The headline event of the local off-season baseball calendar, the Altoona Curve's annual Hot Stove Dinner & Benefit Auction, will take place on Friday, January 25th beginning at 6 p.m. at the Blair County Convention Center in Altoona.  The eighth annual event will bring together baseball fans from throughout Central and Western Pennsylvania for an evening of fun, great food and entertainment, and interaction with players, coaches and front office executives from the Curve, Pirates and across baseball.

Several special baseball guests are currently being contacted by the Curve and the club will announce the guest list prior to the Holidays.

The main program for the Hot Stove Event will consist of dinner, a sports memorabilia silent auction and an entertainment portion, including speeches and interviews with featured guests.  The dinner and entertainment portion of the event will begin at 7 p.m., preceded by an hour of mingling, fun and games, autographs and the start of the silent auction.

Tickets cost $60 for adults and $35 for children and can be purchased in person at either the Blair County Ballpark main office or the Curve Stockyard location inside the Logan Valley Mall, or on-line at AltoonaCurve.com (see link at top of page).   All proceeds from the sale of tickets and the memorabilia auction will benefit a soon-to-be announced charity.  Over the first seven years of the event, the Curve and their fans have raised nearly $200,000.

"Our annual Hot Stove Dinner has become a can't-miss event among baseball fans throughout our region and we are so proud of what this event has grown into and the level of support that it receives from our great fans from thoughout Central and Western Pennsylvania," said Curve General Manager Todd Parnell.  "The fact that this great event has raised the amount of money it has over the first seven years is a great tribute to the hard work of our staff and the overwhelming support of the local businesses and individuals who make the Hot Stove Dinner part of their annual calendars."

For more information on the 2008 Curve Hot Stove Dinner & Benefit Auction, fans can contact the Curve at (814) 943-5400.