Saginaw makes formal Memorial Cup bid

The Saginaw Spirit Memorial Cup delegation presented their bid for the 2008 CHL Memorial Cup today to the Memorial Cup Host Site Selection Committee.

The host site for the 2008 Memorial Cup will be announced the week of May 7.

The Spirit delegation included Spirit president and managing partner Craig Goslin, VP of operations Cameron Knowles and VP of sales Brian Prout. The delegation also included Saginaw County Convention and Visitors Bureau president & CEO Annette Rummel and director of tourism Lori Amo. Dow Event Center GM Zane Collings also participated.

“The presentation was flawless,” stated Goslin. “Cameron, Brian, Annette, Lori and Zane hit on all cylinders. The presentation did nothing but enhance our opportunity to host the 2008 Memorial Cup in Saginaw. It's still a long shot (for Saginaw to host the event), but we put our best foot forward in representing the Saginaw and Mid-Michigan community.”

Goslin highlighted the future growth of the OHL into the American marketplace and the impact a Saginaw-based Memorial Cup would have on that growth. Knowles followed with an overview of the demographics and geographic environment of the region and then Rummel discussed the many travel, lodging and entertainment options available in Mid-Michigan. Collings highlighted the Dow Event Center and its three first-class facilities – the arena, the hall and the theater.

Goslin closed the presentation with a preview of next year's Spirit roster and invited the committee to join the Saginaw community in 2008 for the Memorial Cup.

The voting members of the Host Site Selection Committee include former Major League Baseball CEO Paul Beeston, former NHL Director of Central Scouting Frank Bonello, NHL consultant Brian O'Neill and NHL senior VP of hockey operations Jim Gregory.

The Spirit submitted a request to bid on the Memorial Cup on February 5. On March 6, the team was approved by the Host Site Selection Committee to make a formal bid. The other OHL teams bidding on the Memorial Cup are the Kitchener Rangers, London Knights, Oshawa Generals and Sarnia Sting.