HUNTSVILLE — The community has embraced soccer for years, and now, for the first time ever, the ultimate soccer celebration will take place as John Hunt Park becomes the epicenter of a full weekend of sports with the the arrival of Huntsville City Soccer Fest.
The inaugural festival is set for Presidents Day weekend (Feb. 16-18) and is comprised of several soccer events – Huntsville City FC Blastoff Battle, Soccer Fest High School Invitational and Falcon Fest. Soccer Fest is a collaboration between the City of Huntsville, Huntsville City Football Club and Huntsville Sports Commission, with assistance from several community partners.
Aside from Soccer Fest, there are several other events happening next weekend, including:
- AHSAA State Wrestling Tournament at Prost Arena at Von Braun Center
- NASA Volleyball Bash at VBC South Hall
- Southeastern Swimming Short Course Championships at the Huntsville Aquatics Center
- College Hockey South DII Playoffs at the Huntsville Ice Sports Center.
The estimated economic impact for all the events is more than $6.5 million. For more information and schedules, visit www.huntsvillesports.com.
Meanwhile the marquee event on the pitch will be the Blastoff Battle at Wicks Family Field at Joe Davis Stadium next Friday and Sunday.
“We’re very excited to be a part of this and a big part of me coming to Huntsville was seeing how impressive the community is and how big soccer is in the community,” Huntsville City FC coach Jack Collison said. “And being a part of that and helping it grow has been fantastic. And obviously for us leading up to the Blastoff Battle, I don’t think there’s any better opener for us than to play against UAH.
“(UAH coach) John Carrier does a fantastic job with the team over there, and they’ve been a great support to us as well throughout in terms of lending us players, bringing people in on trial friendly games. It’s great that we get to do battle in the Joe on a Friday night under the lights against John and his team.”
- Blastoff Battle
The Blastoff Battle is a friendly four-team invitational tournament that features Huntsville City FC, Chattanooga FC, South Georgia Tormenta FC of USL League One and the University of Alabama at Huntsville. The event will take place at Wicks Family Field at Joe Davis Stadium. Tickets are $15 per day or $25 for a weekend pass.
Huntsville City FC Blastoff Battle Schedule
| Feb. 17 | |
| 4 p.m. | Chattanooga FC vs. South Georgia Tormenta |
| 7 p.m. | Huntsville City FC vs. UAH |
| Feb. 18 | |
| 11 a.m. | Chattanooga FC vs. UAH |
| 2:15 p.m. | Huntsville City FC vs. South Georgia Tormenta |
- Soccer Fest High School Invitational
The Soccer Fest High School Invitational brings together the top soccer programs in Alabama at the newly renovated Loretta P. Spencer Sports Complex, which will also welcome the AHSAA State Soccer Championships in May. This event is free to attend.
Huntsville City High School Invitational Schedule
| Feb. 17 | |
| 9 a.m. | Hazel Green vs Sparkman |
| 11 a.m. | Randolph vs. Montgomery Academy |
| 1 p.m. | Bob Jones vs Grissom (JV match) |
| 3 p.m. | Bob Jones vs. Grissom (Varsity match) |
| 5 p.m. | Huntsville High vs. Fort Payne |
| 7 p.m. | Austin vs. West Morgan |
- Falcon Fest
Hosted by St. John Paul II Catholic School at the Merrimack West Soccer Complex, the two-day Falcon Fest brings several boys and girls varsity and junior varsity teams together. Tournament passes for guests are $10 per day or $15 for the weekend.
Falcon Fest Schedule
| Feb. 16 | Field 11 | Field 12 | Field 13 | Field 14 |
| 4 p.m. | JPII vs. Buckhorn (VG) | Bob Jones vs. Gadsden City (VG) | Whitesburg Christian vs. Lee (VG) | JPII vs. Columbia (JVB) |
| 5:30 p.m. | JPII vs. Bob Jones (JVG) | Gardendale vs. Gadsden City (VB) | Columbia vs. Fairhope (VB) | JPII vs Buckhorn (VB) |
| 7 p.m. | Lindsay Lane Christian vs. Westminster Christian (JVG) | Fairhope vs. Buckhorn (JVB) | ||
| Feb. 17 | Field 11 | Field 12 | Field 13 | Field 14 |
| 8 a.m. | JPII vs. Bob Jones (VG) | Gadsden City vs. Lee (VG) | Buckhorn vs. Whitesburg Christian (VG) | Gardendale vs. JPII (VB) |
| 9:30 a.m. | JPII vs. Westminster Christian (JVG) | Bob Jones vs. Lindsay Christian (JVG) | Fairhope vs. Columbia (JVB) | Buckhorn vs. JPII (JVB) |
| 11 a.m. | Fairhope vs. Buckhorn (VB) | Gadsden City vs. Columbia (VB) | ||
| 12:30 p.m. | JPII vs. Lee (VG) | Gadsden City vs. Whitesburg Christian (VG) | Bob Jones vs. Buckhorn (VG) | |
| 2 p.m. | JPII vs. Lindsay Lane Christian (JVG) | Whitesburg Christian vs. Bob Jones (JVG) | Columbia vs. Buckhorn (JVB) | JPII vs. Gadsden City (VB) |
| 3:30 p.m. | Fairhope vs. Gardendale (VB) | Buckhorn vs. Columbia (VB) | Fairhope vs. JPII (JVB) |
Aside from Huntsville City Soccer Fest, there are several other events happening next weekend, including:
- AHSAA State Wrestling Tournament at Prost Arena at Von Braun Center
- NASA Volleyball Bash at VBC South Hall
- Southeastern Swimming Short Course Championships at the Huntsville Aquatics Center
- College Hockey South DII Playoffs at the Huntsville Ice Sports Center.
The estimated economic impact for all the events is more than $6.5 million. For more information and schedules, visit www.huntsvillesports.com.
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