FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ShoWare Center Wins “Green Washington” Award
from Seattle Business Magazine

KENT, Wash. – September 24, 2010 – Kent’s ShoWare Center, was named the winner of Seattle Business Magazine’s “Green Washington” award in the sports arena category.  One of 13 winners, ShoWare Center was chosen from over 100 nominees for demonstrating leadership, innovation and commitment to sustaining the environment.  The award was presented at Bell Harbor International Conference Center in Seattle Thursday, September 23 at a special event honoring all finalists.

“I’m extremely proud of this achievement,” said Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke.  “Receiving this award reaffirms our efforts to balance economic development with being good stewards of the environment.  We couldn’t have done this without the strong collaboration among our entire team.  It’s also pretty cool to be in the good company of the other finalists, Seattle Mariners & First & Goal, the operators of Qwest Field.”

Parterning with the City of Kent were LMN Architects, Mortenson Construction, Paladino & Company, Shiels Obletz Johnsen and the Seattle Thunderbirds.

ShoWare Center is the first sports and entertainment facilities in North America to receive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Highlights of ShoWare Center’s green features include:

• Premium parking for fuel-efficient vehicles and car and vanpools
• Low-flowing water fixtures and dual-flush toilets exceed 40% water savings when compared to similar buildings
• Native plant landscaping that doesn’t require watering
• Energy efficient lighting, heating, cooling, ventilation and ice-making equipment reducing energy use by over 37%
• More than 90% of the construction debris was recycled
• Constructed using more than 50% Forest Stewardship Council certified wood
• Low volatile organic compound paints and adhesives were used to minimize indoor contaminants that exacerbate respiratory problems
• Excess heat rejected from the ice-making equipment is used to warm the ground under the ice rink to maintain the integrity of the foundation

Additional information on ShoWare Center’s green building features and images are available at www.showarecenter.com.

Contact:

Michelle Witham, City of Kent
253-856-5709
mwitham@ci.kent.wa.us

Kent fans & friends, attend the October 6 business expo to meet Kent businesses, sample bites from local restaurants, meet political candidates, get goodie bags and more!

The Kent Chamber of Commerce is hosting a business expo at ShoWare Center on Wed., October 6 (11:00 am to 6:30 pm) . With approximately 90 exhibitors, the event will include an expo, election forum luncheon (11:30 am – 1:00 pm) and Taste of Kent (4:30 pm to 6:30 pm). Admission is free* and the public is invited to attend.

Kent Business Expo
ShoWare Center (625 w. James St.,  Kent, WA 98030)
Wed., October 6
11 am – 6:30 pm

Booths 11 am – 6:30 pm

Election Forum Luncheon* 11:30 am – 1 pm

Taste of Kent 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm

For more information, contact the Kent Chamber of Commerce. The election forum is $30/person.

Congratulations to all of Kent’s graduating seniors! Here are a few of the local ceremonies planned.

June 10:

Kent Phoenix Academy (7 pm)
11000 SE 264th St., Kent

June 11:

Kent Mountain View Academy (6 pm)
Kent-Meridian HS East Wing Auditorium

June 12:

ShoWare Center, 625 W. James St.

Kentlake High School (9:30 am)
Kentridge High School (12:30 pm)
Kent Meridian High School (4 pm)
Kentwood High School (7:30 pm)

Pull out your sneakers, grab your basketball and head to the Showare parking lot for the Showare Shootout, “South King County’s Premier 3 on 3 basketball event”.  On Saturday and Sunday August 7-8 the Showare Center in Downtown Kent will let people from all walks of life bring it on.  Featuring  age divisions for men, women, seniors, kids and wheelchair there is a game for anyone to get in on the action.

Players who advance through the first round will have the opportunity to play for the championship.  The entry fee is $100 per team for any division and includes a guarantee of four games, a T-shirt and trophy if your team makes the championship game of the division. A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated back to Kent Youth and Family Services.  Sign up soon because the entry deadline is July 10. Visit Showare Shootout’s website for complete rules and information.

Kent Downtown Partnership (KDP) hosts its next Downtown Breakfast Hour on Friday, June 4 at the ShoWare Center’s Club Lounge (625 W. James St., Kent).

Networking begins at 7:15 a.m., followed by Mayor Suzette Cooke’s thought for the day, an update from the City of Kent, a rundown on KDP’s upcoming events, safety & security committee information and community starz awards. In addition, Kirk Davis from GRCC’s Small Development Center and Mark Albertson (Albertson Law) will present “Out Compete, Get More Customers.”

For more info. or to RSVP, contact KDP at 253-813-6976 or via email.

