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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Field Hockey will once again partner with the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, Visit Tampa Bay and Tournament Sportsplex of Tampa Bay to host the 2022 National Hockey Festival. The event will take place from Thursday, November 24 through Saturday, November 26 and USA Field Hockey is proud of the continued relationship.
“We are thrilled that USA Field Hockey has elected to return to Tampa Bay in 2022,” commented Jason Aughey, Senior Vice President of Sports Tourism of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. “Hosting the National Hockey Festival has had a profound impact on our community in so many ways. From the economic impact it generates over Thanksgiving week for our local businesses, hotel partners and Tampa International Airport to the exposure it creates for the sport of field hockey in the market, this signature event is one we hope to keep in Tampa Bay long term.”
The Tournament Sportsplex of Tampa Bay is a multi-sport championship facility designed to bring elite tournaments to the area. The facility, located in southeast Hillsborough County, is centrally located to the airport, interstates, and downtown Tampa. The Sportsplex is a 15 full-size field venue, including one championship field, that all have professionally maintained Celebration Bermudagrass® playing surface. This state-of-the-art venue is managed year-round by the Tampa Sports Authority (TSA), who also manages Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and several golf courses around the Bay area. The TSA’s professional grounds team will deliver a competition surface quality that will be second to none. Since the 2019 National Hockey Festival, the Sportsplex has been further improved with the expansion of parking facilities, improved food vending and upgraded facility rooms.
“Tampa has become a firm favorite for the field hockey community, especially those traveling into the area from around the country,” said Simon Hoskins, USA Field Hockey’s Executive Director. “The Tournament Sportsplex is a world class facility, the hotels, restaurants, city and of course the weather are huge pluses for the tournament and working with the very professional staff at the Tampa Bay Sports Commission makes the National Hockey Festival an incredible event for USA Field Hockey.”
The Tournament Sportsplex of Tampa Bay is located 10 minutes from more than 6,000 hotel rooms and the downtown Tampa Bay area, that features an array of restaurants and entertainment experiences. There are attractions less than 20 minutes away including Busch Gardens, Adventure Island the Florida Aquarium. Supported by a strong airport with more than 83 nonstop routes and 21 carriers, Festival participants will be able to find convenient and affordable flights that will place them within 15 minutes of most major hotel brands and 25 minutes from the competition venue.
Registration for the event will open Wednesday, June 1 2022 at 12:00 p.m. ET, when teams will be able to put a deposit down to guarantee their spot for the event. Previous year’s attendees will also have an option for a Legacy Registration. This year’s Festival will feature U-12 Co-Ed (7v7), U-14 Co-Ed (7v7), U-14 Girls (7v7), U-14 Girls (11v11), U-16 Girls (11v11), U-19 Girls (11v11), U-19 Boys (7v7), Adult Women’s (11v11) and Adult Mixed (11v11) divisions. All USA Field Hockey Member Clubs should mark their calendars as more information will be communicated prior to the date.
Any questions relating to the National Hockey Festival should be directed to events@usafieldhockey.com.