VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — The 32nd Annual North American Sand Soccer Championships brought a wave of visitors to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront this weekend, boosting the city’s economy as participants and spectators navigated high summer temperatures.
Sand soccer champions kick up Virginia Beach June 5-7
Tournament organizers anticipate the major sporting event will generate around $15 million for the local region, driven largely by out-of-town travelers.
“This year, our hotel room block was sold out,” said Lauren Bland, executive director of the North American Sand Soccer Championships. “We have contracts with over 40 hotel partners along the oceanfront. So, early numbers are looking like it’s going to be over 8,000 hotel room nights for this year’s event, which will accumulate to be about $14 to $15 million in economic impact.”
The tournament’s playing fields span roughly two miles of the beach, hosting elite professional sand soccer squads alongside rising amateur stars…