ATL Airport District to Host United Futsal Regional Showcase and Conference
United Futsal’s inaugural Sunshine Regional Showcase and Conference will be held January 6-7, 2024, at the Georgia International Convention Center, the event organizer and ATL Airport District have announced.
The event will have more than 700 athletes representing a total of 94 teams from across the United States. The teams participating in the Sunshine Regional Showcase and Conference are vying for qualification to the Orlando Event Series, which consists of the Champions Cup Series Nationals, Showcase Series Nationals and World Futsal Championships.
“Hosting the Sunshine Regional Showcase and Conference in Atlanta has been 10 years in the making and we are thrilled that it’s finally taking place,” said Rob Andrews, president of United Futsal. “The local response has been great as expected, but we are most encouraged by the interest from teams outside Atlanta who credit the proximity to the airport, ease of travel and accommodation options as reasons they’ll be choosing this new location over some of our other events. The entire ATL Airport District staff have made us feel at home since the start and we look forward to building on this relationship for the future.”
Futsal is played on an indoor court with five players per team, four field players and one goalkeeper. Founded in 2010 as USA Futsal, United Futsal held its inaugural event in 2012 and has expanded its international network to players and clubs from more than 24 countries. The US Youth Soccer 2023 Futsal National Championships, the first of its kind and hosted in collaboration with United Futsal, was held in February at the Virginia Beach Sports Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
The ATL Airport District is the official destination marketing organization for the cities of College Park, Hapeville and Union City, Georgia. The Georgia International Convention Center is Georgia’s second-largest convention center.
“With the increasing popularity of soccer in Atlanta, we are honored to host United Futsal for its inaugural event in our city and excited to introduce this growing game to the local community,” said Cookie Smoak, president of the ATL Airport District. “We look forward to providing a safe and memorable experience for the athletes and fans, as we welcome at least 42 teams from outside the greater Atlanta metropolitan area.”
