Boyd Gaming today announced it will continue its title sponsorship of Unlimited Air Racing at Aviation Nation, the Nellis AFB Las Vegas Air Show, scheduled for November 15-16, 2003. Last year's inaugural event drew approximately 500,000 spectators, with demonstrations of Las Vegas- style Unlimited Air Racing presented by Boyd Gaming ranking as the highest billed civilian event of the air show weekend.

"We are extremely pleased to continue as title sponsor of this dramatic and exciting aerial competition that is one of the world's most spectacular events," says Dan Stark, Director of Marketing for Boyd Gaming Corporation. "Las Vegas is quickly becoming the home of the most visible air show in the world and its air racing component, now the largest outside of the national championships in Reno, are one of the weekend's show stoppers. The event has had a significant impact on the city, and one that we feel will only continue to grow."

According to a post-event study administered by McGuire Research, the 2002 Aviation Nation Air Show was the largest attended event in Nevada in 2002, and is projected to exceed its attendance totals for 2003. Its two-day economic impact of more than $36 million was the second-highest total for a Las Vegas event, but ranked first when its economic impact was judged against other public events on a per day basis.

More than half of out-of-state air show visitors polled stated their primary purpose for the trip to Las Vegas was to attend the event.

"Aviation Nation is an all-American air show second to none," said Bob Jones, acting Aviation Nation air show director. "The events planned in 2003 center around past, present, and the future of powered flight and commemorate 50 years of superb precision flying by our own hometown Thunderbirds. This awesome exhibit of American airpower wouldn't be possible without the support of the community and organizations such as Boyd Gaming."

Air shows currently rank as North America's second-largest spectator sport, behind Major League Baseball, and ahead of NASCAR and the National Football League. In 2003, their popularity is expected to expand, as nationwide they prepare special tributes acknowledging the amazing achievements of a Century of Powered Flight.

"In 2003, we estimate Aviation Nation will be seen in person at Nellis AFB by more than half a million fans, and viewed by tens of millions more through a series of media outlets," says Bob Avery, president of World of Wings, one of the lead agencies working with Nellis Air Force Base air show organizers on this year's event. "During this milestone year in aviation history it is appropriate that we not only honor the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds on their 50th anniversary, but also salute all of the service men and women currently serving around the world, protecting our freedoms."

World of Wings is the promotional agent for the Nevada International Air Show Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of public awareness of American air power. In this role, WoW is responsible for sponsorships, marketing, media, production and promotion of Aviation Nation, the Nellis AFB-Las Vegas Air Show.

Anyone who has not seen the Thunderbirds perform, they should at least once. They are "awesome" Wendell

It is an awesome show, I'm glad they do it for the public on the weekend, when I'm off from work. Trying to get through the half million spectators to get to to work is not my idea of fun.

We do get to see all the flying activities the week leading up to the big weekend, when all the demonstration teams arrive and do practice shows over Nellis in preperation for the weekend event.

Cajun, do you know of a good place for a civilian to stop by for a few hours and maybe catch some practice in the days leading up to the show?

If you want to watch from off base, you can go up Lake Mead Blvd east of Nellis Blvd up Sunrise Mt. There is a spot up the hill that you can pull off the side of the road and look over the base. Or you can sit along side Las Vegas Blvd near the speedway and watch from there. And there is PT's pub on Nellis Blvd near the base, you can watch from the parking lot there too.

Interesting, didn't realize the air shows were second to baseball for spectators. I've been to one of the airshows at Hanscom Field AFB (just North of Boston), a long time ago, it was a great show.