This KDP event is being sponsored by:

Suzanne Cameron, Around the Clock, Inc.
Roland & Company, CPA PS
Judy Woods, Friend of Kent Downtown Partnership

May 20 Update–Event postponed until October. Stay tuned for  more details!

Battle of the Chefs:  May 23, 11 am to 6 pm

Healthy cooking does not have to be boring!

The Healthy Edge and All About Hope are teaming up to bring health & fitness and cooking fans together to witness Battle of the Chefs, a live cooking competition that challenges local chefs to cook up tasty, healthy dishes without table salt, butter or cream. See if they can accomplish it from 11 am to 6 pm at the ShoWare Center in Kent.

Tickets start at $15/each and, at the buyer’s discretion, $5 of the ticket price can be allocated to a participating nonprofit organizations like the Children’s Therapy Center, Kent Youth & Family Services, National MS Society and more. Click here to buy tickets online now.

Friday, May 7, 2010
6 to 10 pm
Wine, Women, Wow @ ShoWare Center

Don’t miss this fun event filled with wine, women and fun, all to benefit the Kent Downtown Partnership and WWEE. For details including ticket prices and locations, visit the WOW website or call KDP at 253-813-6976.

In a press release from the Kent Predators’ Jim Granacker, Director of Operations, the Kent Predators defeated its in-state rival the Tri-Cities Fever last night with a score of 55-49. Game highlights include QB Charles McCullum (pictured at right) accumulating 288 yards of offense (126 rushing yards, 164 passing yards) and four touchdown passes. McCullum also ran in three TD himself. The Kent Predators are now 1-3 in the Pacific North Division of the IFL.

Other highlights:

WR Eric Taylor – 5 passes for 102 yards and 2 touchdowns
DL Armand Wallace – 4 sacks
QB Charles McCullum – 10 for 13

The team’s next home game is scheduled for Friday, April 9 at 7:30 pm at the ShoWare Center. Visit the team’s website for tickets or call the team office at 253-239-3254.

Read the full press release here.

The Kent Predators played their first home game last night at the Showare Center.  The Indoor Football League welcomed the Predators this year with much support from the Kent community.  The IFL is different than NFL; a few rules vary, the field is smaller and the action is much more in your face.  If you are lucky enough to sit in the first row you will have a great chance of touching Eric Taylor,wide receiver, as he runs past or KJ McCrae tackles another player up against the wall.   If you are seated in the back, footballs fly your way after kicker, Justin Miller kicks off the ball and that ball become a great souvenir.  You feel as if you are part of the game.

Although defeated, the Predators played a good game with a lot of action.  They played the now 3-0 Fairbanks Grizzlies. The first half started out rough but they came back with a vengeance.  Unfortunately it was not enough, with a score of 57-42 the Predators fell short.  The Predators are currently 0-3 but with a few games behind them the chemistry is heating up and we see many great games ahead.

Contributed by Larissa Long

On Thursday, March 4, the Kent Downtown Partnership hosted a property owners and commercial real estate agents’ meeting at Bittersweet Restaurant. Sponsored by Valley Bank, the breakfast meeting drew about 55 community members including downtown property owners, commercial brokers, property representatives, business owners, city officials and KDP board members. The mood was enthusiastic and participants were eager to hear what the city is working on in terms of economic development in downtown Kent.

After a welcoming statement from Valley Bank’s Mike Miller and the introduction of participants, Kent’s Economic Development Director Ben Wolters took the floor to discuss the city’s recent successes. He noted the Regional Justice Center, Kent Station, the rail station and ShoWare Center as having been some of the area’s most significant recent developments.

“The city has tried to attract businesses that are game changers,” Wolters said.

He further noted that the ShoWare Center has only been open for 15 months, and has already attracted more than 400,000 visitors to its hockey games, concerts, business fairs and other community events. These numbers are likely to escalate with the addition of the Kent Predators, Kent’s new IFL expansion team. The Predators play their first home game at ShoWare Center on Friday, March 12.

“Looking forward, the city is looking at another game changing opportunity,” Wolters added.

The targeted project is to build a facility for the Federal Aviation Administration which could potentially bring 2,000 employees to Kent – within half a mile of the downtown core. Currently, a dozen municipalities are competing to be considered. The first phase of the process is submitting a letter of interest to the GSA and FAA. The City of Kent has done that and hopes to provide a more detailed proposal in May. If the city advances to the next level of the bidding process, the city will make a presentation and proposal in August, with the final decision coming in December.
Other key projects in the works include Tarragon’s expansion of Green River Community College at Kent Station.

“Tarragon just completed a huge expansion of GRCC, with hundreds of new students, and a lot of energy, excitement and new opportunities,” Wolters said.

