of America fund raiser and such famous acts as Kenny Rogers, John Denver, and Alabama. It has also hosted boat and camper shows as well as major horse shows. In addition, it has been the site of various conventions and meetings for Fortune 500 companies across the United States.

In addition, the National Western Complex has a rich western tradition of hosting one of the world's largest stock show exhibits. Each January, thousands of persons from around the globe come to Denver to attend this traditional western event. The first National Western Stock Show was held in 1906 in a tent on the present grounds. The National Western Complex now covers 80 acres and is only 35 minutes from DIA and 10 minutes from downtown Denver.

This press release was issued by the City of Denver Summit Host Committee on May 24.