From a strong field of bid candidates, two cities were selected in December as finalists to host the 2019 MLQ Championship. Since that announcement, the MLQ team spent all of January following up with the cities, conducting site visits and evaluating the experience each bid could bring to the league and its players.
After completing the bid process and the analysis that followed, it is our pleasure to announce that Richmond, Virginia has been selected to host the 2019 MLQ Championship on Aug. 10-11.
“We are very excited to be working with Richmond to put on the best championship possible,” said Luke Zak, MLQ Events Director. “This is a city with a rich athletic history and after seeing Richmond for myself, I am confident in its commitment to elevating the MLQ Championship and furthering the sport of quidditch as a whole.”
Throughout the 2019 bid process, which started in September, Richmond Region Tourism has been exceedingly professional, communicative, and enthusiastic about bringing the highest level of quidditch to Virginia.
“Sports tourism plays an important role in the region’s economy,” said Jack Berry, Richmond Region Tourism President and CEO. “We’re looking forward to welcoming Major League Quidditch athletes and fans to the area for the event.”
Richmond’s brand new facility, extensive logistical resources, and hands-on service team are aspects of the generous offer that pushed the city’s bid to the top.
The event site will be Glover Park, a state-of-the-art facility operated by Henrico County Recreation and Parks that just wrapped up its inaugural season. Glover Park boasts four lighted full-sized soccer fields. Additionally, the facility features organic synthetic turf, providing a playing surface up to 65 degrees cooler than traditional rubber infill, which is ideal for our athletes in the heat of summer.
“It’s outstanding that Glover Park is attracting national sporting events to Henrico County,” said John A. Vithoulkas, Henrico County Manager. “We are looking forward to hosting fans and athletes from all over the country. Quidditch has been growing in our area and we cannot wait to see this event come alive in August.”
Beyond the 2019 MLQ Championship, Richmond is also slated to host the 2019 Pan-American Games in July and is a finalist to host the 2020 IQA World Cup.