He also gave an update on the half-completed parking garage at Smith and Fourth which he called “an incredible legal soap opera.” The property is now in the hands of Washington Federal Savings. To date, there has been some interest in buying that space for office use, but there is no time frame for resolving the issue, developing that property or selling it.

Another meeting highlight included the city’s completion of Town Square Plaza which was an attempt to bridge the historic downtown district with Kent Station. Wolters noted there is still a gap between the two areas, but the city is hoping to do more integration. Wolters also commented that First Avenue is becoming a destination in downtown Kent, with its own personality and flavor.

Wolters said, “It shows what is possible in the rest of downtown if property owners and businesses come together. We are changing the market perception of this place.”

Wolters opened the meeting for questions and comments, and invited property owners to voice their concerns as well as the potential for opportunities. Participants asked about the status of the Howard Hanson Dam, potential flood risk, lack of parking, need for additional ball fields and an aquatic center, the Farmer’s Market, the need for housing in downtown Kent and more.

“What is the long-term vision for downtown Kent?” asked Paul Morford. “The city needs to take on parking. It needs to increase parking on a large scale.”

Wolters wrapped up the meeting by inviting participants to contact him directly with their concerns and ideas. A follow-up meeting is planned for later this spring. To offer your input, contact Ben Wolters at 253-856-5703 or via email.

Friday, February 12, 2010 — Today Indoor Football League Commissioner Tommy Benizio officially kicked off the 2010 IFL season at Kent’s ShoWare Center, home of the Kent Predators, one of two new IFL expansion teams.

“This is a great game and we can’t wait to unveil it,” Commissioner Benizio said. “We are real pleased to grow here in Kent.”

Benizio was one of half a dozen speakers at today’s press conference called by the Kent Predators to introduce Benizio, Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke, owners Chris Kokalis and Ken Moninski, VP of Football Operations Brian Brents, Head Coach William McCarthy, the Kent Predators football team and dance team.

“Welcome Kent,” Mayor Cooke said. “We are going to be a great team together. I love wolves and I love purple. We’re going to beat everybody!”

Ken Moninski, co-owner of the team, said the team is excited to call the new ShoWare Center home and welcomed everyone to come watch the fan-friendly game.

“We’re going to make the city proud,” he said. “The support here is phenomenal. We’ll have a very successful season on and off the field.”

Co-owner Kokalis agreed, citing the team’s commitment to the City of Kent and his enthusiasm about the staff, players, team and community partnerships.

“We’re going to make Kent the best community in the state of Washington,” Kokalis added.

Brents, who took the El Paso Generals to a 12 and 2 season in 2009, serves as the Kent Predators VP of Football Operations. He, too, showed his support of the team and community.

“This is exciting, y’all!”

One of Brents’ first tasks was to hire head coach William McCarthy, who previously served as assistant coach to the El Paso Generals. McCarthy said the community would love the fast-paced game and encouraged the crowd to attend the team’s first practice during training camp this Sunday at Wilson Playfields (132nd and 248th on Kent’s East Hill).

Defensive back Kevin Jones, who played football for Kentwood High School, said he is anxious to start the season.

“We’re playing this game not just for ourselves but for the whole community,” Jones said. “I’m glad to be home!”

The team’s first game is an away game on February 28 against the Billings Outlaws, the 2009 defending champions of the United Bowl. The Predators’ first home game will be at ShoWare Center on Friday, March 12.

“We’d like to put a sellout here,” Kokalis said.

For more information about the Kent Predators, visit the team online or contact Jim Granacker, VP of operations, at 253-239-3254.

Kent Predators Receiver Eric "Shampoo" Taylor and Mayor Suzette Cooke

In a press release from Jim Granacker, director of operations for the Kent Predators, the Kent Predators announced that the community and media are invited to attend a press conference this Friday, February 12 at ShoWare Center to meet members of the front office and coaching staff, including team owners Chris Kokalis and Ken Moninski, VP of football operations and Predators head coach William McCarthy. The group will discuss their first season which kicks off with its first home game on Friday, March 12. In addition, Mayor Suzette Cooke will be available to answer questions regarding how the Predators’ presence in Kent will affect the community.

Also making an appearance is IFL Commissioner Tommy Benizio who will officially kick-off the league’s season tomorrow.

“Heading into the league’s second season, the IFL has quickly established itself as the nation’s premier indoor football league,” he stated in the February 10 press release.  “I am very excited to come to Kent to announce the kickoff of the 2010 campaign and to watch the Predators compete in our Pacific North Division this year.”

