ATLANTA – (December 15, 2023) – The ATL Airport District, the destination marketing organization for the cities of College Park, Hapeville, and Union City, Ga., will host United Futsal for its inaugural Sunshine Regional Showcase and Conference in Atlanta. The highly anticipated tournament will take place at the Georgia International Convention Center on Saturday, January 6 and Sunday, January 7. With more than 700 athletes representing a total of 94 teams from across the United States, the Atlanta event is expected to be one of the top futsal events of the 2023-2024 season.
"Hosting the Sunshine Regional Showcase and Conference in Atlanta has been 10 years in the making, and we are thrilled that it's finally taking place,” said Rob Andrews, president of United Futsal. “The local response has been great as expected, but we are most encouraged by the interest from teams outside Atlanta who credit the proximity to the airport, ease of travel, and accommodation options as reasons they’ll be choosing this new location over some of our other events. The entire ATL Airport District staff have made us feel at home since the start, and we look forward to building on this relationship for the future.”
Futsal, described as a smaller version of soccer, is played on an indoor court with five players per team – four field players and one goalkeeper. Founded in 2010 as USA Futsal, United Futsal fosters the development and growth of the game in the United States by connecting players, coaches, referees, and fans to the vast world of futsal. Since its inaugural event in 2012, United Futsal has rapidly expanded its international network to players and clubs from more than 24 countries.
"With the increasing popularity of soccer in Atlanta, we are honored to host United Futsal for its inaugural event in our city and excited to introduce this growing game to the local community," said Cookie Smoak, president of the ATL Airport District. "We look forward to providing a safe and memorable experience for the athletes and fans, as we welcome at least 42 teams from outside the Greater Atlanta Metropolitan Area!"
The teams participating in the Sunshine Regional Showcase and Conference are vying for qualification to the Orlando Event Series, United Futsal’s culminating event. The series consists of three separate tournaments – the Champions Cup Series Nationals, the Showcase Series Nationals and the World Futsal Championships. Each event has its own unique requirements and qualifications, but fundamentally, they bring clubs from across the world to compete for three separate championship titles.
Spectators can purchase single-day tickets for $12 or weekend tickets for $20 online. For more information about United Futsal’s Sunshine Regional Showcase Series or to purchase tickets, visit UnitedFutsal.com
To learn more about the ATL Airport District, call 404-334-7500 or visit ATLdistrict.com. For updates on everything in “the District,” follow @ATLDistrict on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
For more information on the Georgia International Convention Center, visit GICC.com or follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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About the ATL Airport District
The ATL Airport District is the official destination marketing organization for the cities of College Park, Hapeville and Union City, Georgia. Home to the world’s most traveled airport, Georgia’s second largest convention center, more than 7,000 hotel rooms, an abundance of arts and culture, an eclectic mix of great restaurants, and located just minutes from downtown Atlanta, the ATL Airport District offers big-city amenities balanced with Southern charm.
About Gateway Center Campus
Gateway Center Campus, located in College Park, Georgia, is comprised of the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC), the Gateway Center Arena, the Historic College Park Golf Course and six hotels, all connected by the ATL SkyTrain, a complimentary two-minute ride to and from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and the Centralized Rental Car Center (Con-RAC). The GICC is Georgia’s second-largest convention center and the only convention center directly connected to a major U.S. airport. The Gateway Center Arena is a state-of-the-art, 5,000-seat venue, serving as the home arena for the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream and the College Park Skyhawks, in addition to hosting a variety of sporting and entertainment events throughout the year. The Historic College Park Golf Course, originally built in 1929, features undulating fairways and elevated greens, making it one of the most challenging courses in the greater Atlanta metropolitan area. For more information, visit GatewayCenterCampus.com.
Media Contact:
Cameron Trice, Hemsworth Communications
770-286-2207 or AADPR@HemsworthCommunications.com
