The Wildwoods are a popular destination for youth sports events of all kinds, attracting crowds from all over the country.
The Wildwoods, NJ – February 03, 2025 – Each year, the Wildwoods host thousands of young athletes, and spectators, all coming to the shore resort to compete in an ever-growing number of youth sporting events. From the Wildwoods Convention center to the beach and beyond, the shore town has become a youth sports mecca throughout its year-round roster of events. With thousands of accommodations and a fully equipped beachfront convention center, the Wildwoods have proven to be a resort that’s fully committed to, and experienced at, hosting large youth sporting events.
Youth sports competitions take place at the Wildwoods Convention Center year-round or on the destination’s expansive beaches. In 2003, eight youth sporting events took place in the Wildwoods, with a total attendance of 15,380. That number has grown to 26 youth sports events in 2024, with a total attendance of 72,770 people. Since 2003, the Wildwoods have had over 325 group bookings for youth sports-related events with over 800,000 athletes participating. Their economic impact has contributed to the Wildwoods ability to become a year-round destination.
These events – ranging from beach soccer and Frisbee tournaments; to cheerleading competitions and basketball tournaments; to beach hockey and lacrosse; to baseball on the beach and national wrestling, cheerleading and gymnastics championships – bring a significant amount of economic revenue to the five-mile island. For years, youth sporting events in the Wildwoods have grown in popularity, with the indoor and outdoor events attracting crowds from all over the Northeast and throughout the US.
“The Wildwoods have become a haven for youth sports, in part due to the unmistakable backdrop of our iconic town’s beaches, boardwalk, and convention center,” said Louis Belasco, Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement Development Authority (GWTIDA) Executive Director. “Everyone, from the Convention Center staff to the city’s Public Works Department, offers unprecedented support and assistance to make every event a success.”
The Wildwoods’ five miles of beautiful white sand beaches are often ranked among the best beaches in the country and are also the largest beaches on the entire East Coast, making them the perfect setting for large outdoor sporting events. Whether it’s surfing, boogie board or swimming competitions, beach soccer tournaments, field hockey & lacrosse tournaments, Ultimate Frisbee championships, baseball on the beach tournaments, volleyball, or track and field competitions – if you can imagine it, the Wildwoods can host it. Add to that, bleacher seating for over 3,000 for spectators, and the Wildwoods’ enormous beaches are the perfect outdoor venue for any sporting event.
The Wildwoods Convention Center is a modern, multi-purpose facility equipped with exhibit, ballroom, meeting, and pre-function space. Located on the world-famous Wildwoods Boardwalk directly overlooking the beach and ocean, this unique, state-of-the-art, 260,000-square-foot facility offers one of the most spacious, flexible, innovative, and inviting venues available for sporting events, conventions, trade shows, meetings, concerts, and exhibits. Located within a day’s drive of one-third of America’s population, it can accommodate groups as small as 100 or as large as 10,000. The Wildwoods Convention Center can accommodate sporting events with up to 5,000 competitors with ease.
Right outside the Convention Center doors is a 38-block exciting Boardwalk with three amusement piers with over 100-rides and attractions, 3-beachfront Waterparks, arcades, carnival games, shops and over 200-eateries to enjoy between or after competitions.
There are also a large number of hotel/motel rooms available at affordable rates during the off-season, plus over 4,000 vacation rentals to choose from. And, with plenty of great family restaurants, hundreds of eateries on its two-mile boardwalk with, and more than 180 free island-wide events and festivals annually, the Wildwoods are the perfect location for hosting and attending any youth sporting event, any time of year.
The Wildwoods Convention Center’s flexible, multi-use modern facility continues to draw impactful events to the region. This has advanced the Wildwoods as not only a great place to vacation, but as a great place to work, play, and live.
Looking ahead to youth sporting events for 2025:
January 30-February 2: National Youth Wrestling Duals
February 15-16: Spirit Brands Cheerleading “Nationals”
February 22-23: Cheer Tech Spirit National Championships
March 1: Spirit Brands “The Cheer Movement
March 7-9: Mid-Atlantic Cheerleading Championships Grand Nationals
March 29-30: Special Olympics NJ Spring Games Basketball
April 12: Spirit Brands Cheerleading “Shore Showdown”
April 13: Sprit Brands Cheerleading “Beast of the East”
April 17-19: “War at the Jersey Shore” National Youth Wrestling Championships
April 26: Feis at the Beach Irish Dance Competition
April 27: Four Provinces Feis Irish Dance Competition
May 1-4: Tournament of Bands Indoor Championships
May 10: Spirit Brands Cheerleading “North American Spirit” Tournament
June 16-19: National Marbles Tournament
June 28-29: Cape Express Beach Blast Soccer
July 13: Battle on the Beach Flag Football Tournament
July 19-20: Cape Express More Beach Blast Soccer
July 26-27: Ultimate Beach Frisbee Tournament
August 2: Morey’s Mania Beach Wrestling Tournament
August 3: Sticks in the Sand Beach Hockey Tournament
August 8-10; 15-17: MudHen Beach Baseball Tournament
November 2: Spirit Brands “American Rec. and School Cheer Championship”
November 16: Spirit Brands “Island Championship and Dance Nationals”
December 13: Spirit Brands Cheerleading “The Festival”
December 26-31: Boardwalk Basketball Classic
For a complete list of youth sporting events and additional information about the Wildwoods, visit www.WildwoodsNJ.com or call 800-992-9732.
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