Trot then Turkey on Thanksgiving Day!

For Immediate Release

CONTACT: 

iDaph Events

Daphne Kirkwood, Race Director/Owner

(828) 684-0812 x1

events@idaph.net

TROT then TURKEY on Thanksgiving Day!

July 13, 2022 - The 4th Annual South Asheville Turkey Trot presented by Hunter Subaru returns to Biltmore Park Town Square in Asheville, NC on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24th, 2022. Don’t miss out on this fun, festive and USATF certified 5k course that winds through beautiful Biltmore Park Town Square and the surrounding neighborhood in South Asheville. Gather the entire family to TROT then TURKEY your way through Thanksgiving Day! The popular annual holiday tradition is always enjoyed by all ages and ability levels, run, walk or trot! 

Featured Non-Profit Partners

We are honored to support Sheep Dog Impact Assistance and iDream Athletes Foundation at this year’s event. Sheep Dog will use the funds from the race for various program needs, including purchasing and providing care packages for First Responders on Christmas Eve plus providing Christmas meals and gifts for Veteran and First Responder kids and families. In addition, funds will be allocated to send veterans and first responders that are struggling with PTSD to a dedicated program for additional support and resources. 

iDream Athletes Foundation is a tax-exempt non-profit that provides needs-based scholarships for youth and adults of WNC who are unable to pay for sporting event fees, coaching, travel expenses, or equipment to train for and/or participate in events.

Exciting Race Highlights

Explore the Biltmore Park neighborhood on this beautiful, fall scenic 5k route. Along with a comfy TROT then TURKEY free race shirt, a Hunter Subaru goody bag and an awesome finisher medal that sparkles AND spins, the overall male & female winners will also win a turkey from Luella’s BBQ! Don’t just run the Turkey Trot - take the turkey home, too! Overall and age group award winners also receive a pint glass from Thirsty Monk. 

In it for fun and not to win?  The race also features a “Best Dressed Turkey” Contest each year! The five ‘best dressed’ in turkey themed costumes and attire, receive a special turkey themed prize. 

NEW for 2022 - Holiday Hustle

This race is part of the new Holiday Hustle series! Participants who join in for the South Asheville Turkey Trot, the Ugly Sweater Run (December 3rd) and the New Year’s Resolution Run (January 1st, 2023) will get a super cool extra medal on New Year’s Day! Everyone knows runners love the bling! More info.

For race info and to sign up for the South Asheville Turkey Trot presented by Hunter Subaru, please visit southashevilleturkeytrot.com. Additional info? Contact support@idaph.net. 

High Resolution Photos Available upon request. 

PDF attached.

END RELEASE

Gran Fondo Asheville Keeps National Championship Cycling in North Carolina for Second Year

Gran Fondo Asheville Keeps National Championship Cycling in North Carolina for Second Year

1000 cyclists expected for July 17 event

(Gettysburg, PA – June 29, 2021) On Sunday, July 17, 2022, the Gran Fondo National Series will hold the annual Gran Fondo Asheville, p/b Applewood Manor cycling event, which includes the official USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championship competition. The event reached its sold-out capacity of 1,000 cyclists in 2021 and the 2022 edition is on track to sell out. New this year, the road cycling event will include the 2-day Asheville Bike Fest, p/b Cane Creek at Rabbit Rabbit on July 16-17, showcasing local outdoor companies and national cycling brands and featuring family-friendly activities for all ages.

“Although Gran Fondo Asheville is an annual event, we are proud to bring the National Championship component to Asheville for a second year in a row, and expand the event with the Asheville Bike Fest,” says Series Director Reuben Kline. “We decided to keep the National Championship in Asheville for 2022 because of community support and rider feedback.”

