US Quidditch (USQ) Cup 2022 is almost here. It will be held in the next few weeks, on April 23–24, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
One of the most prestigious Muggle quidditch tournaments, US Quidditch Cup 2022 (also known as USQ Cup 15) will be held at Regional Athletic Complex. Nearly 70 collegiate and club teams with over 1,200 athletes from the United States will compete in their divisions for the national championship title. This event usually has about 5,000 viewers in person, with more watching via live stream on Twitch.
It’s the first USQ national championship in three years. The last one, USQ Cup 12, was held in April 2019. Another, USQ Cup 13, should have been held in Charleston, West Virginia, but it was canceled like USQ Cup 14, which also should have been held in Salt Lake City. Now, USQ Cup 15 is the first national tournament that will be held there. Clay Partain, Managing Director of Sports Salt Lake, is excited about the event.
Salt Lake is tremendously excited to host the Quidditch Cup this April, and roll out the red carpet for all the incoming athletes and spectators! We anticipate the event to bring in over $2.6 million in direct impact, which will have an incredible impact on our community.
At the event, there will be more than 150 games of quidditch. Games will start on Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 a.m. MDT, and championship matches will be played on Sunday evening. A detailed schedule should be released soon.
In addition to the games, spectators can also enjoy a fan festival with merchandise vendors, food trucks, and family entertainment. There is also youth quidditch, and elementary, middle, and high school students can attend the youth quidditch activities.
Muggle quidditch players, one in USA attire, are shown in play.
Tickets are already available for presale. For adults, a one-day ticket costs $20, and a ticket for the weekend is $25. A ticket for a youth/student for the weekend costs $15. But these prices are only until April 6 at 8:00 a.m. MDT, when the presale ends. The adult one-day pass will then cost $25, and the adult weekend pass will be $35. For a youth/student, the price remains the same.
There is also an opportunity to sign up as a volunteer. Volunteers don’t have to have any knowledge about the sport, but they are needed for such things as ticket sales, field management, logistics, and more. For serving at least three general volunteer hours, each volunteer will receive free event admission, free lunch, a USQ Cup 2022 volunteer shirt, and a choice of free USQ Cup 2022 merchandise.
USQ also offers USQ members free team and player memberships for volunteering at USQ Cup. The team with the most hours served as volunteers will receive a free team membership and nine free player memberships with an $880 value. Teams with the second and third most hours will receive free team memberships (a $250 value).
Unfortunately, some teams are having problems attending the event due to travel costs, despite fundraising for months and seeking funding from schools and community organizations. In response, USQ has created a new grant program for this event to cover part of a team’s travel expenses. USQ has finances for the grant program from a combination of sources, such as donations.
In addition to the team registration fee grant, which covered the $450 registration fee for USQ Cup for over two dozen teams, USQ has dispersed nearly $20,000 in grants to members and teams this season, the highest amount ever. Our goal is to give out at least another $5,000 in direct financial aid, more if funds allow.
Press Release
US QUIDDITCH CUP 2022
Quidditch Takes Over Utah’s Capital City
Salt Lake City, Utah. – One of the most unique sporting events in the world is coming to the Regional Athletic Complex in April. Nearly 70 collegiate and club teams and over 1,200 athletes from around the country will attend US Quidditch Cup 2022, fighting for the title of national champion in their division. The first US Quidditch national championship in 3 years, this event regularly draws crowds of over 5,000, with thousands more watching online via livestream on Twitch.
Tickets can be purchased online or on-site. Early-bird pricing is available through April 5 for online ticket purchases. Family ticket bundles and youth/student-priced tickets are also available. Hosted in partnership with Sports Salt Lake and Utah Sports Commission, US Quidditch Cup 2022 will be the first national tournament to be held west of the Rocky Mountains. “Salt Lake is tremendously excited to host the Quidditch Cup this April, and roll out the red carpet for all the incoming athletes and spectators! We anticipate the event to bring in over $2.6 million in direct impact, which will have an incredible impact on our community” said Clay Partain, Managing Director of Sports Salt Lake.
Besides watching over 150 games of quidditch, spectators can check out the fan festival for a variety of merchandise vendors, food trucks, and family entertainment. Elementary, middle, and high school students are invited to take part in youth quidditch activities throughout the weekend, included with the price of admission.
Those interested in more than spectating are invited to sign-up as a volunteer during the tournament. No previous knowledge of the sport is necessary and volunteers will receive free admission to the event, an event t-shirt, meals, and a complimentary US Quidditch merchandise item. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old and volunteer for at least 3 hours to receive benefits. Volunteers are needed for ticket sales, field managing, logistics, and more. Sign-ups are open online. Further information and the sign-up form can be found here.
