By Whitney Holmes, Reporter, WATE-TV

Sevierville, TN The Events Center in Sevierville has been open for business for almost a month now and so far, business is good.

"Just for the remainder of 2007, we have all but one week booked at our Events Center," shared Sevierville Mayor Bryan Atchley. "And for the next five years we are over fifty percent booked."

In fact, the 250,000 square foot building has events booked 19 years from now.

Unlike the other four convention centers in the state, this one has attractions that do not tie people up all day. The center itself is not a moneymaker, but its ability to draw people in is.

"What we have booked at the Events Center are events that are two to three hours a day. So, where are the people the rest of the time?" asked Atchley. "They are out in the community playing golf. They are at our recreational facilities. They are out shopping. They are out eating.

"The center is also spawning new development. Along highway 66, there is $1 billion worth of private investment in the form of shops and restaurants. This attracts hundreds of new jobs and people looking to open their wallets. "Retail shopping, restaurants, entertainment. None of that would have happened without the Events Center," explained Atchley. "If you were here five years ago you wouldn't recognize Sevierville today."

A resort and condos are now being built up around the center with a completion date set for July 2008. In addition, another golf course will be added to the one already available with a completion date set for spring 2009.

"The change in the last five years and the next five years, you ain't seen nothing yet," Atchley predicted.

About The Bridgemont Group

The Bridgemont Group is a real estate company headquartered in Sevierville, Tennessee. Currently, The Bridgemont Group is offering more than 1000 acres in the Sevierville, Tennessee area for mixed used development. The acreage is divided into two areas Sportsmans Acres and Bridgemont.
Sportsmans Acres is a 30+acre tract located directly off Interstate 40 at the 407 Exit, Sevierville, Tennessee. A 145,000 sq. ft. Bass Pro Shops store including an Islamorada Restaurant anchors the location. Prime out parcels are available for dining, specialty retail and other concepts.

Bridgemont is an Event and Entertainment Destination currently under construction and development. Bridgemont encompasses 1000-acres of prime real estate. The project will include one 18-hole championship golf course, a second 18-hole resort course, a new Event Center Complex for the City of Sevierville and associated lodging.

Additionally, negotiations are being finalized with a major resort developer for several large parcels within Bridgemont. Plans for this acreage include construction of mountain modern resort cabins and condominiums, vacation ownership accommodations and indoor water parks. Bridgemont is marketing multiple parcels for lifestyle village retail shopping development, themed entertainment development and construction of unique dining concepts. Residential development is also a master plan component

For more information, visit Bridgemont.net