August 25, 2005 
Contact: Cory Blackson, Sports Information Director

Burlington Chosen to Host the 2006 and 2007 USA South Spring Sports Festivals

(BURLINGTON, N.C.) - USA South Athletic Conference Commissioner Rita Wiggs announced today at a press conference in Burlington, N.C., that the city has been selected to host the USA South Spring Sports Festival in 2006 and 2007. 

The inaugural USA South Spring Sports Festival will be held April 13 - 15, 2006.  The festival will feature the Conference tournaments for the USA South's six spring sports (baseball, softball, golf, women's lacrosse, women's tennis and men's tennis).  The event will kickoff with an opening ceremony held at Burlington's Historic Train Depot and Amphitheatre.  At the opening ceremony, the student-athletes of the sports will be honored as the All-Conference teams will be announced and awards presented.

Rita Wiggs, USA South Commissioner: "We are truly excited to partner with the City of Burlington and its Department of Recreation and Parks in the hosting of our inaugural Spring Sports Festival.  Bringing our six spring tournament to one community will provide many positive opportunities for the conduct of these events.  The Conference spring tournaments have always been exciting finales to the spring seasons and have catapulted the winners into the NCAA tournament.  Tony Laws and his staff did a phenomenal job in preparing the bid proposal to host this event and welcoming us to the Burlington community.  We thank them for their efforts and look forward to this joint venture that will provide our student-athletes with memories to last a lifetime."

Bob McEvoy, Director of Athletics at Methodist College and President of the USA South: "Locating our Spring Championships at one site will bring added energy, enthusiasm and create a great competitive environment for the coaches and student-athletes of the USA South Athletic Conference.  This festival format will really give us a chance to spotlight our conference and it's outstanding coaches and teams in a central location for our spring championships.  Burlington has done a great job putting together an attractive package to be the host city.  I'm sure our schools will have great lifelong memories of this landmark event for our Conference."

Mayor Stephen Ross: "We are very excited about the opportunity to host the USA South Athletic Conference in 2006 and 2007.  The selection of Burlington shows the dedication and professionalism of our Recreation and Parks department which has been able to host events ranging from small local teams to college conferences and national tournaments.  We are proud of the job done by our Recreation and Parks staff and know that they will provide the USA South Athletic Conference with professional and well-run tournaments.  The tournaments will be beneficial to our local economy."

Councilmember Don Starling: "We are extremely pleased that the USA South Athletic Conference has chosen Burlington to host its Spring Sports Festival in 2006 and 2007.  We will work very hard to make visiting Burlington a highlight for the athletes and their fans."

Councilmember David Huffman: "This is a really big deal! We are pleased to attract collegiate competition of this caliber to Alamance County."

Tony Laws, Director of Recreation and Parks: "Burlington is very proud to have been selected as the host for the first USA South Athletic Conference Spring Sports Festival.  We feel our facilities offer first class venues for the five sports and we are committed to providing a top flight event for the Conference."

The City of Burlington Recreation and Parks Department submitted the bid on behalf of the City of Burlington.  Three of the four sites to be used in Burlington are operated by the Recreation and Parks Department.  The sites to be used are the Burlington Athletic Stadium (baseball), Springwood Park (softball and lacrosse), Burlington Tennis Center (men's and women's tennis) and the Stoney Creek Golf Club (golf).  Burlington was founded in 1893 and is located on Interstate 40 between Greensboro, N.C. and Raleigh, N.C.

 

2006 Festival Sites
Sport	Location
Baseball	Burlington Athletic Stadium
Softball	Springwood Park
W. Lacrosse	Springwood Park
M. Tennis	Burlington Tennis Center
W. Tennis	Burlington Tennis Center
Golf	Stoney Creek Golf Club