21st Annual McDonald’s North American Sand Soccer Championships Welcomes 10,000 Players to Virginia Beach

20+ Block festival features 2,000 matches and pro international teams

Virginia Beach, Va. (June 3, 2014) – More than 10,000 soccer players from around the world will compete this weekend during the 2014 McDonald’s North American Sand Soccer Championships (NASSC), selected by Discovery/ESPN’s BRAND USA as one of the premiere sports tourism attractions in the United States. Cosmo Girl magazine named it one of the Top 100 Free Summer Attractions in the U.S. Celebrating its 21^st year, NASSC welcomes guest celebrity, Brazilian Alberto “Betto” Lima, a former USA national team star.  

From June 6–8 between 14^th and 36^th Streets at the Virginia Beach Boardwalk, players of every skill level will contend for titles during 2,000 high-energy matches. These action-packed matches typically feature 60 shots on goal per game. The Southeast Tourism Society repeatedly recognizes the NASSC as one of its Top 20 Summer Events. The Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) estimates the event to generate approximately 2,500 room nights and an estimated $2.6 million in direct visitor spending. Tourism is a driving force for Virginia Beach’s economy, creating jobs and generating a strong economic impact.  

Spectators will see many of the top U.S. and international men’s teams battling for a significant cash purse during the weekend’s main attraction, the NASSC U.S. Open. This high-visibility pro competition will take place in the focal point of the 20+ block soccer festival, a beach stadium on 24^th Street. The activities begin Friday night, June 6^th, on the beach with a free clinic for kids 13 and under led by Alberto Lima. Scheduled to appear over the weekend are reigning “Miss Virginia” Desiree Williams and several senior officials from Beach Soccer Worldwide and the U.S. Soccer Federation.  

The NASSC has evolved into a multifaceted festival by incorporating “SideKick” offerings like the co-ed Flag Football Beach Blastoff, the North American Beach SandLAX Championships, the North American Beach Wrestling Championships and Beach Tennis USA. The festival serves as the annual primary fundraiser for the benefit of the Hampton Roads Soccer Complex in Virginia Beach, one of the nation’s premier soccer venues.   The public and media are invited to watch the soccer matches. There is no charge for spectators.