The Indoor Football League (IFL) was started in 2008 from a merger between the Intense Football League and United Indoor Football Association. Two years later, the IFL consists of 25 teams in 13 states in six divisions. The IFL season is 14-games long and the season’s regular schedule runs from March through June. The season ends with playoffs in August, followed by the IFL United Bowl.

Refreshments will be served at 2:30 pm as informal announcements are made. The question and answer session will begin promptly at 3:00 pm.

For more information, contact Jim Granacker at 253-239-3254 or via email.

That’s right!  The famous Harlem Globetrotters make their moves at the Showare Center on Friday, February 19, 2010 at 7pm.

Remember going to a game with your dad when you were five years old; that game made basketball the most amazing sport that you had ever seen.  They are still around and still making those amazing trick shots.  In 2009 they made an appearance on the Bachelorette where they showed the guys up by wowing Jillian Harris with their smooth moves.

They always put on a great show.  It’s so much more than a sporting event.  This is a show you don’t want to miss.  As they say, “Our greatest trick is bringing families together.

For more information or to purchase tickets go to visit the Harlem Globetrotters or  Showare Center’s website.

Mickey Fay presents NW Extreme Flat Track Racing Saturday, April 17 @ 7:00PM.

Saturday, April 17, 7pm

TICKETS:

$23 – GOLD (Club & Rows 2-4)
$17 – Reserved
$10   – Reserved Youth (under 12, not valid for Gold Seating)

Plus applicable fees.
Special PRESALE Opportunity: Reserve your seats today, before they go on sale to the general public on February 12, 10am.   PRESALE Password – “FAST”

FOR TICKETS CLICK HERE

DISCOUNTS FOR GROUPS OF 10 or MORE:
Call Chris at 253-856-6723 or email groups@ShoWareCenter.com

The fifth annual Wine, Women, Wow is planned for Friday, May 7 (6-10 p.m.) at the ShoWare Center. Event chair Libby Seidel of the Kent Downtown Partnership is now accepting applications for:

• Vendors
• Restaurants
• Event sponsors

Please contact Libby at KDP for an application (253-813-6976). See you May 7!

According to a press release issued today by Michelle Witham of the City of Kent, Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke will deliver her annual “State of the City” address on Wed., February 3 at 11:30 a.m. This year’s luncheon will be held at the ShoWare Center during the monthly Kent Chamber luncheon.

The mayor, who is beginning her second term in office, will focus on public safety, the local economy and quality of life for Kent residents. In addition, she will discuss highlights and accomplishments from 2009.

The cost per person is $20 which includes lunch. For those who can’t attend the event, it will be broadcast on Comcast Channel 21 and online at Kent TV 21.

For more information, visit the Kent Chamber online. To RSVP for the luncheon, contact Marge Williams at 253-854-1770.

Kent, Washington, December 17 — Today Kent Predators‘ director of operations Jim Granacker held a “meet and greet” session at ShoWare Center to talk to members of the community and to explain who the Kent Predators are and hope to become.  The new team is one of 26 in the Indoor Football League (IFL), along with newbie team the Green Bay Blizzard.

“Indoor football is fast-paced tackle football,” Granacker explained at the meeting.

Kent was one of three top choices for the fledgling team (Everett, WA and Wasilla, AK were the other two options), but Kent prevailed because the ShoWare Center seemed an ideal venue for the IFL. Tryouts for the team begin this weekend in Tacoma. From there, team organizers will travel to various locations around the country until 45 potential players are identified. Those 45 will go to training camp and eventually be whittled down to a group of 30 players, including the practice team.

Players must be at least 18 years old to participate, but there is no age maximum. The average player ranges from 21 to 27 years of age, according to Granacker who previously worked with the LaCrosse Spartans, an IFL team in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

The team’s season will kick off on March 12 at ShoWare Center with seven games played at home. Team members will receive compensation of $225 per week, plus a $25 “win bonus” per game. In addition, most will work part-time jobs in the Kent area to support themselves.

Granacker said the Kent Predators are not just a football team; they plan to become community partners as well, hosting fundraisers and getting involved in local nonprofits. To date, the team has identified three key causes to partner with including Pediatric Interim Care Center, Dynamic Family Services and Kent Youth and Family Services.

“We want to find the balance between winning football games and community outreach,” Granacker said.

The team’s community support will include working with local high schools, perhaps sharing the proceeds of game-night 50/50 raffles.

For more information about Kent Predators, visit their website or contact Granacker at 253-239-3254. For ticket information, send an email to the ticket office.

