Crew Stadium to host 'Rock on the Range 2008'

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Columbus Crew Stadium announced today that America's premier rock festival, ROCK ON THE RANGE, is back for its second year after a hugely successful inaugural sold-out show in 2007, and it's bigger than ever!

Presented by Right Arm Entertainment, AEG LIVE, and the Columbus Crew, the multi-stage music and lifestyle event has expanded to two days in order to meet the tremendous demand for tickets and will take place on Saturday, May 17, and Sunday, May 18, at Crew Stadium. The line-up for this nationally renowned festival centrally located in the heart of the country includes the debut of the newly reunited Stone Temple Pilots, marking the group's first performance together in over seven years!

"The time that we're about to spend together is a true celebration," said Stone Temple Pilots guitarist Dean DeLeo of the band's upcoming performance at ROCK ON THE RANGE.

In addition, ROCK ON THE RANGE 2008 is literally packed with performances by the biggest names in rock music today including: Kid Rock, 3 Doors Down, Disturbed, Staind, Papa Roach, Seether, Serj Tankian, Flyleaf, Shinedown, Killswitch Engage, Finger Eleven, Alter Bridge, Filter, Theory of a Dead Man, Sevendust, Default, 10 Years, Bobaflex, Red, Airbourne, Black Tide, Revelation Theory, Drive A, Ashes Divide and more.

"Rock on the Range proved to be one of the hottest music festival tickets in the Midwest last year," said Crew General Manager Mark McCullers. "We look forward to the event covering two days in 2008 and remaining one of the best music events of the year."

This year's two-day event will feature 28 bands on two stages, an expanded festival village, state of the art main stage LED screens, enhanced main stage and second stage sound and light systems, dynamic new merchandise (t-shirts, hats, hoodies) and an expanded main-stage field area for fans who purchase Field General Admission tickets.

"Rock On the Range started with a focus on the heartland, but it immediately evolved into a national happening," said co-producer Del Williams of Right Arm Entertainment. "Last year, fans came from around the country to experience the phenomenon. The centrality of Columbus, Ohio, is ideal for this event because the city is within a relatively close proximity for many of the fans in the middle of America and beyond."

Located at the Ohio State Fairgrounds, Crew Stadium has worked hard over the past year to build on the incredible fan experience. With the addition of a permanent main stage and roof structure, updated patron entrance procedures for Field General Admission ticket holders, expanded VIP parking, and new VIP Hotel and VIP Vehicle Camp packages, the venue is more than ready for the two-day party.

"The second year of a large-scale festival like ROCK ON THE RANGE is the most critical point of its evolution," said Joe Litvag of AEG LIVE, the festival's co-producer. "While we accomplished a great deal in selling 30,000 tickets in our first year, it was imperative to listen to patrons' comments as to how we could improve the event in 2008. Year one was incredible. But we're about to raise the bar again with these additional elements and these incredible artists."

The ROCK ON THE RANGE general on-sale begins Saturday, Feb. 23, at 10 a.m. (ET). Tickets will be available at www.rockontherange.com and www.ticketmaster.com, all local Ticketmaster outlets and the Crew Stadium Box Office.

Special two-day tickets will be available for as low as $99.50 and a limited number of single-day tickets will also be available for as low as $54.50. VIP Hotel packages that include hotel accommodations, event tickets, and event merchandise, plus a VIP Vehicle Camp package that includes camp parking, event tickets, and event merchandise will all be available exclusively at www.rockontherange.com.

For more information on becoming a friend of ROCK ON THE RANGE and to experience the added benefits and access members-only presale information, visit www.MySpace.com/RockOnTheRange.

Crew Stadium, a 20,145-seat facility with the ability to hold up 30,000 for concerts, is home to the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer as well as a target destination for other marquee sports and entertainment events including U.S. Soccer matches, NFL exhibitions, NCAA soccer and concerts.

ROCK ON THE RANGE 2008
May 17 & 18, 2008
Crew Stadium - Columbus, Ohio

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS

KID ROCK

DISTURBED

3 DOORS DOWN

STAIND

PAPA ROACH

SEETHER

SERJ TANKIAN

FLYLEAF

SHINEDOWN

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE