Sun, sand and soccer – a winning combination for the city of Orange Beach and the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Women’s Soccer Championship kicks into action at the Orange Beach Sportsplex Oct. 28 to Nov. 4. SEC soccer has called Orange Beach home since 2003 and will continue to hold its championship in the coastal city through at least 2020.
Long-term contracts with sports organizations, including the SEC, have given the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission and Alabama’s beach cities the opportunity to givestudent-athletes a home away from home.
"The partnership with the Southeastern Conference has been a great example of building a tradition through a strong, long-range plan," notes Ken Grimes, city administrator for Orange Beach. "Beginning in 2003 when the city of Orange Beach first hosted the SEC Women's Soccer Championship Tournament, the event has evolved into ‘The Road to Orange Beach’ as it’s known to each team and the hundreds of players who compete to finish their regular season in Orange Beach, Alabama."
Grimes points to the city working with the SEC to make needed facility improvements, which has positively impacted other events and local youth sports.
"Every year, we strive to make improvements or modifications that make the tournament experience the best it can be for those participating,” Grimes explains. “Our community gets involved, and the week typically provides a boost to our local economy while the national exposure via the SEC Network definitely reaches markets that need to know Alabama has beautiful beaches and excellent amenities for vacationers.”
Tickets for the SEC Championship will be available at the gate for $5 per game for adults and $2 per day for children (K-12). All games will be broadcast live on the SEC Network, including the championship match, which will air live on Sunday, Nov. 4.
The Alabama Soccer Association (ASA) will hold its 3V3 Soccer Festival Nov. 3-4 in conjunction with the collegiate championship. The cost to register is $30 per player, including admission to the championship match on Nov. 4. To register for the ASA event, go to ALSoccerLive.org/Reg.
Visit SECSports.go.com/Clubhouse/Soccerfor more on SEC soccer and ALSoccer.comfor more on the ASA.For information on upcoming athletic events along Alabama’s Gulf Coast, visit GulfShores.com/Sports, or call 1-800-745-SAND.
TV Schedule on SEC Network (Central Time Zone):
Match 1: Oct. 28 at 1 p.m.
Match 2: Oct. 28 at 3:30 p.m.
Match 3: Oct. 30 at 12 p.m.
Match 4: Oct. 30 at 2:30 p.m.
Match 5: Oct. 30 at 5 p.m.
Match 6: Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Match 7: Nov. 1 at 3:30 p.m.
Match 8: Nov. 1 at 6 p.m.
Finals: Nov. 4 at 2 p.m.
About Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission: Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission is a partnership between Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism (GSOBT), the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber and the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. In 2007, this commission became a department within GSOBT. In this role, the commission – along with assistance from both cities – works to bring quality sporting events to Alabama’s Gulf Coast. To learn more about a whole different state of play, please visit GulfShores.com/Sports.
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