Miami ‘Big Game Room’ Celebrates Five-Year Anniversary...BGR partners with Dan Marino Foundation for special celebration on Saturday, February 16

 MIAMI, December 18, 2007 – The Big Game Room at the 66^th Annual Miami International Boat Show, co-presented by Marlin and Sport Fishing magazines and Cabo Yachts,  will celebrate its fifth-year anniversary this year in style, with an event benefiting the Dan Marino Foundation.

To mark its fifth successful year, the Big Game Room will partner with the Dan Marino Foundation’s Marino Autism Research Institute (MARI) to produce a special celebration entitled “Anglers Opening Doors for Children” on Saturday, February 16.

South Florida radio personality John ''Footy'' Kross Jr. will kick off the festivities by honoring show exhibitors and fishing celebrities who have contributed to the success of the Big Game Room over the past five years. Visitors can also participate in silent and live auctions featuring several prizes, including: A fishing adventure with Capt. Bouncer Smith and overnight stay on South Beach; a mounted sailfish signed by Dan Marino, Coach Don Shula, Whitey Ford, Alex Rodriguez, and other sports legends; a golf weekend for four; an all-day fishing trip with Capt. Larry Berryman; a Zodiac Inflatable Boat; an original painting by Mark Ray and a sculpture by David Wirth; a custom carved table by Bluewater Signatures; several pieces of sports memorabilia, including a tennis ball autographed by Andre Agassi; and fine wines and dinner/hotel packages.

A complete list of auction items is available at MiamiBoatShow.com/BigGameRoom.

The Big Game Room was first established in 2004, on the second level of the Miami Beach Convention Center to provide angling enthusiasts with a “one-stop shop” for all of their sportfishing needs. Over the years, the exhibit has grown in size and scope to provide the full realm of products and fishing tournament, charter and destination information in a single location and has widely become the premier gathering of sportfishing exhibits in the U.S.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate five successful years of the Big Game Room and partner with the Dan Marino Foundation to bring awareness to the understanding, treatment and prevention of autism,” says Joanne Zito, sales manager for the Miami International Boat Show and co-founder of the Big Game Room. “Over the years, the Big Game Room has become a premier destination for angling enthusiasts and novices to learn about the sport, hone their skills and share fishing tales with renowned celebrities from across the globe.”

For more information about the Miami International Boat Show, call (954) 441-3220 or visit MiamiBoatShow.com. For more information on the Dan Marino Foundation, visit DanMarinoFoundation.org.

National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is the leading association representing the recreational boating industry. NMMA member companies produce more than 80 percent of the boats, engines, trailers, accessories and gear used by boaters in the United States . The association is dedicated to industry growth through programs in public policy, market research and data, product quality assurance and marketing communications.