With over 100 classic and modern pinball machines and videos, these tournaments attract fans from across nation for one of the largest public collections of pinball machines.
The only pinball show in the Rocky Mountain region and one of the largest in the nation, the third annual Rocky Mountain Pinball Showdown will be held April 21-23, 2006, at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Golden, Colorado. The locally owned amusement game extravaganza opens its doors for fans to play pinball for 31 hours on one of the largest public collection of over 100 pinball machines and video games set on free play, no quarters needed.
The show welcomes pinball collectors, hobbyist, and some of the best players in the world. The Rocky Mountain Pinball Showdown Open Tournament is now a sanctioned event in the International Flipper Pinball Association
www.ifpapinball.com tournament circuit, where players can earn points to elevate his or her world ranking among pinball players. Chris Newsom, who won second place in the 2005 Rocky Mountain Pinball Showdown Open Tournament, is currently ranked number four in the world. Number three player Neil Shatz added points to his world ranking score from the 2004 show.
In addition to over 100 classic and modern pinball machines and videos to play on, the three-day weekend is packed with tournaments and free pinball seminars. Fans can partake in a healthy dose of competition against some of the nation's best pinball players on Sterns latest release into pinball culture, World Poker Tour. Other friendly tournaments will challenge teams, kids and electromechanical enthusiasts. Pin Chats are free seminars with topics ranging from an insider's view of designing a pinball machine to electromechanical pinball machine restoration. The show also includes an exhibit of seldom-seen antique pinball machines, and specialty pinball businesses will be on hand to buy and sell pinball machines and parts.
Immortalized in The Who's song "Pinball Wizard", the game of pinball is a national pop-culture pastime loved long before hand-held and home video gaming options. Countless basement rec rooms and garages across the nation house these machines that test your hand-eye coordination, draw you into their themes and taunt your senses, says Dan Nikolich, co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Pinball Showdown. Pinball fans come from many different backgrounds and skill levels each person plays for a different reason, but all pinball fans are welcome at the Rocky Mountain Pinball Showdown.
For the third year, a portion of the proceeds from a raffle and all of the pay-for-play proceeds from a charity pinball machine will be donated to The Children's Hospital in Denver.
Admission is $30 for a three-day adult pass; $15 one-day adult pass; $20 for a three-day kids (7-12 years) pass; $8 one-day kid pass; children 6 and under free. The show will run noon to 10 p.m. on Friday, April 21; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 21; and 9 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 23.
Location - Jefferson County Fairgrounds - Auditoriums 2 & 3
15200 W. 6th Ave., Golden, CO 80401
For more information call 303-883-2603, or visit
www.pinballshowdown.com
