The 4th annual Legion Sports Fest produced by Center Podium will take place in Reno, Nevada, October 22nd – 24th, 2021. Over 350 IFBB Professional Athletes are expected to compete across 15 divisions, making the IFBB Pro Legion the largest IFBB Pro League event on the West Coast. The IFBB Pro Legion is part of the massive multi-sport fitness expo, which includes nine sports, the world’s biggest IFBB Pro Masters contest, and an expo comprised of hundreds of vendors.
The world’s top athletes are again expected in 2021 to battle for the top spots in front of head judge and NPC and IFBB Pro League Vice President Tyler Manion. The IFBB Pro Legion is now a Tier 3 Olympia Qualifier, meaning it awards pros more points than most IFBB Pro shows. This year, the 2021 Arnold Classic is scheduled for September 25, Mr. Olympia is October 10, and the Legion is October 24; this means top pros will spend a month battling for placings at the “Big Three” IFBB Pro League contests. Many Olympia stars have competed on Center Podium stages like Brandon Curry, Cedric McMillian, Nathan De Asha, Danny Hester, and current Olympians Shaun Clarida and Missy Truscott. Missy has already confirmed that she will be defending her Legion win this year.
This weekend-long bodybuilding event begins on Friday, October 22, 2021, with the world’s biggest IFBB Pro Legion Masters Contest. The event features a $20,250 cash purse across every division and class, including:
• Men’s Open Bodybuilding
• Men’s Bodybuilding 212
• Classic Physique
• Men’s Physique
• Bikini
• Women’s Physique
• Fitness
• Women’s
• Wellness
The second night is the Legion Sports Fest NPC National Qualifier, with over 250 athletes expected.
The grand finale on Sunday, October 24, will be the IFBB Pro Open Championship with a $37,500 cash purse, featuring the following divisions:
• Men’s Open Bodybuilding
• Classic Physique
• Men’s Physique
• Bikini
• Women’s Physique
• Fitness
“I spent years in the trenches, shoulder to should with many of these guys both on the stage and in Gold’s Gym Venice. This is the show we’d always talk about wishing we had. I wanted to create something we felt was ours and was worthy of the physiques on the stage. Well, guys, we did it!” said Chris Minnes, founder/owner of Legion Sports Fest and Center Podium productions.
Sports Festival-
The NPC and IFBB Pro League bodybuilding events headline the massive fitness expo with eight different sports, including:
• United States Point Muay Thai Championship by IKFPKB
• United States Armored Combat Championship by The Knights Hall & Armored Combat Sports
• Strongman Corporation Amateur Strongman & Strongwoman
• UPA Powerlifting produced by American Iron Gym, Reno
• Olympic Weightlifting by Pacific Weightlifting Association, Hassle-Free Barbell Club & USA Weightlifting
• US Armwrestling
• Functional Fitness (Similar to CrossFit)
• Rolling Thunder Challenge
“It’s not just a Bodybuilding and fitness event; it’s an athletic event, a true sports fest,” said Mark Anthony, the first-ever Men’s Physique Mr. Olympia.
Deals/Vendors/Free Samples – Over 200 vendors will provide major deals and specials during the expo. It’s a chance to speak face-to-face with top fitness companies in the industry, something you can’t experience online. It’s also an excellent opportunity to sample the latest fitness supplements and see new fitness technology to incorporate into your routines.
“I’ve been enjoying the entire expo. It’s freaking awesome! Lots of great companies here!” said Ms. Olympia Ashley Kaltwasser about the 2018 Legion Sports Fest.
No COVID-19 Restrictions –
The production company behind Legion Sports Fest, Center Podium Productions, has produced six NPC/IFBB Pro fitness competition events without any new coronavirus cases during the pandemic. These events include the NPC Mother Lode and Legion Sports Fest in Reno, NV, the NPC Dexter Jackson Classic in Jacksonville, Florida, the NPC Tahoe Show in Squaw Valley, CA, and the IFBB Pro League Russia Pro Qualifier in Moscow, Russia. However, for the 2021 Legion Sports Fest, there are no Covid restrictions in place at this time.
Sponsors of Legion Sports Fest include Optimum Nutrition, the U.S. Navy, Celsius, Legendary Foods, Team FFLEX, WOLFpak Bags, Eleve Health, Jawku, California Alternative Medicine, Reign Total Body Fuel, Smashing 350HP Apparel, and NW Recovery CBD. Many sponsors are local to the Reno area, including Sierra Meat & Seafood, Pathway to Serenity Massage, Ice Age Meals, Battle Born Beekinis, and Nutrishop Reno.
The official media partner is NPC News Online. Chief photographer J.M. Manion will be at the Legion with the NPC News Online crew providing exclusive content.
Expo and event tickets range from $25 to $249.
For information, registration, tickets, and a full event schedule visit www.LegionSportsFest.com.
Press Check-In: TBD daily Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25
When: Bodybuilding Events: Friday, October 22nd-Sunday October 24th
Expo Events: Saturday, October 23 – Sunday, October 24th – 9 AM – 5 PM
Where: Reno-Sparks Convention Center, 4590 South Virginia Street, Reno, NV, United States
About Chris Minnes & Center Podium
Voted 2017 promoter of the year, Christopher Minnes is known as the premier bodybuilding event promoter in the West. He has produced the NPC/IFBB sanctioned events since 2011. The event portfolio now includes eight events from Reno to Russia. With a background in event promotion beginning in 1991, Minnes has produced hundreds of events, including concerts, ski & snowboard races, mountain bike races, and much more. Center Podium is the managing company for the NPC Mother Lode, Tahoe Show, NPC West Coast, Dexter Jackson Classic, IFBB Pro League Russia International Championship, Dexter Jackson Classic, NPC New Mexico State Open, and the Legion Sports Festival. For information, visit www.centerpodium.com.
About Reno-Sparks Convention Center
Just south of downtown Reno and mere minutes from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport lies the captivating, modern and competitive Reno-Sparks Convention Center. The Reno-Sparks Convention Center boasts more than 600,000 square feet of single-level exhibition and meeting space with recently upgraded technology and award-winning service.
With 16,200 top-notch accommodations nearby, ranging from AAA Four Diamond resorts to boutique hotels, your rooming options are plentiful, and the rates are affordable.
The Reno-Sparks Convention Center provides the amenities of a first-tier city with small-town hospitality.
For more information, visit www.VisitRenoTahoe.com.
About the IFBB Pro League
The IFBB Professional League (“IFBB Pro League”) was founded by Ben and Joe Weider.
The OLYMPIA was created by Joe Weider.
The President of the IFBB Pro League is Jim Manion (USA). For more information, visit www.IFBBPro.com.
PHOTO CAPTIONS:
Photo #1: Sergio Oliva, Jr, at the Legion Sports Fest Red Carpet
Photo #2: Ms. Fitness Olympia Missy Truscott in 2018 when she earned her 2018 Legion win.
Photo #3: 212 Mr. Olympia and IFBB Pro Men’s 212 Legion Bodybuilding Winner Shaun Clarida is receiving his trophy from Mr. Olympia, Dexter Jackson at the 2019 Legion Sports Fest.
Photo #4: Fitness star Lauren Abraham interviews 4x Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler at the 2019 Legion Sports Fest
High-resolution images and video can be downloaded by visiting www.LegionSportsFest.com/media
