The Development Player League (DPL), an Elite National All-Girls League, will return to The Palm Beaches from January 5-8, 2023. The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is partnering with Elite Tournaments to bring DPL FL23, the U15-U19 Winter Showcase, to the Gardens North County District Park in Palm Beach Gardens. Thousands of athletes, coaches, and spectators will travel to participate in this premier soccer event.
The Palm Beach County Sports Commission’s successful bid to host this event will bring a national DPL event to The Palm Beaches for the second year in a row. The DPL is a leading organization for girls’ soccer, which focuses on creating a high level of competition, meaningful games, greater exposure in college showcases, and professional game day environments. The DPL is sanctioned nationwide by the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), a multisport organization with over 4,000,000 members in a variety of sports.
"The warm welcome received by the DPL in Palm Beach this past January has lived on in memory and was a critical factor in our decision to return. From the family environment at the facilities and the quality of the grass fields to the care and attention to detail in our hosting of the event by the city and community, it was evident that this is a premium destination and one that we can't wait to return to. There are several reasons why our league chooses a venue and each of those were surpassed in Palm Beach," said Barry Ritson, President of the DPL.
The return of the DPL Winter Showcase comes after a successful first trip to Palm Beach Gardens in January 2022, and the partnership that has formed between the DPL, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, and Elite Tournaments.
Elite Tournaments is the exclusive tournament provider to the DPL and the management company behind the logistical operations of the DPL event series held annually across the U.S. Very few communities have the privilege to host events, such as a DPL Winter Showcase, which transforms destinations into soccer hubs. The first DPL event in Palm Beach County consisted of 240 girls soccer teams competing in age divisions that ranged from U13-U19. Over 4,300 athletes and more than 10,000 total visitors participated, making it one of the largest girls’ soccer showcases in the United States.
Considering the influx of visitors that will be traveling from across the nation for DPLFL23, the tourism effects are expected to be significant. The Palm Beach County Sports Commission predicts the event will create over 8,000 hotel room nights and nearly $7 million in direct visitor spending. Hotels throughout Palm Beach County will yet again benefit from this national event.
“The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is honored and excited to have the Development Player League returning to The Palm Beaches,” says George Linley, Executive Director of the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. “The influx of new dollars and increase in hotel occupancy generated from this DPL showcase will be welcome by our hospitality community. There are very few opportunities to host a single sporting event that will create a positive economic boom countywide and this is certainly one of those opportunities.”
The Gardens North County District Park opened in June 2019 and sits on 82 acres of land in the City of Palm Beach Gardens. The $13.7 million project, funded through the one-cent sales tax program, broke ground in early 2018. Phase I has been completed and is currently open to the public. The area can be accessed from PGA Blvd or Central Blvd, through Shady Lakes Drive, and is adjacent to the City’s Tennis Center and Joseph R. Russo Athletic Complex. The Gardens North County District Park is equipped with seven lighted multipurpose fields.
For more on the DPL and its 2022/2023 season, please click here.
About Elite Tournaments
Founded in 2000 as a small family business, Elite Tournaments (www.elitetournaments.com) has organized more than 400 youth soccer and lacrosse events for different clubs, colleges, international and professional organizations. The company oversees more than 40 events per year, across the United States. Elite Tournaments' staff includes former high school and college coaches, referees and standout players whose own experiences inform the company's professional approach to event management. Elite Tournaments prides itself on organization and communication with tournament stakeholders in order to create successful events and lasting relationships.
About the DPL:
The DPL is an Elite National All-Girls League. The Mission of the DPL is to develop the player and empower the person in a purposeful and memorable environment.
The DPL Vision:
We believe through superior experiences, players will be able to showcase their talent, discover collegiate opportunities and create community around the game. We are a standards driven national league that will encourage clubs to compete and grow, maximizing the development of their players. By creating a cohesive framework in line with the most dynamic organizations in the country, where Nothing is Given and Everything Earned, we will raise the bar in youth soccer… together.
About the Palm Beach County Sports Commission
The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is a private, not-for-profit organization contracted by Palm Beach County to promote and market the County as a sports and sports tourism destination. The Commission brings sporting events and activities to the County, enhances economic impact, stimulates bed tax revenues (primarily in the off-season), and maximizes utilization of County facilities. The Commission offers a full range of event service support, corporate partnerships, sponsorships and a local membership program that support its goals. Local, regional, national and international marketing efforts are ongoing by the Commission with sports organizations and event owners. The Commission also produces sports-related programs for the residents of Palm Beach County including the annual Lou Groza Award program, the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame, and the Kids Fitness Festival of the Palm Beaches. For more information on the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, go to www.palmbeachsports.com.
There are no comments
Please login to post comments