TAMPA, Fla. – November 27, 2019 – Tomorrow field hockey comes to Tampa, Fla. for the 2019 National Hockey Festival, presented by CranBarry. USA Field Hockey is excited to see you all! The annual Thanksgiving tradition will once again bring new faces, fresh talent and experiences to the Sunshine State. Here is a sneak peak of what’s in store for the 39th edition of this can’t miss tournament. It’s supposed to be a beautiful, sunny 80 degree weekend in Tampa!
One of the Largest Field Hockey Gatherings in the Nation
Thousands of athletes will put their skills to the test across 15 fields at the Tournament Sportsplex of Tampa Bay. USA Field Hockey’s National Hockey Festival will be the first major field hockey tournament to be played at the brand new, state-of-the-art complex. Each playing surface is Celebration Bermudagrass® turf and professionally maintained, including the quad and championship fields. Interestingly, each field is painted to precision with an on-site robot.
The Tournament Sportsplex of Tampa Bay separates itself from other sporting venues in a number of ways. It is the only venue of its kind in the surrounding Tampa Bay area that is equipped to host full Wi-Fi capabilities throughout the entire complex. It is also the only park in Hillsborough County that is fully LED lit, with 50-foot-candles on the championship field and 30-foot-candles on all other fields. Each light also features a shield for premium night-time lighting while also re-directing light from nearby neighborhoods.
Parking
Starting on Thursday, thousands of field hockey fans, athletes, coaches, umpires and families will be on site for competition. Before arriving, please take a moment to get familiar with directions and parking at the Tournament Sportsplex of Tampa Bay. And, please allow ample time for arrival!
Cars will only be able to make a right turn into the complex while driving west on E. Columbus Drive. Traffic will not be allowed to make a left-hand turn into the entrance of the complex if coming east. Therefore, drivers will want to take N. Falkenburg Road to E. Columbus Drive.
If arriving from the west, cars will be directed down E. Columbus Drive to make a U-turn which will allow right turns into the complex entrance.
There are two areas of off-site parking that will be used. Please refer to the Sportsplex Overflow Parking Options map to familiarize yourself with those locations. If parking on-site is full the first lot that cars will be directed to is the PSOC lot. This lot is within walking distance of the complex and there is sidewalk leading to the entrance. The second area for overflow parking will be located at the Falkenburg Complex and will have shuttle service available.
Handicap Accessibility and Drop Off
USA Field Hockey and the Tournament Sportsplex of Tampa Bay would like to make it as easy as possible for those needing special assistance. Handicap drop off will be available as needed if on-site parking areas are full. Chauffeured golf carts will be used to transport those requiring assistance within the complex
CLICK HERE for Parking Instructions and Map
Concessions
Everyone needs to refuel during competition! Multiple food trucks will be on site throughout Festival, offering a variety of options to choose from on game days and between matches. See below for a full schedule.
Thursday, November 28:
Casablanca Fusion (Mexican)
Gourmet Crepes and Coffee Creations
Tikiz Shaved Ice
Friday, November 29 and Saturday, November 30:
Casablanca Fusion
Gourmet Crepes and Coffee Creations
Ribs n’ Such BBQ
Tikiz Shaved Ice
#FHFestival19
The National Hockey Festival is an annual tradition, with each and every fan able to contribute to a digital scrapbook! Use the hashtag #FHFestival19 and tag @USAFieldHockey on Twitter and Instagram in your snapshots and moments. USA Field Hockey will also be highlighting every moment of every day on Instagram Story. Keep an eye out for the staff member posting to social media for a chance to be featured on the USA Field Hockey Instagram Story feed.
Vendor Village
One of the largest gatherings of field hockey gear in the country can only be found at the National Hockey Festival. Everything from new socks to sticks, backpacks and more will be available from USA Field Hockey’s premiers sponsors and vendors , including CranBarry, official presenting sponsor, and Harrow Sports, the official licensee. Vendors will also be holding various contests and giveaways all weekend. Make sure to stop by Vendor Village frequently for these opportunities, as well as various Festival exclusive gear, apparel and accessories from each and every vendor.
For a full list of vendors and hours, click here.
Event Program
With so much happening around Festival, it’s easy to miss something. That's why USA Field Hockey has made it as simple as possible for attendees to keep track of everything that is going on. All your answers are covered in the USA Field Hockey online Event Program. Find all the latest information, rosters, live stream information and local attractions all in one place right here.
Touchline Video
For the second year in a row, USA Field Hockey and Touchline Video have teamed up to provide live stream coverage of select games during Festival. Find all games and a full list of scheduled matches by clicking here.