Haunted Classic Soccer Tournament in Beavercreek

The Beavercreek Soccer Association (BSA) announced today that nearly 600 teams from a five-state region will play in the BSA’s 10th Annual Haunted Classic Soccer Tournament, Oct. 20-21.

 

The event, the largest two-day soccer tournament in the nation, will bring close to 9,000 families, 21,000 spectators and about $5.2 million in tourist spending to the region, said Tournament Co-Director Tim Grinstead.

 

Teams will travel up to 270 miles away from Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, and throughout Ohio to play in the tournament, which is hosted at three locations: Ankeney Fields & Hobson Freedom Park, in Beavercreek; and Sackett-Wright Park in Bellbrook. 

 

 “The reason we’ve grown to become the most popular two-day soccer tournament in the nation is the tremendous support we’ve received throughout the community,” said Grinstead. “Since we started 10 years ago, the tournament has received incredible support from Greene County, the City of Beavercreek and Beavercreek Township. On a more personal level, the visiting families say they really like the way they are treated at our local restaurants, shops and hotels, as well as by our small army of 600 volunteers who do everything from direct traffic to pick up trash.” 

 

Local officials echoed Grinstead’s sentiments. 

 

“Sports tournaments are highly sought after in the tourism world because they are so family friendly and create such a positive economic impact,” said Kathleen Wright, Executive Director of the Greene County Convention and Visitors Bureau.  “This two-day tournament generates more than 2,000 room nights for local hotels, and many restaurants enjoy their highest-selling weekends of the year during the Haunted Classic.”

 

Grinstead said the tournament expanded this year to include Bellbrook’s Sackett-Wright Park in order to provide the 70 fields needed to host the nearly 600 teams, who each play at least 3 games. 

 

“The rate-limiting factor for our tournament isn’t community support, it’s the lack of referees,” said Grinstead. “We have to attract 300 soccer refs from all over a four-state region in order to staff nearly 1,000 games. Fortunately for us, our soccer refs love the hospitality they experience here just as much as the soccer families.” 

 

For more information on the Haunted Classic Soccer Tournament, see: hauntedclassic.com