News & More
Sun Belt and Foley Mark a Decade of Memories
A lot has changed in the last decade but one thing that has remained strong is the partnership between Foley Sports Tourism and the Sun Belt Conference. This year the conference’s Women’s Soccer Championship tournament will run November 3 – 8 and it will mark the tenth time the title has been awarded in Foley.
In 2016 the Sun Belt Conference moved the Women’s Soccer Championship from member-school sites to the Foley Sports Tourism Championship Stadium. The relationship began as a five-year agreement to host just the soccer championship. Then in 2021, a ten-year deal was reached to host three events per year, making Foley the home of the Women’s Soccer Championship, Volleyball Championship, and Cross Country Championships through 2030. In the spring of this year Foley also became the home of the Sun Belt Beach Volleyball Championships.
Over the last ten years a lot has changed but a lot has stayed the same, said David Thompson, City of Foley Executive Director of Leisure Services.
“Formats have changed. Champions have changed. Even the stadium itself has evolved,” Thompson said. “But the relationship between FST and the Sun Belt Conference hasn’t wavered. Both organizations remain committed to giving the best possible experience to those attending these championships. Win or lose, each team has worked incredibly hard to earn their opportunity to play here. We want them to remember that. Yes, champions are crowned in Foley, but we’re more excited about the core memories every player who takes that field gets to carry home.”
This tenth year of competition, promises to keep up the excitement of years past and guarantee unforgettable moments for everyone who attends. With only a handful of points separating the top eight teams, the opportunity for upsets is real and everyone has a shot to win. The format is an 8-team single-elimination bracket, which means every single game is important, exciting, and worth the trip to see it in person. The Sun Belt and Foley Sports Tourism want to make the fun accessible to everyone so tickets and parking at all games are absolutely free including the November 8 championship game when one deserving team will hoist the trophy under the bright stadium lights.
“We are incredibly grateful for our long-term partnership with Foley Sports Tourism and the City of Foley,” said Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill. “Beginning with women’s soccer in 2016, this decade-long partnership has expanded over the years, enabling us to elevate the championship experiences for our student-athletes in men’s and women’s cross country, women’s soccer, volleyball and beach volleyball.”
The Sun Belt Women’s Soccer Championship tournament begins Monday, November 3, at 11 a.m. For a game schedule visit the Sun Belt website. For more information on this or any FST event visit our events page.
