More than 100 young football players and their families from the United States are expected in Bermuda later this month for a new Bermuda Tourism Authority-sponsored youth tournament called Bermuda Triangle Cup.
Bermudians who have a passion for youth football are behind the idea and were able to bring the event to the National Sports Centre, March 24th – 26th, 2016. Grotto Bay Beach Resort is the event’s host hotel.
“This is a great example of how proud Bermudians are able to bring it home for the country,” said Pat Phillip-Fairn, chief product and experiences development officer for the Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA). “The strongest leads for attracting group travel often start with someone outside of the tourism industry pitching the island because they want others to love Bermuda as much as they do. That is exactly what happened in this case and we are thrilled at the outcome.”
Bermudians Dennis Brown, Brian Martin and Cal Blankendal worked between their contacts in the U.S. and at Bermuda’s Brazilian Football School to make the Triangle Cup a reality. Youth teams from Bermuda will compete against players from the United States during the tournament.
The Bermuda Triangle Cup is funded through the BTA’s Tourism Experiences investment process. On behalf of the Triangle Cup, Mr Blankendal said: “We’re thrilled to merge our passion for football with our love for Bermuda and we’re grateful to have the support of the Bermuda Tourism Authority to get this idea off the ground. Football is truly a global sport and it’s exciting to bring together our connections here and overseas to make the Triangle Cup a reality.”
Attracting sports teams for training camps and tournaments has been a strategic focus of the BTA, particularly in the shoulder season from November through March. In the past year field hockey and lacrosse teams have visited the island. The Danish National Swim Team also had a pre-Olympics training camp at the National Sports Centre (NSC) pool. Next week a new Rugby 7s tournament will come to Bermuda bringing more than 200 high school and colligate players. Much of the sports tourism activity in the past year is facilitated through a partnership agreement between the BTA and the NSC.
Phillip-Fairn said, “We have long said interlocking visitors and locals in the Bermuda experience leads to positive feedback from guests. And this event is particularly special because it involves our young people and their families from home and abroad. We hope to see the Bermuda Triangle Cup grow in the years to come.”