The first round of games begins at 9:00 a.m on Saturday and they continue all day until approximately 9:45 p.m. Games resume on Sunday at 9:00 a.m., continuing until about 9:30 p.m. when two teams will be crowned US Quidditch Cup collegiate and club division champions.
Quidditch is a full contact, competitive, mixed gender sport inspired by the Harry Potter series. It began in 2005 and has since spread to over 300 colleges, high schools and clubt eams nationwide. Quidditch is played with seven players to a team all mounted on brooms. Three chasers score goals worth 10 points each with a volleyball called the quaffle. They advance the ball down the field by running with it, passing it to teammates, or kicking it. Each team has a keeper who defends the goal hoops and can also score with the chasers. Two beaters use dodgeballs called bludgers to disrupt the flow of the game by “knocking out” other players. Any player hit by a bludger is out of play until they touch their own goals. Each team also has a seeker who tries to catch the snitch. The snitch is a ball attached to the waistband of the snitch runner, a neutral athlete in a yellow uniform who uses any means to avoid capture. At the 20 minute mark, the snitch is released and a point cap of 70 is added to the leading score. Catching the snitch earns a team 35 points. Once either team reaches the point cap score, called the set score, the game ends. US Quidditch’s official rulebook is available free for download here and more information about how to play can be found here.
About Utah Sports Commission
The Utah Sports Commission was created to be a catalyst for Utah in its Olympic legacy efforts and to help enhance Utah’s economy, image, and quality of life through the attraction, promotion, and development of national and international sports. Since the 2002 Olympics and Paralympics, the Utah Sports Commission has attracted nearly 900 major events to the state. The Sports Commission works closely with communities, sports entities, and organizations to provide event services ranging from the bid process, on-site logistics, volunteer coordination, sponsorships and promotional opportunities, and other related services. It is a not-for-profit501(c)6 business league and Utah Sports Commission Foundation, a not-for-profit 501c3 charitable organization, is governed by an all-volunteer Board of Trustees consisting of statewide sports, business, community, and government leaders. For more information, visit www.utahsportscommission.com.
About Sports Salt Lake
Sports Salt Lake is a division of Visit Salt Lake, a private, non-profit corporation responsible for the promotion of Salt Lake as a convention, sports, and travel destination. Sports Salt Lake’s mission is to improve the area economy by attracting and providing support to sports and athletic events to Salt Lake County. Salt Lake is a unique fusion of metropolitan city and quaint mountain town; the towering Wasatch Mountains that embrace Salt Lake offer a dramatic backdrop to the vibrancy and activities of downtown. For more information on all that Salt Lake has to offer, go to www.VisitSaltLake.com.
US Quidditch (USQ), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the national governing body for the sport of quidditch, organizes US Quidditch Cup 2022. USQ advances the sport by organizing events and programs that build community and empower adult and youth athletes of all identities, including all races and genders, to compete together. US Quidditch is not affiliated with JK Rowling, Warner Bros. or Time Warner. To learn more about quidditch, visit www.usquidditch.org
DETAILS FOR CALENDAR LISTINGS
US QuidditchCup 2022
WHAT: US Quidditch Cup 2022featuring nearly 70 teams and over 1,200 athletes from around the country competing for the championship title in the collegiate and club divisions.
WHEN: April23-24,2022. Games will start on Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 a.m. The championship matches will take place on Sunday evening. Full schedule of games available soon.
WHERE: Regional Athletic Complex
2280 North Rose Park Lane, Salt Lake City, UT 84116
ADMISSION COST: Tickets are available for purchase online and on arrival. Pre-sale pricing available through April 5, 2022. Visit this page for further information: http://www.usquidditchcup.com/tickets/.
Adult One-Day Pass ( $25) – Grants access to a full day of games and the fan festival on either Saturday OR Sunday, including the semifinals and finals matches on Sunday.
Adult Weekend Pass ($35) – Grants access to the fan festival and to more than150 exciting games of quidditch over Saturday and Sunday, including the semifinals and finals matches on Sunday.
Family 4 Pack (One-Day $70, Weekend $80) – Includes 2 adult and 2 youth or student tickets. Grants access to the fan festival and to more than 150 exciting games of quidditch over Saturday and Sunday, including the semifinals and finals matches on Sunday.
Youth/Student Pass (Weekend $15) – For those 17 and under. Students must present a valid student ID. Grants access to the fan festival and more than 150exciting games of quidditch over Saturday and Sunday, including the semifinals and finals matches on Sunday.
PARKING
On-site parking is available at the Regional Athletic Complex.
OTHER: Youth quidditch, a non-contact adaptation of the sport taught to elementary, middle, and high school students, will be offered on Saturday from 12:30-1:30pm &3:45-5pm, and on Sunday from 12:30pm-1:30pm. Further information will be available on the website. Only leashed pets will be allowed on-site. Outside food and drink is allowed, although glass containers are prohibited and coolers may be searched. We will play rain or shine.
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