Sam Houston Race Park and Live Nation (www.livenation.com) have partnered to launch The Showgrounds at Sam Houston Race Park (www.theshowgrounds.com), Houston’s newest outdoor entertainment facility.

The Showgrounds, which is open to all-ages and has a total capacity of 9,000, will be home to more than 40 live music and entertainment events, with performances from national recording artists across all genres of music beginning Friday, May 2, 2008. The facility, as part of the 2008 line up, will also welcome high-profile festivals and special events including Vans Warped Tour, Tony Hawk’s Boom Boom Huck Jam, Mayhem Tour, XO Concierto, Fiestas Patrias and the annual July 4th Extravaganza.

As part of the multi-year joint-venture partnership between Sam Houston Race Park and Live Nation, Live Nation will serve as the exclusive booking and marketing agent for The Showgrounds.

“Sam Houston Race Park originally entered the live entertainment arena with the idea of broadening our appeal and therefore, cultivating growth opportunities and sponsorship to further develop and brand our property,” said Shawn Hurwitz, Chief Executive Officer, Sam Houston Race Park. “We have experienced success with our concert events in previous years but we want to take our concert and festivals to the next level, so we decided to partner with Live Nation as they are the best in the business.”

“On behalf of Live Nation, I am extremely honored to have the privilege to work with MAXXAM Inc., the Hurwitz family and their executive team on the development of The Showgrounds at Sam Houston Race Park,” stated Bob Roux, President, Live Nation. “Together, we will provide an extraordinary open-air concert experience for a wide variety music fans and artists alike. I am personally very excited about our inaugural year at The Showgrounds and want to welcome back those patrons who have previously enjoyed live music at the facility. I also want extend an invitation to our new customers for them to join us for an incredible season of concert events and festivals at The Showgrounds.”

“We recognized Live Nation’s leadership and tremendous strength in the market immediately and welcomed the opportunity to build upon the success of last year’s Verizon Wireless concert series. Live Nation’s ability to coordinate high-end, quality entertainment showcasing multiple artists over multiple days allows The Showgrounds to successfully fill a void in the market place,” commented Andrea Young, Chief Operating Officer, Sam Houston Race Park.

The Showgrounds will continue to build upon the success of the Verizon Wireless Friday and Saturday night post-race concert events, a signature live music event which debuted in 2007, by expanding the number of weekend concert for the series in 2008. The 2008 Verizon Wireless Friday Post-Racing Concert series, which runs Friday, June 27 through Friday, September 12, 2008, will feature tickets for $10 lawn seating (on-sale weekend pricing only); $15 in advance; and $20 day of show; and reserved seating $20 in advance; $30 day of show. The series will go on sale Saturday, April 5, 2008 at 10 a.m. Highlights include:

June 27 - Robert Earl Keen

July 11 - Cory Morrow with Aaron Watson

July 18 - Roger Creager & Friends

July 25 - Cross Canadian Ragweed

August 1 - Jerry Jeff Walker with Django Walker

August 8 - Hayes Carll plus special guest to be announced

August 15 - Dierks Bentley

August 22 - Randy Rogers

August 29 - Kevin Fowler with Reckless Kelly

September 5 - To Be Announced

September 12 - To Be Announced

The 2008 Verizon Wireless Saturday Post-Racing Concert series, which runs Saturday, June 28 through Saturday, September 13, 2008, will feature tickets for $10 lawn seating (on-sale weekend pricing only); $15 advance; $20 day of show; and reserved seating $35 advance; $45 day of show. The series will go on sale Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 10 a.m. Highlights include:

June 28 - John Michael Montgomery

July 12 - Randy Travis

July 19 - Blake Shelton

July 26 - To Be Announced

August 2 - Neal McCoy

August 9 - Clint Black

August 23 - Billy Ray Cyrus

August 30 - Clay Walker

September 13 - To Be Announced

Additional concert events, including the Classic Rock series, which will go on sale on Friday, April 4, 2008, at 10 a.m., and the Contemporary concerts, individual on-sale dates to be announced, will include performances on non-racing nights throughout the summer. Highlights include:

May 2 - Widespread Panic - On Sale Now

May 10 - REO Speedwagon with Loverboy - On Sale April 4

May 17 - Pat Benetar with Fabulous Thunderbirds - On Sale April 4

May 24 - Creedence Clearwater Revisited - On Sale April 4

May 31 - Kansas with Mark Farner - On Sale April 4

July 5 - Country Extravaganza - To Be Announced

July 6 - Vans Warped Tour - On Sale March 29

July 20 - Tony Hawk’s Boom Boom Huck Jam - On Sale April 12

July 27 - Mayhem Tour - On Sale May 3

July 30 - 311, Snoop Dogg & Fiction Plane - On Sale April 12

Additional performances and on sale dates will be announced in April. SHRP, which hosts more than 1 million guests annually, anticipates approximately 250,000 patrons to attend concert events at The Showgrounds in 2008.

The Showgrounds has made extensive improvements to the infield area for the upcoming concert season, including improved back stage facilities for artists and production crews, a second entrance to the facility, increased reserved seating accommodations, new reserved seating chairs, increased lighting to the venue, new signage and updated the Concession Court.

Live Nation is the future of the music business. With the most live concerts, music venues and festivals in the world and the most comprehensive concert search engine on the web, Live Nation is revolutionizing the music industry: onstage and online.