Lowcountry Sports Forum Returns to Riley Park

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Sports professionals and executives from local pro teams around the Lowcountry will congregate for an afternoon of discussion and fellowship at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park at the second edition of the Lowcountry Sports Forum hosted in the Riley Park Club on Wednesday, November 15 from 11am-1pm.
Bringing together executives from local professional teams in the area recently named the fourth best minor league market in the country by the Sports Business Journal, the forum will feature Charleston Battery Club President Andrew Bell, South Carolina Stingrays President Rob Concannon, RiverDogs President and General Manager Dave Echols, and Bob Moran, Tournament Director of the Volvo Car Open at the Family Circle Tennis Center, as the featured guest speakers.
"We were extremely pleased with the response to the inaugural Lowcountry Sports Forum from the community back in July," said Echols. "This is a great opportunity for some of the leaders in the Charleston sports scene to come together for a discussion of the pertinent issues facing our industry and continue to strengthen our ties as neighbors in one of the most vibrant sports markets in the country."
The panel will run from 11am-1pm and feature a networking opportunity for sports fans in the Lowcountry in the Riley Park Club, introduced to The Joe as a gameday and year-round event space just prior to the 2017 campaign. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from the four panelists with lunch and a Q&A session to follow, moderated by ABC News 4's Scott Eisberg.
Tickets for the event are $40 and include access to the unique panel along with lunch catered by Mercantile and Mash. Attendees can park at the VIP lot adjacent to the side gate at the ballpark.
Tickets to the Lowcountry Sports Forum can be purchased at rileyparkevents.com or by calling the RiverDogs front office at (843) 723-7241.

Bell joined the Charleston Battery in 1999 as the team's play-by-play commentator and has been with the club ever since. In the past, he has served as Director of Operations, Director of Marketing and PR, and Director of Sales. In his current role, Bell oversees the day-to-day operations of the of the team and MUSC Health Stadium. Bell was named Club President in 2008, taking over the role from long-time president Nigel Cooper. During his time as President, the Battery have won two USL Championships, competed in the MLS rounds of the U.S. Open Cup, and helped get several players to Major League Soccer. The Reading, England native has also been instrumental in bringing high-profile clubs to Charleston for friendly matches, including Rangers FC, West Bromwich Albion, Orlando City SC, and New York City FC during his tenure.
Concannon enters his eighth season as the President of the Stingrays. Born and raised in Dorchester, MA just outside of Boston, Concannon played for the Stingrays from 1995 to 2000, was a member of the 1997 Kelly Cup Championship team, and was inducted into the Stingrays Hall of Fame in 2004. He retired from hockey with the sixth-most games played in Stingrays history (330) and was sixth in all-time Stingrays points with 231 (111g, 120a). Prior to turning pro, Concannon was a Division III All-American in 1995 with Salem State College. In addition to the Stingrays, Concannon skated for the Saint John Flames and St. John Maple Leafs of the American Hockey League (AHL) and the Idaho Steelheads and Greenville Grrrowl of the ECHL during his eight-year pro career. Concannon has called Charleston home for the last 20 years and lives downtown with his wife Keri and their twins, John Robert and Ella Loraine.
Echols has guided the RiverDogs through some of their most successful seasons since being named General Manager of the club in 2004. In his first season, he helped the RiverDogs host the 2004 South Atlantic League All-Star Game while also garnering the 2013 South Atlantic League General Manager of the Year honors during his tenure. In 2016, Echols added president to his title, as well. Previously, Echols served as GM of the Brockton (Mass.) Rox from 2002-04 and was named Northeast League Executive of the Year in 2003. The University of Dayton graduate has also worked for teams in Kinston, N.C., and Columbus, Ohio. Echols is active in community affairs and resides on Johns Island with his wife, Debra, and son, Logan.
Moran has served as the General Manager and Tournament Director for the Volvo Car Open since 2009, most recently guiding the 45^th edition of the Premier level women's tennis event hosted at the Family Circle Tennis Center in Charleston each season. The Elon University alum has overseen some of the most successful years of the prestigious tournament, including helping forge a new partnership with Volvo Car of North America as a title sponsor of the event in 2015. Along with the annual event, Volvo Car Stadium hosts several concerts and other offseason events.
RiverDogs season tickets, half-season ticket packages, and flex plans, including options to the Riley Park Club, are now available for the 2018 campaign. The RiverDogs begin the season on April 12 when they host the Kannapolis Intimidators at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park, preceded by a weeklong road trip to open the year and an exhibition opener at The Joe on April 3 against Myrtle Beach. Ticket information can be secured by contacting the box office at (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or online at www.riverdogs.com/tickets.
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