(LOUISVILLE, KY) – David Hardy, a Louisville resident, businessman and self proclaimed “major sports fan,” won the Louisville Sports Commission’s inaugural Golden Ticket raffle.

Hardy purchased one of 300 raffle tickets for $100 and won the Golden Ticket grand prize, two tickets to each of the following sporting events: 2011 Kentucky Derby and Oaks, 2011 PGA Seniors Championship, 2011 Breeders’ Cup, all UofL and UK regular season home basketball and football games for the upcoming season, all Bellarmine home and exhibition basketball games for the coming season and Louisville Bats.

The winning ticket was pulled from the 300 entries on April 22 at the Sports and Social Club at Fourth Street Live! by Scott Davenport, head coach of the NCAA Division II National Basketball Champion Bellarmine Knights, in front of an enthusiastic crowd.

“I’ve never won anything,” Hardy said, when contacted by phone immediately following the drawing. “This is a huge surprise. I’m a major sports fan, so these tickets will go to good use.”

The raffle was conducted by the Louisville Sports Commission. A total of 300 raffle tickets were sold at $100 each during March and April. Tickets are donated by Sports Commission board members and other supporters of the organization. “Since these are not actually season tickets, David will be sitting in different seats at each event,” said Karl Schmitt, executive director of the Louisville Sports Commission. “He will have unique sports experiences over the next 12 months.”

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The Louisville Sports Commission (LSC) is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote economic vitality, enhance the quality of life and brand Louisville as a great place to live, work and play by attracting, creating and hosting sporting events and activities in our community. LSC is an independent, Louisville, Kentucky-based organization governed by a volunteer board of directors. For more information visit us online at www.louisvillesports.org or on our Facebook page.