SPECIAL EVENT (HAMPTON, VA.) - Sports Grille Unveils Plans To Roll Into The Power Plant Of Hampton Roads

A popular NASCAR driver, the sanctioning body's president, and the Mayor of Hampton will be on hand at the Power Plant today at 11 a.m. to unveil the plans for the latest NASCAR Sports Grille.

The new NASCAR Sports Grille will be located at the Power Plant of Hampton Roads, Power Plant Parkway, Hampton Va., and is scheduled to open in May of 2008. It follows the successful inaugural NASCAR Sports Grille at Universal City Walk in Orlando, Florida, which opened its doors at the start of the 2007 season and a second location in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

J.J. Yeley, driver of the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Chevrolet, NASCAR President Mike Helton, and Hampton Mayor Ross Kearney will be introducing plans for an establishment anticipated to become the region's premier sports-oriented restaurant.

Fans in attendance at the Power Plant adjacent to McFadden’s Restaurant can enter for a chance to win tickets to the 2007 Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway (Sept. 8, ABC, 7 p.m.)

The unveiling begins at 11 a.m. sharp, followed by a meet and greet with NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver J.J. Yeley at McFadden’s Restaurant. The first 50 people will receive a free officially licensed NASCAR Sports Grille die-cast and a tee shirt.

“It’s often said that being a NASCAR fan is being part of a community,” NASCAR President Mike Helton said. “That community is part of our tradition and heritage, which is very important to NASCAR. In May, 2008, Tidewater’s NASCAR community will be able to gather at the NASCAR Sports Grille to watch races and debate their favorite drivers and teams. We are proud to partner with The Cordish Company to bring this opportunity to NASCAR fans in the Hampton area.”

NASCAR Sports Grille is a partnership between NASCAR and an affiliate of The Cordish Company, Entertainment Concept Investors, Inc. The Hampton location will combine quality design and finishes, great food and service, and state-of-the-art audio visual attractions for the passionate sports fan. The newest NASCAR Sports Grille will boast the largest media wall in the area, booth-side interactive plasma screens in high definition, and interactive speed simulators and games. Museum-quality NASCAR memorabilia and artwork will provide additional décor along with a retail shop featuring NASCAR and NASCAR Sports Grille merchandise. In addition, NASCAR Sports Grille will become an ideal location for client entertainment, social gatherings, casual get-togethers and more.

"NASCAR Sports Grille is a high-quality restaurant serving as a world-class gathering place for the tremendously loyal NASCAR faithful and anyone with a passion for sports, good food, and a great time," said Reed Cordish, Vice President. "We hope to build on our successes in Orlando and Myrtle Beach with a great NASCAR Sports Grille here in Hampton."

Entertainment Concept Investors, Inc. ("ECI"), the restaurant and club division of the Cordish Company, designs, builds, owns, and operates restaurant, lounge, and live entertainment concepts throughout the United States. ECI operates a variety of concepts in approximately thirty markets across the United States, often placing them together in synergistic entertainment districts.

ECI has licensed several leading national and international brands in this expansion including Hard Rock and Hard Rock Live and assumed exclusive international food and beverage rights for brands such as NASCAR and Maker's Mark. In 2005 ECI debuted Makers Mark Bourbon House & Lounge in Louisville, Ky. and in 2006 opened the premier NASCAR Sports Grille at Universal City Walk in Orlando, Florida, as well as a variety of restaurant and entertainment concepts ranging from the sleek chef driven Vin (Towson, Md. & Houston, Texas) to the stylish Mosaic Lounge (Baltimore, Md. & Houston, Texas). In addition, ECI will be unveiling a new premium movie theater and restaurant venue, The Mainstreet Theater, in partnership with AMC Theaters.

In live entertainment, ECI developed the 3,000 seat Verizon live performance venue in Houston, TX with SFX/Clear Channel; the 6,000 seat Pier 6 outdoor amphitheatre in Baltimore, Md.; a 1,600 person venue in Baltimore, Md., and a 5,000 capacity venue in live entertainment venue in Hollywood, Fla. Presently, ECI is adding a 5,000 capacity venue to a major development in Toronto, Woodbine Live!, a 1,500 capacity venue as a part of Ballpark Village with the St. Louis Cardinals, as well as a 3,000 capacity venue in Kansas City, Mo. as part of the Power & Light District.