Owensboro will become a hub for athletes and sports enthusiasts this July as the inaugural Bluegrass Clash Sports Summit brings 11 sporting events to the community across two weekends, with organizers saying thousands of people are expected to visit Owensboro.
Organized by Visit Owensboro and a host of community partners, the summit will run July 10-12 and July 17-19, featuring competitions ranging from youth baseball and tennis to mountain biking, disc golf, cornhole, basketball, softball, bowling, trail running, taekwondo, and fitness events.
Visit Owensboro officials said the goal is to showcase Owensboro’s growing reputation as a sports tourism destination while creating opportunities for athletes and visitors of all ages to participate.
“We are very excited for the first edition of the Bluegrass Clash as a true celebration of the sports destination that Owensboro is,” said Lucas Daunhauer of Visit Owensboro. “Our community partners do a phenomenal job driving sports tourism in our city and county, and we hope these two weekends are a reflection and celebration of that. Hosting 11 sporting events across two weekends is no small task, and we can’t thank our local facilities enough. Athletes are encouraged to check out all the competition hosts’ pages and get involved.”
The first weekend, July 10-12, will include the USSSA Baseball Banana Extravaganza at Jack C. Fisher Park, the Owensboro Open Tennis Tournament at Merchant Centre Courts and the William H. “Bill” Thompson Courts, Bourbon and Bowling at Diamond Lanes South, the Bluegrass Clash Open Disc Golf Tournament at Panther Creek Park and Yellow Creek Park, the Rudy Rumble Trail Run at Rudy Mines, the Battle on the Bluegrass Taekwondo Competition, and the Bluegrass Mountain Cup mountain bike race at Rudy Mines.
The second weekend, July 17-19, will feature the American Cornhole Organization World Championships at the Owensboro Convention Center, the Dust Bowl Basketball Tournament at Kendall-Perkins Park, the USSSA Adult Slowpitch Softball Tournament at Jack C. Fisher Park, and The Forge Challenge fitness competition at the Owensboro Sportscenter.
Visit Owensboro has partnered with the City of Owensboro, Owensboro Parks and Recreation, Oak View Group, Daviess County, and Daviess County Parks and Recreation to host the events.
In addition to the athletic competitions, organizers are adding free live entertainment downtown. The inaugural Bluegrass Clash concert on July 11 will feature Sushi Roll at McConnell Plaza, while the 5th Annual Downtown Summer Jam on July 18 will feature Paradise Kitty, an all-female Guns N’ Roses tribute band. Both concerts are part of the City of Owensboro’s L!VE on the Banks concert series and are free to attend.
City officials said the combination of sports tourism and entertainment is designed to create an active downtown atmosphere for athletes, families, and visitors throughout both weekends.