Connections for Community

The Gran Fondo Asheville event has a long history of working with local businesses and partners, along with the Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission. The event starts and finishes at Rabbit Rabbit in downtown Asheville. The event’s presenting sponsor, Applewood Manor, is hosting pre-event group rides and VIP Experiences on the event weekend. The Asheville Bike Fest benefits local non-profit Asheville on Bikes, and will feature Western North Carolina outdoor equipment companies Cane Creek, Industry Nine, and others. Local bike shops are sponsoring aid stations on the course where riders can replenish themselves with food and water.

Proven Community Impact

Gran Fondo Asheville is a proven economic driver for Buncombe and Madison Counties, including the communities of Asheville and Marshall, North Carolina. The Gran Fondo Asheville event has been a tremendous asset to our community each year and we are excited to host the National Championship in Asheville for the second year, said Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission President Demp Bradford. “Last year with the addition of the National Championships, the event impact calculation was close to $1 million and the event had almost 1,000 riders. This event not only impacts Buncombe County but also Madison County and we would like to thank all of the cities and communities who are part of this event.”

Event Details

Cyclists will depart from Rabbit Rabbit between 8:00-8:30am to ride their choice of a 100-, 60-, or 30-mile route (view route maps) that takes them into the hills, valleys, and mountains around northwest of Asheville. The unique ‘timed segment’ competition format of SUAREZ Gran Fondo National Series events largely eliminates the need for road closures. Roads that comprise the cycling routes will remain open to car traffic and both cyclist and drivers are asked to exhibit grace and patience as they share the roads for the day.

Volunteer positions are still available. Groups or individuals who want to help riders have a great experience at Gran Fondo Asheville can volunteer in a variety of areas, including course marshal, registration, and aid stations. Volunteers will receive a complementary entry to another Series event (or the 2023 Gran Fondo Asheville), an event t-shirt, and lunch. Information on volunteering.

About Gran Fondo National Series (granfondonationalseries.com)

Founded in 2012 by event director Reuben Kline, the Gran Fondo National Series is the largest and most competitive series of gran fondo cycling events in the United States. Gran Fondo National Series was the first series to implement timed-segment racing into US gran fondo events and is the organizer of the official USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championship event as well as a season-long Series Points competition.

CHRIS SMITH NAMED INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ASHEVILLE BUNCOMBE REGIONAL SPORTS COMMISSION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 29, 2022

ASHEVILLE (NC)- CHRIS SMITH NAMED INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ASHEVILLE BUNCOMBE REGIONAL SPORTS COMMISSION

Asheville (NC)- The Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission has named Chris Smith as the Interim Executive Director effective July 1 through March 2023. Smith has an extensive history with the Sports Commission and served on the original task force in 2008 that led to the establishment of the Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission. In 2014, Smith was selected to serve on the Board of Directors and served as Vice Chairman (2017) and Chairman from 2018 until December 2021. As Chairman, Smith was a member of the Local Organizing Committees for each of the three Billie Jean King Cup Ties and the Asheville Championship and was asked to serve an extended term during the pandemic.

“As a board member and the Chairman for the past four years, Chris has worked extensively with the leadership team on the recruitment of events and the day-to-day operation of the Sports Commission,” said Board Chairman Stephen Zubrod. “Chris’ familiarity with the operations of the organization but also his tremendous relationships in our community made him a natural to lead the sports commission during this transition. As we talked with our event partners with the Southern Conference and Asheville Championship, it was clear that organizational knowledge and stability were paramount to the success of these upcoming events and others like the Skyview Golf Tournament. As we began this process, the name that continued to rise to the top in our community was Chris Smith.”

 Chris Smith added, “I am passionate about the success of the Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission and very honored to be serving in this position. I look forward to working with our partners from Explore Asheville to continue building a resume of sports events that fit our community and brand. The support of Explore Asheville, the City of Asheville, Buncombe County and UNC Asheville has allowed the sports commission to grow and succeed over the past 14 years and I look forward to working with each of them to continue to mold the future of the Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission.”

