USSSA youth baseball, softball make lasting economic impact

Media Contact:

Ally Dorrough • Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism
[email protected] • GulfShores.com/Sports/Media-Room
1-800-745-SAND • 251-968-9327 (direct) • 334-752-7745 (cell)

GULF SHORES AND ORANGE BEACH, ALA. – Since 2009, the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) has crowned numerous Global Sports World Series champions and left behind millions in economic impact for south Baldwin County. During the summer of 2018, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach will welcome 968 teams to the area for more sluggers and summer fun.

Over the years, USSSA has attracted thousands of youth athletes and their families to Alabama’s beaches. The event series’ room night numbers have grown tremendously from 8,013 in 2009 to more than 67,718 in 2017. Additionally, USSSA contributed $80.44 million in direct visitor spending to the area’s economy in 2017.

 “USSSA reflects the core of our beach visitor base – families,” said Beth Gendler, vice president of the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission. “Each summer, we have the privilege of welcoming thousands of the families to Alabama’s beaches to experience quality competition on the fields and new adventures in the destination. Those guests take home lifelong memories and leave behind economic impact.”

The following USSSA world series events take place in June and July at the Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Foley Sportsplexes:

• June 18-23: USSSA Global Sports Baseball World Series 1
• June 25-30: USSSA Global Sports Baseball World Series 2
• July 1-5: USSSA Recreation Softball World Series
• July 2-7: USSSA Global Sports Baseball World Series 3
• July 9-14: USSSA Global Sports Baseball World Series 4
• July 15-21: USSSA Softball "C" Fastpitch World Series (National and Gulf Coast Championship)
• July 16-21: USSSA Global Sports Baseball World Series 5
• July 23-28: USSSA Global Sports Baseball World Series 6

Other athletic events taking place throughout the summer include the Dance Grand Nationals (July 4-7), Flora-Bama’s Gulf Coast Paddle Championship (July 21), NAGA U.S. National Grappling Championship (July 24-25) and Waterville USA Flow Tour (July 28).

Visit USSSA.com to learn more about USSSA. For information on upcoming athletic events along Alabama’s Gulf Coast, visit GulfShores.com/Sports, or call 1-800-745-SAND.

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Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission Summer Sports Schedule:

• June 8-10: USA Softball of Alabama National Qualifier
• June 9: Gulf Coast Region Beach Blast National Beach Tour Regional Qualifier
• June 15-17: USTA Gulf Shores Summer Slam Tennis Tournament
• June 15-17: USSSA Fastpitch South State Tournament
• June 15-17: USSSA Global Sports Baseball Summer Games Session 1
• June 16: LuLu's Hot Trot for ARC 5K Run/Walk
• June 18-23: USSSA Global Sports Baseball World Series 1
• June 23: PIVC Sand Storm Open - National Beach Tour Regional Qualifier
• June 25-30: USSSA Global Sports Baseball World Series 2
• June 28-29: Thompson High School Football (7 on 7)
• July 1-5: USSSA Recreation Softball World Series
• July 2-7: USSSA Global Sports Baseball World Series 3
• July 4: The Shark Run
• July 4-7: Dance Grand Nationals
• July 7: Gulf Coast Region Grand Championship National; Beach Tour Regional Qualifier Championship
• July 9-14: USSSA Global Sports Baseball World Series 4
• July 15-21: USSSA Softball "C" Fastpitch World Series (National and Gulf Coast Championship)
• July 16-21: USSSA Global Sports Baseball World Series 5
• July 21: 4th Annual Flora-Bama's Gulf Coast Paddle Championship
• July 21-22: NAGA U.S. National Grappling Championship
• July 23-28: USSSA Global Sports Baseball World Series 6
• July 24-25: Alabama Women's State Four-Ball Championship
• July 28: Waterville USA Flow Tour
• Aug. 11: Alabama's Strongest Man VI
• Aug. 30-31: Thompson High School Football

Photos:

Download: https://gsob.co/2LM1HOA
Caption: The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) Global Sports World Series headlines a strong lineup of summer sports in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.
Credit: Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission

About Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission:

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission is a partnership between Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism (GSOBT), the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber and the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. In 2007, this commission became a department within GSOBT. In this role, the commission – along with assistance from both cities – works to bring quality sporting events to Alabama’s Gulf Coast. To learn more about a whole different state of play, please visit GulfShores.com/Sports.