Major Gymnastics and Soccer Events Hit Foley

Foley Sports Tourism Complex is back in a big way next weekend with the inaugural event at the Foley Event Center and a major soccer tournament on the fields September 9-10.

The Bounders Beach Bash is set to bring more than 500 participants and their families to the Foley Event Center for a youth gymnastics tournament. The event is open to the public and spectators will have the opportunity to see gymnasts ranging in age from 5-14 compete in exciting categories including balance beam, floor, and uneven bars.

Erin Holdefer-Kightlinger, co-founder of the Bama Bounders gym in Tuscaloosa, is part of the team bringing the event to Foley. She said it’s a huge opportunity to be the ones to open the Foley Event Center.

"We are very excited to be the first event in the Foley Event Center,” Holdefer-Kightlinger said. “The facility is fantastic and the City of Foley has been a tremendous help. All of the gymnasts and their families are looking forward to visiting Foley and being a part of such a big event."

"While the event center is kicking into high gear, the complex fields will also be seeing some action during the Publix Super Cup Girl’s Weekend. The youth soccer tournament is so large it is split into two weekends, one for girls and one for boys. The girls’ weekend has 107 teams from across the southeast registered to compete.

John Guidroz, Executive Director of Snap Soccer, the entity bringing the tournament back to Foley for the second year in a row said the event is growing.

“The Publix Super Cup girls’ weekend grew more than 20% this year from 2016,” Guidroz said. “The feedback from our 2016 event was very positive and the number of new teams attending shows that the word got out. Our team at Snap Soccer and the members of Perdido Bay FC are very excited to host another great event along the Gulf Coast."

In addition to the youth soccer games, participants will have a chance to watch college soccer as women’s teams from Embry Riddle University and Lee University meet at the FSTC championship stadium at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Between soccer and gymnastics, the complex will be packed with visitors and Interim Director David Thompson said that’s just the way they like it.

“This is what we were built for,” Thompson said. “We have been playing on the fields for over a year now and we’re finally getting the chance to pair that success with all our event center has to offer. We are now, truly, a sports tourism destination.”

For more information on these or any FSTC event visit our website at FoleySportsTourism.com