 A native of Hendersonville, Smith played baseball and graduated from Hendersonville High and UNC Asheville. Smith worked for 24 seasons with the Asheville Tourists as the Assistant General Manager for 17 seasons and the Senior Sales Manager for 7 years. Prior to working for the Tourists full-time, he served as the official scorer while also working as a beat writer for the Asheville Citizen-Times. Before joining the Tourists, Smith was a Baseball Coach and Sports Information Director at Mars Hill College.

 Smith is very involved in the community and currently sits on the Buncombe County Schools Foundation Board of Directors and serves on its Classroom Grants, Scholarship and Strategic Planning Committees. Chris served on Junior Achievement of Western North Carolina's Board for 13 years, where he was twice elected as the Board Chair and was named Western North Carolina's Top Business Liaison. Additionally, Smith served on the boards of The Asheville Children’s Fund, Make-A-Wish Foundation Advisory Council, Junior League Advisory Board, and Project ASSIST Tobacco Prevention Coalition. Smith frequently serves as a guest host and is known for his “hot tips” on the Wise Guys sports radio show.

 For his efforts in the local school systems and helping various charities throughout Western North Carolina, Smith was featured as a WLOS-TV Person of the Week. In his first season with the team, Chris filled the role of Media Relations Director, and following the 2000 season, he received the South Atlantic League's inaugural Media Relations Director of the Year award.

Chris resides in Fletcher with his wife Mandy. He has four children, Pali (21), Zach (19) and Presley (7) and a step-daughter Taylor (15).

Contact Information-

Stephen Zubrod, Chairman of the Board- 402-630-1616; stephenzubrod@gmail.com
Chris Smith, Interim Executive Director- 828-280-6458; chris@ashevillesports.org

Bradford to Leave the Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission

The Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission in conjunction with the Greensboro Sports Foundation announced that Demp Bradford, President/Executive Director will be leaving Asheville at the end of the month to become Vice President/Chief Operations Officer of the Greensboro Sports Foundation.

Demp Bradford with Billie Jean King at the 2022 Billie Jean King Cup in April.

“This is a bittersweet moment because “WE” have accomplished so much in the last 6 years in Asheville but I am excited about the opportunities to be part of a new vision in Greensboro and be closer to my family. I use the word “WE” because it has been a team effort with all of our accomplishments in Asheville from our staff, board, venues and our tremendous volunteers. Without each one of you, WE could not have made events successful and had them return to Asheville. I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart,” said Bradford. “I also want to thank our sports events planners and owners for choosing Asheville and in most cases coming back to Asheville for additional events.”

Bradford arrived in Asheville on June 30, 2016 and immediately faced the prospect of the Southern Conference Tournament leaving because of HB2 but brought state and local community leaders together along with LGBTQ leaders to put together a plan to host the tournament safely and keep the tournament in Asheville. In 2021, the Southern Conference announced an extension to keep the tournament in Asheville through 2026.

“Demp and his team have been laser focused on every detail involved in recruiting major events to Asheville and then making them a success. He is great at building his team and allowing them to see his vision and empowering them to want to make events successful. People do not realize the detail, time and negotiations that went into recruiting the Maui Invitational to relocate to Asheville and creating a successful “bubble”. The commission was hitting its stride as we went into Covid-19 and we were able to find profile events during the pandemic and come out even stronger. Demp has put us in great position moving forward in Asheville and we wish him the best in his future endeavors, and we look forward to continued growth of the Sports Commission in Asheville and this region” said ABRSC Board Chairman Stephen Zubrod. “Our board and volunteers are committed to continue this growth and we are excited about the future.”

