5 Reasons to Make Our Smoky Mountain Football Tournament Your New Thanksgiving Tradition
Playing football on Thanksgiving is a time-honored American tradition. That’s why Rocky Top Sports World is very excited to host the 44th Annual Smoky Mountain Thanksgiving Youth Football Tournament! We’ve put together five reasons to make this Smoky Mountain football tournament part of your Turkey Day celebration:
1. Perfect Time for a Tournament
Many folks are lucky enough to have several days off for Thanksgiving, making it a great time for the entire family to cheer on their star football player! The weigh-ins start on Wednesday, November 25 and continue through Thursday, November 26, while the games will be played from Thursday through Saturday, November 28. The Thanksgiving holiday presents the perfect opportunity to get a team together for one last game before winter arrives. In addition, the fall season in the Smoky Mountains is cool and crisp, making it the perfect football weather for a tournament.
2. Multiple Age Division Brackets
The Smoky Mountain Thanksgiving Youth Football Tournament features several division brackets for kids ages 6-13 years old. This way, every participant gets to play in a competitive atmosphere with other players their age. Each team will have at least a two game minimum, but it is hoped that all players get to participate in three games over the Thanksgiving weekend. The actual number of games will be dependent upon the number of teams that participate in each of the divisions. In 2013 and 2014, the tournament hosted more than 120 teams from 10 states. However, since there are more fields available at Rocky Top Sports World, the 2015 tournament may set new attendance records!
3. Excellent Facilities
The Thanksgiving Smoky Mountain football tournament provides the perfect opportunity to check out the incredible facilities at Rocky Top Sports World. Our 80 acre athletic complex is quickly becoming the most talked about tournament destination in the Southeast! The Smoky Mountain Thanksgiving Youth Football Tournament will be played on our 6 state-of-the-art synthetic turf fields. In addition to our outdoor fields, Rocky Top Sports World has an 86,000 square foot indoor facility with 6 basketball courts, 12 volleyball courts, team rooms, and much more. When coming into town for the football tournament, be sure to explore our impressive complex.
4. Plenty of Lodging Options
With so many teams expected for the upcoming tournament, one might wonder where everyone is going to stay! The great news is that Rocky Top Sports World is just 5 miles outside of Gatlinburg, one of the most popular vacation spots in the country. The Gatlinburg area offers hundreds of lodging opportunities for players and their families. Rocky Top Sports World is working with T3 Travel, the city of Gatlinburg, and multiple hotel partners to secure excellent lodging near our facility at the best group rates available.
5. Other Local Activities to Enjoy
Due to Rocky Top Sports World’s ideal location, there are many other activities to enjoy in the region before or after the Smoky Mountain football tournament. Why not extend your Thanksgiving vacation so you can appreciate everything that Gatlinburg and the surrounding area has to offer? From scenic hikes through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, family friendly attractions, and adventure sports such as ziplining and whitewater rafting, the area has something for everyone.
Be sure to register for the Thanksgiving Bowl today to reserve your spot in the tournament!
