AthElite Sports Management will be hosting the first youth basketball tournament the Owensboro Convention Center. The AthElite Memorial Day Challenge will take place May 28-29 and will utilize the four modular sports courts installed in three expo halls.
Pool play games will be played on Saturday, with championship games on Sunday.
Organizers said 50 or more teams consisting of both boys and girls in grades 3-11 are expected to attend. Teams from five or more states are expected to attend the inaugural event. Interested teams can contact Sam Swinford at 618-922-2263 or at [email protected].
According to AthElite, college coaches will be in attendance and national scouting services will be covering games. The organization said they expect more than 1,500 people to attend, and guests can watch streamed games.
Swinford, Lead Director for AthElite Sports Management, said they are excited to bring the first basketball event to the Convention Center.
“We look forward to working with the team (at the venue) to showcase how great the facility is for sporting events, ” Swinford said. “Our staff has been working hard to get everything ready to make this a successful event. We hope to make this event a fixture for years to come.”
Jamie Scheffer, Owensboro Convention Center Assistant General Manager, said the tournament will also benefit the local community with guests utilizing Owensboro hotels, restaurants and retail stores.
“We are thrilled to host AthElite and basketball for the first time on our new sports floor this May,” Scheffer said. “Our team is dedicated to booking tournaments such as these which help drive economic impact and tourism to Owensboro.”
Mark Calitri, President and CEO of Visit Owensboro, said that Owensboro-Daviess County is becoming the complete sports solution.
“Athletes, coaches, and fans are telling us they love the brand new sports floor at the Owensboro Convention Center,” he said. “We are proving the indoor sports concept is successful and creating a substantial economic impact to our community.”