“I cannot thank our board enough for believing in me and giving our team the proper resources to succeed. The growth that I have had here professionally and personally have allowed me an opportunity that I did not anticipate. Asheville and Buncombe County have embraced me and I will be forever grateful.” said Bradford

Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission Resume Since 2016

• Hosted the Southern Conference Basketball Tournament and received an extension through 2026

• Hosted three Billie Jean King Cup (previously known as the Fed Cup) ties in 2018, 2019, and 2022 becoming one of only two US cities to host this event

• Put together and executed the plan to have the 2020 Maui Invitational relocate to Asheville

• Worked with KemperLesnik to establish the Asheville Championship, a pre-season college basketball tournament held annually in November starting in 2020

• Formed the Ingles Great Smoky Mountain Grapple wrestling tournament which has grown from 12 to over 36 teams expected in 2022

• Hosted the Haute Route cycling event in 2018 and 2019 and the USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships in 2021 and 2022

• Spartan Race 2015-2019

Contact Information-

Demp Bradford, President – Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission 336-312-2745; demp@ashevillesportscommission.com

Stephen Zubrod, Board Chairman, Asheville Buncombe Regional Championship 402-630-1616; stephenzubrod@gmail.com

Billie Jean King to Attend USA and Ukraine Billie Jean King Cup Qualifying Event in Asheville, N.C.

Billie Jean King in Asheville in 2019

Billie Jean King to Attend USA and Ukraine

Billie Jean King Cup Qualifying Event in Asheville, N.C. 

King and Partner Ilana Kloss to Donate $50,000 for Ukraine Relief 

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., April 7, 2022 – The USTA today announced that Billie Jean King will attend the Billie Jean King Cup by BNP Paribas Qualifying tie featuring the U.S. and Ukraine April 15-16 in Asheville, N.C., and King and her partner, Ilana Kloss, will donate $50,000 to the Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund.

King will take part in the opening ceremony before the first day of matches on Friday, April 15. Play is set to begin at 1 p.m. at Harrah's Cherokee Center -- Asheville, and will feature each country's top two nominated players in singles matches. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.

King and Kloss' donation is the latest fundraising commitment tied to this event. The USTA previously announced it will be donating 10 percent of its ticket revenue from the tie to the Fund, while local sponsors Harrah's Cherokee Resorts, Ingles Markets and New Belgium Brewing Company will also make donations. Fans are encouraged to donate viaTennisPlaysForPeace.com.

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2022 Ville to Ville Craft Brew Relay

Contact: Zack Hall,CEO

Ville to Ville Craft Brew Relay

Phone 864.720.8420

zack@villetovillerelay.com

Press Release

Ville to Ville Craft Brew Relay

One of the Largest One-Day Relays in the US is back for its fifth year.

Greenville,SC–April 2022 –On April9th, teams of runners from across the country will start a 72-mile odyssey from Asheville, NC, towards a finish roughly 12 hours later in Greenville, South Carolina. The Ville to Ville Craft Brew Relay is in its fifth year and is one of the most popular one-day relays in the nation.

The 2022 event is back to its full capacity of 350 teams with runners coming from 33 states and over 70% of the participants traveling more than 150 miles to participate.

This unique relay is designed to celebrate the region’s outstanding craft beer tradition and its majestic natural beauty. "We are extremely grateful to be back to our full capacity this year," states race director, Zack Hall, “and to be able to showcase Western North Carolina and the Upstate.”

Teams of three to six runners will divide 12 legs ranging from three to nine miles along the course. Every team will utilize a support vehicle along the 72- mile course, transporting runners from one designated transition area to the next. The first leg will run from East Asheville to the popular Mountains to Sea Trail and the Blue Ridge Parkway before turning south. Stops along the course include Fletcher, Hendersonville, East Flat Rock and Travelers Rest, SC as runner’s race towards a festive finish line celebration in Greenville, SC at Hampton Station. In total, almost 2,100 runners will participant in 2022.

With a commitment to benefiting local charities, The Ville to Ville Craft Relay delivers more than just a fun time for its participants. This year’s charity partners are Prisma Childrens Cancer Center, The Autism Society of NC, GirlUp GVL, Hendersonville Woman’s Club, Izzie’s Pond, Elements of Hope, Outward Bound, Make-A-Wish, Youthbase, and Speak for Animals.

