Fran Dowell Named Top Sports Event Planner

Jan. 1, 2009

SACRAMENTO, CA (January 16, 2009) -- Fran Dowell, the Executive Director of Senior Softball-USA, the largest senior softball organization in America, today was named one of the top Sports Events Planners of 2009 by SportsEvents Magazine. [Read article online]

"The January 2009 issue of SportsEvents Magazine spotlights industry professionals from across the country who have exhibited a high level of professionalism, creativity and excellence in hosting sports events," said Michelle Martin, managing editor of SportsEvents.

Dowell was the first woman Executive Director in the history of the sport when she was named in 2006.

Sacramento-based Senior Softball-USA is the largest of the nine national softball associations offering senior softball programs. There are an estimated 2 million softball players over 50 in the United States. Of those 2 million players, about 30,000 compete at the national level.

Senior Softball-USA was founded in 1988. Today, in addition to 40 National Qualifying tournaments in the United States and Canada, Senior Softball-USA runs 20 Regional, National and World Championships, publishes the quarterly newspaper, Senior Softball News, publishes the sport's rulebook and holds international tournaments.

In 2008, Senior Softball-USA generated approximately $70 million in economic impact for the host cities through its 60 tournaments.

Over the past 21 years, Senior Softball-USA has brought American teams to more than 20 countries to promote senior softball. This year US teams will compete in Japan and Taiwan in November.