From Kent Predators, December 7, 2009

PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL COMING TO KENT TEAM TO BE INTRODUCED AT 3:30 PRESS CONFERENCE

Professional football is coming to the Pacific Northwest. The Kent Predators, an expansion professional football franchise, will begin play in the Indoor Football League (IFL) beginning in March of 2010. The team is excited to be working with SMG in securing ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington as its home facility.

The Predators will hold a news conference today Monday, December 7th at 3:30 pm at the ShoWare Center to introduce the franchise and members of the ownership group.

“We are extremely excited. This area eats and breathes football and the ShoWare Center is a first class facility,” said Chris Kokalis, Predators President and co owner. “The important thing for us to do is get involved in the community. Being active and involved in the community is equally as important as wins and losses for our organization.” The Predators have entered into good faith negotiations with SMG in coordination with the City of Kent for the purpose of securing a lease agreement.

The Indoor Football League (www.goifl.com) is a 26-team league based out of Richmond, Virginia with franchises in 13 states. Kent becomes the second Washington franchise for the IFL joining the Tri-Cities Fever. The league holds a 14-game regular season schedule that runs March through June. The IFL’s playoffs culminate in August with the IFL United Bowl. The Predators will host a seven game home schedule. Games will be played on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The IFL schedule is expected to be released within the next week.

The Predators are co-owned by Chris Kokalis & Ken Moninski. Moninski is the Owner/President of Seattle based company Global Aircraft Services, an aviation services company providing flight crews and logistics for the managed movement of commercial aircraft around the world. Global was named an Inc. 5,000 company in 2009, recognizing its growth in supporting the world’s leading aircraft leasing companies and fastest growing airlines. He has gained experience in a variety of business functions during his over 20 years working in the airline industry. Serving in senior management positions at Evergreen International Aviation and Virgin Atlantic Airways, he led several airport infrastructure projects and joint-venture initiatives in North America, China and Spain. In the 1990s he was also a founder and board member of a new entrant regional airline in Colorado. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks and is a volunteer with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters mentoring program. Kokalis has a lengthy resume within professional sports. He has held a variety of administrative, marketing and sales positions with teams such as the Minnesota Thunder, Milwaukee Rampage, Milwaukee Bonecrushers and Los Angeles Dodgers. Kokalis and Moninski are also co owners of the La Crosse Spartans an IFL franchise in La Crosse, WI along with Wisconsin businessman Bob Sullivan.

“I know that ShoWare Center is the perfect venue for professional indoor football. I am grateful for the support of SMG and the city of Kent and look forward to an exciting inaugural season at the ShoWare Center” said Moninski. Football fans will have the opportunity to learn more about the Predators – and reserve season tickets – with the launch of the team’s website, www.kentpredators.com, on Monday.

For more information, contact Chris Kokalis at 651-210-5617.

If you haven’t been to ShoWare Center yet or to a Seattle Thunderbirds game, you are missing a world-class facility and a fun night out. If you have a group of 10 or more, you can get $6 off each ticket for the T-Birds home games on 12/27 and 12/30. Just call the box office at 253-239-7825 for more info.

T-BIRDS AND PARTNERS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR LAKEWOOD POLICE INDEPENDENT GUILD THROUGH ONLINE TICKETS SALES TO DECEMBER 11 GAME

Kent, December 3, 2009 - The Seattle Thunderbirds have partnered with the City of Kent, the Kent Police Department, ShoWare Center and radio stations Q-Country 102.9 FM (KNBQ) and Funky Monkey 104.9 FM (KFNK) to raise funds for the Lakewood Police Independent Guild.

The T-Birds will donate 100% of ticket revenue from online ticket sales between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Wednesday, December 9, to the game against the Tri- City Americans on Friday, December 11, to the Guild.

“We are looking forward to supporting the Guild and encourage our fans to let family and friends know about this worthwhile fundraising event,” said T-Birds owner and general manager Russ Farwell. “We hope it is an overwhelming success and we sell out the ShoWare Center, raising as much money as possible for the family of these fallen heroes.”

“We could not undertake this fundraiser without the help of the City of Kent, the Kent Police Department, ShoWare Center and Q-Country and the Funky Monkey. We were all completely shocked by what happened in Lakewood and hope to help as best we can.”

Q-Country and Funky Monkey will be providing air time to run commercials promoting this fundraiser.

“Words cannot express our grief for the families and friends of the four fallen Lakewood Police Officers,” said Shellie Hart, Program Director for KNBQ and KFNK. “Hopefully our actions will as we reach out to our audiences for their thoughts, prayers and support.”

The T-Birds will have a very identifiable graphic at the top of their home page on Wednesday, December 9, that fans will be able to click on to purchase tickets to the game against the Americans.