Media Coverage

Television

CBS - Baseball For All: Largest all-female baseball tournament in U.S history
July 31, 2017
The Rockford region was honored to have been able to host seventeen teams for one of the most historical baseball tournaments in the United States. A total of 200 girls, ages 7 to 17 traveled all the way to Rockford to compete against each other. It was a special moment not only for the city of Rockford but for the Rockford Peaches team. It has been more than 60 years since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League ended so in honor of the Peaches, they were introduced at the opening ceremony.
CLICK HERE for the story

WIFR - What's Happening with Andy and Aaron
Every week the marketing department from the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau meets with local news anchors, Andy and Aaron to share with them What's Happening. What's Happening covers the upcoming events that will be taking place in the Rockford region for the week.
CLICK HERE for the video
CLICK HERE for the video

PBS/WYCC Channel 20 - In The Loop: The Rebirth of Rockford
December 18, 2015
The Rockford region sees its glory days once again as local businesses thrive and the community works to rebuild. John Groh, RACVB president/CEO and Mayor Morrissey, City of Rockford talk about how perceptions have changed and the community is now on the rise.
CLICK HERE for the story

WGN TV - "Around Town" featuring Trickford's Cheap Trick Trail
WGN's Ana Belaval interviews Rockford leaders about the revitalization efforts happening in the community that have led to flourishing local businesses and a prosperous downtown. This story also highlights Rockford's support for hometown band, Cheap Trick, as they are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The community "officially/unofficially" is named "Trickford" and a Cheap Trick Trail takes visitors to the band members' favorite spots.

HLN with Michaela Pereira
November 11, 2016
Michaela Pereira talks with Rockford's Mayor, Larry Morrissey about the progress to end veteran homelessness in the Rockford region with the help of collaborative partnerships. Rockford, Illinois is the first community in the United States to end veteran homelessness.
CLICK HERE for the story

ABC7 Chicago - Roz Varon's Weekender Report (sock monkey feature)
Rockford's very own sock monkey travels to Chicago to make an appearance on ABC7 during Roz Varon's Weekender Report. The news team also talks about Sock Monkey Madness event at the Midway Village Museum, home of the sock monkey, during their Festival Friday segment.
CLICK HERE for the Weekender Report
CLICK HERE for the Festival Friday segment

Radio

WNIJ - Baseball, Robots, Trappers And Jehovah's Witnesses Descend On Rockford This Weekend
July 28, 2017
There were four major national conventions and events that went on in the city of Rockford that brought in roughly 19,000 visitors. Having had 19,000 guests, the city expected to inject an estimated $2 million into the economy. Andrea Mandala, marketing and communications manager for the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau explained how the Rockford region is capable of hosting that amount of people.
CLICK HERE for the story

WGN Radio - Steve Bertrand Interview with John Groh 
John Groh, RACVB president/CEO discusses the economic boost in the Rockford community as the amateur sports market continues to drive visitors to the region.

WLS-AM 890 - The Big John Howell Show and the Chicago Board Options Exchange "Business First" newscast
John Groh, RACVB president/CEO talks about Rockford's comeback story through revitalization efforts, specifically the economic impact of community-supported events like Stroll on State.

Knowledge at Wharton on SiriusXM Radio Show
February 14, 2017
John Groh, RACVB president/CEO and Nathan Bryant, RAEDC president/CEO talk with Don Money (broadcast from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania) about Rockford's comeback and how Rockford can be a model for other communities looking to grow their economies and to enhance the quality of life and place for residents.

Print

Chicago Tribune
February 10, 2017
Rockford's Burpee Museum of Natural History is featured as a main event in Chicago Tribune's News to Use section for their Annual Paleofest event that attracts thousands to the region.
CLICK HERE for the story

Chicago Tribune
December 7, 2016
Rockford's River Lights takes top spot for the News to Use section in the Chicago Tribune featuring fun winter holiday events throughout the Chicagoland area.
CLICK HERE for the story

Associated Press & The Daily Herald
April 8, 2016
Rockford celebrates Cheap Trick's entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by "officially/unofficially" renaming the community Trickford and developing a Trickford Trail of all the band's favorite places around town.
CLICK HERE for the story

Online

Expedia
March 7, 2017
The Rockford region is named the most beautiful town in Illinois.
CLICK HERE for the story