Corporate challenge finds it needs more elbow room

Friday, March 27, 1998 | 10:07 a.m.

As Corporate Challenge continues to grow, so does its need for more space.

That's why Saturday's opening ceremonies for the citywide competition were moved this year from Freedom Park to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

With 25 brand-new teams joining the tournament each year, Corporate Challenge Coordinator David Parker said that the Speedway is a better venue for the event which had outgrown the park's facilities. In addition to a lack of parking, the park was no longer large enough to hold the growing number of Corporate Challenge participants.

"At first people were wondering why it couldn't be at the park this year, but now everyone is excited about being out there (Speedway)," Parker said.

Corporate Challenge, which began in 1986 with 1,850 participants and nine events, now hosts 20,000 participants and 18 events that range from chess to softball to shuffleboard to track and field. More than 100 companies compete in four divisions based on the number of employees.

"Compared to other cities, this is a big deal," Parker said. "People from other states stand in awe at the intensity of the Las Vegas Corporate Challenge events."

Where other cities hold only a weekend of Corporate Challenge, Las Vegas Corporate Challenge events last for five weeks.

"It's not just a doughnut toss at a company picnic," he said. "These are real athletic events."

"It's a lot like the Olympics," Parker said, adding the city's first Corporate Challenge torch was the one used in the 1980 Olympics in Montreal. "It's also a community-morale builder."

Parker said one of the main objectives of Corporate Challenge is to bring the community together.

"People think of Las Vegas as such a transient town," Parker said. "Corporate Challenge says, 'Hey folks, we're a home.'"

A past motto for the event is: "Building a Community of Friends." And according to Parker, Corporate Challenge does just that.

Saturday's event will feature a full carnival with 20 rides -- compared to only six rides in the past; a torch race; a parade of company banners; and center stage entertainment.

There were 20,000 participants at last year's opening ceremonies. Parker said he expects anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000 more people to attend Saturday's event.