The Aurora Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (AACVB) and the Aurora Area Sports Alliance (AASA) announce they will play host to two national tournaments for the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA). The USSSA National Championship Great Lakes Fast-Pitch Girls Softball 14U “open” and 18U class “B” team tournaments will be held July 18-22 at Stuart Sports Complex, located at Griffin Drive & Route 30, in Montgomery, Illinois.
Awarding these tournaments to the Aurora Area is the result of months of planning between the Aurora Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Fox Valley Park District, who collaborated to create a memorable experience for the girls, both on and off the fields.
“When I came into Aurora’s pitch meeting to host these tournaments, I didn’t know what to expect. I have to say I was blown away by what they proposed,” said Ed White, Assistant State Director of USSSA Illinois.
“The Aurora Area was chosen over three other Chicagoland suburbs to host these tournaments. Stuart Sports Complex is a welcome change of scenery for us, and the Aurora Area provides many family-friendly sites and attractions that players and their families can enjoy when the kids aren’t playing,” said Perry Clark, State Director of USSSA Illinois. “We look forward to a successful, lasting partnership with the Aurora Area and the Fox Valley Park District."
“The Aurora Area is thrilled to host these USSSA events. This is precisely why we formed the Aurora Area Sports Alliance, so we can attract more tournaments and travelers to the region. The economic impact of sports tourism is huge, and we have just started to scratch the surface. We’re honored that USSSA has chosen the Aurora Area and Stuart Sports Complex as a home for tournament play,“ said Cort Carlson, Executive Director of the Aurora Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
USSSA anticipates over 2,000 attendees at the tournaments, with an anticipated economic impact of $1.8MM spent locally.
The tournament will use a 5-game guarantee format, and teams will then be seeded into pools based on current USSSA rankings. For information visit www.usssa.com.
About the USSSA: The USSSA (United States Specialty Sports Association) is a non-profit sports governing body that currently sanctions, creates, and promotes a variety of sports including softball, baseball, and basketball across the US, Puerto Rico, various US military bases, and Canada with a membership of over 3.7 million.
About the Aurora Area Sports Alliance (AASA): The AASA is comprised of representatives from like-minded organizations who support amateur sports of all types. In addition to the AACVB, these organizations include the City of Aurora, the Fox Valley Park District, Batavia Park District, Big Rock Park District, Sandwich Park District, Sugar Grove Park District, Yorkville Park District, area high schools, Aurora University, Waubonsee Community College, privately-owned sports facilities and area businesses. The AASA is committed to promoting the Aurora region as a prime destination for sports and recreation. The major goals of the AASA are to attract, create, support, and host sporting and recreational events that have a positive economic impact on the region, and assist in maximizing the potential of all regional sports facilities and venues. The AASA will strive to enhance the image of the Aurora Area by showcasing the community, promote wellness through healthy lifestyles, and improve the quality of life for community members of all ages.
About the Aurora Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (AACVB): Formed in 1987, the Aurora Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (AACVB) is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and marketing the area as a visitor destination. The goal of the AACVB is to enhance the economic and environmental well-being of our region compromised of 10 municipalities: Aurora, Batavia, Big Rock, Hinckley, Montgomery, North Aurora, Plano, Sandwich, Sugar Grove, and Yorkville. The AACVB aggressively promotes the area as an overnight destination and increases visitor awareness and expenditures for the maximum economic benefit of our tourism partners.
For more information about this topic, please contact Cort Carlson by calling (630) 256-3191 or email Cort at cort@enjoyaurora.com.
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