Erie Takes Lead in National Contest

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Last month, Erie won a statewide, online competition. Now, our Gem City leads a national contest, but this time held by a sports magazine.

SportsEvents Magazine, a national sports trade publication, has narrowed down the top 32 cities with the best Natural Sports Venue or Destination and Erie has made the cut. The magazine holds the contest online for Facebook users.

To vote, like SportsEvents Magazine on Facebook, click on the "Favorite Sports Events Vacation Destination!" tab and click on the photo for Erie, Pa.

Some of the other finalists include Myrtle Beach, S.C., Outer Banks, N.C., and Panama City Beach, Fla. The contest ends July 22, and SportsEvents announces the winner the next day.

The Erie Sports Commission (ESC) expressed its commitment to promoting the Erie region as a prime destination for sports and recreation. ESC Executive Director Ron Sertz said it's an honor that Erie would be chosen as one of the best natural sports destinations in the country by a major magazine in the sports world.

"With Presque Isle State Park, which offers so many sporting opportunities, and many other local parks and waterways, Erie is an incredible location for natural venues," Sertz said.

Sertz noted that he hopes that the community will show its local pride and vote for Erie in the contest to "make more people aware of what we have to offer."

Emily Biddle, ESC communications manager, said SportsEvents hasn't advertised a prize to the winner, however the magazine is coming out with a Natural Sports Venue edition next month, so the magazine would possibly feature the winning city.

"The magazine is a national publication with a wide-spread audience, so it would help [Erie] to get [its] name out there," Biddle said.

As of now, Erie stands in the lead with 60 votes, followed by Findlay/Hancock County, OH with 31 votes, and Greensboro, NC with 22.

Khadija Djellouli can be contacted at kDjellouli@ErieReader.com. You can follow her on Twitter @Khadija426