USA Field Hockey and Tampa Bay Sports Commission Extend Agreement to Host National Hockey Festival Through 2024

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Field Hockey is pleased to announce the extension of the partnership with the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, Visit Tampa Bay and Tournament Sportsplex of Tampa Bay, to host the 2023 and 2024 National Hockey Festival. The three-day event will take place from Thanksgiving Thursday and run through Saturday.

“We are so appreciative that USA Field Hockey has committed to hosting its flagship event in Tampa through 2024,” commented Jason Aughey, Senior Vice President of Sports Tourism of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. “Today’s announcement is a testament to the relationship we have cultivated with USA Field Hockey, one of the preeminent national governing bodies in this country, as well as our community’s ability to roll out the red carpet and deliver a first-rate experience for their players, coaches, families and partners.”

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.

“We are delighted for Tampa to host the prestigious National Hockey Festival through 2024,” said Simon Hoskins, USA Field Hockey’s Executive Director. “The facility is already world-class and continues to receive improvements and the location in Florida is superb.”

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 and 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 2023 National Hockey Festival will open Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. ET, and 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 and will have early access to the event. The 2023 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.