Sports Council and Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission welcome US Quidditch back to Columbia
February 2, 2017
Get ready for round two! Quidditch teams and fans will be back in Columbia for the 2017 South Regional Championship at the Palmetto Health Fields at Saluda Shoals Park February 11 – 12, 2017.
Quidditch is a fast-paced, full contact sport inspired by the Harry Potter novels. Produced by US Quidditch (USQ), the South Regional Championship offers teams from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee the chance to qualify for the national championship.
This event is expected to draw about 1,200 attendees and generate an estimated $200,000 in economic impact.
Following the success of US Quidditch Cup 9 at the Palmetto Health Fields in April 2016, the Sports Council and ICRC once again collaborated to win the 2017 South Regional Championship.
“The Columbia Regional Sports Council is ecstatic to welcome USQ back for the South Regional Championship,” said Sports Council Sales Manager Jarrett Eason. “Once again, we can’t wait to cheer on all of the teams and welcome them and their fans back to Columbia. We are also very proud of our relationship with ICRC and that we can work with them on hosting an amazing event like this in Columbia.”
“We’re excited for USQ to be back for the Regional and hope for the opportunity to host them again for future events,” said ICRC Marked Development Director Ashley Smith. “The continued growth of our partnership with the Sports Council allows us to bring events like this to Columbia that are fun and have an incredible impact on the region.”
Aside from watching the matches, attendees can also enjoy activities such as the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the chance to learn how to play quidditch themselves.
“We’re so excited to be back in Columbia,” said USQ Events Director Mary Kimball. “Like at our national championship last spring, we’re teaching youth quidditch throughout the weekend. Bring your elementary, middle, and high school students to try out a non-contact adaption of the sport.”
Gates open to the public at 8 a.m. both days and the youth quidditch training sessions will take place at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11th and 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 12th. Admission to the event is free and press passes are available either during the day of the event or can be acquired in advance using this form. For additional information, please visithttps://www.usquidditch.org/about/South-RC.
About US Quidditch:
US Quidditch (USQ), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the national governing body for the sport of quidditch, organizes the USQ South Regional Championship. USQ advances the sport by organizing events and programs that build community and empower all genders to compete together. US Quidditch is not affiliated with JK Rowling, Warner Bros. or Time Warner. To learn more about quidditch, visit www.usquidditch.org.
About Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission:
The Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission exists to enhance the quality of life for all citizens of the district through the development of recreation programs that promote a lifestyle of wellness, physical activities and cultural experiences for all ages. For more information, visit icrc.net.
About Columbia Regional Sports Council:
The mission of the Columbia Regional Sports Council is to strengthen the area’s economy by marketing and selling Columbia, S.C. as a premier destination for sporting events, partnering with local sports organizations to grow and develop existing events, and by recruiting new events that provide an economic benefit to the region by generating room nights, food and beverage sales, and associated tax revenues. For more information, visit columbiasportscouncil.com.