Similar relay races exist across the nation; however, very few have a focus on craft beer – or have such a demand for a spot on the starting line. The fact that the 2022 race sold out in less than three days is a testament to its popularity. "We continue to be thrilled by the overwhelming response and are proud to provide a healthy, fun event, as well as positively impact so many great charitable organizations in our community,” said Hall.

Although the race is sold out, registration for the 2023 Craft Brew Relay will open April 10th. More information about the relay can be found at www.villetovillerelay.com.

USTA Welcomes Ukraine Billie Jean King Cup Team to Asheville, N.C., for 2022 Billie Jean King Cup Qualifying April 15-16

USTA Welcomes Ukraine Billie Jean King Cup Team to Asheville, N.C., for 2022 Billie Jean King Cup Qualifying April 15-16

Portion of Ticket Revenue to be Donated to Ukraine Relief; Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos, Ingles Markets, New Belgium Brewing Company to Make Additional Donations

Danielle Collins, Jessica Pegula, Sloane Stephens, Shelby Rogers, Desirae Krawczyk to Represent Team USA

Elina Svitolina, Marta Kostyuk, Katarina Zavatska, Lyudmyla Kichenok, Nadiia Kichenok to Represent Ukraine

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., March 18, 2022 – The USTA and the U.S. Billie Jean King Cup Team will welcome Team Ukraine to Asheville, N.C., and the Harrah’s Cherokee Center - Asheville for a Billie Jean King Cup by BNP Paribas Qualifying tie April 15-16, 2022.

The USTA will donate 10 percent of the ticket revenue from the event to the Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund by Global Giving, where local sponsors Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos, Ingles Markets and New Belgium Brewing Company will also make donations. The USTA will organize a number of visible support activations on the ground in Asheville and will encourage fans to make their own donations. Click to learn more or to donate to the Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund by Global Giving.

The teams representing both nations were nominated today:

· World No. 11 Danielle Collins, No. 19 Jessica Pegula, No. 38 Sloane Stephens, No. 49 Shelby Rogers and doubles No. 20 Desirae Krawczyk will represent the U.S. in Asheville for sixth-year Billie Jean King Cup captain Kathy Rinaldi.

· World No. 18 Elina Svitolina, No. 54 Marta Kostyuk, No. 210 Katarina Zavatska and doubles No. 30 Lyudmyla Kichenok and No. 37 Nadiia Kichenok will represent Ukraine. 

“The USTA, along with all of tennis' governing bodies, condemns the invasion of Ukraine and continues to advocate for peace,” said Stacey Allaster, Chief Executive, Professional Tennis, USTA. “We’re committed to welcoming the Ukrainian team and to making sure they have all the support they need leading up to and during the competition in Asheville. Together, we will use this event to continue advocating for peace, along with providing aid and support for the people of Ukraine.”

On March 1, the USTA joined the six governing bodies of tennis in a statement condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and taking a variety of steps, including: the suspension of ATP/WTA tour events; the indefinite suspension of all International Tennis Federation events in Russia and Belarus; the suspension of the Russian Tennis Federation and Belarus Tennis Federation from the ITF. The full statement can be read here.

The Billie Jean King Cup Qualifying matches in Asheville will be played Friday, April 15, and Saturday, April 16, on an indoor hardcourt inside Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville, the third time the venue has hosted the competition – previously known as Fed Cup – since 2018.

The Qualifier is a best-of-five match series that begins Friday with two singles matches. Two reverse singles matches and the doubles match will follow on Saturday, with an amended Saturday schedule possible if one team clinches victory in the third or fourth match. The winner will advance to the 2022 Finals later this year at a location to be announced. 

Tickets can be purchased at http://usta.com/bjkc or at Ticketmaster.

Collins, 28, is currently the top-ranked American singles player at No. 11. The two-time NCAA singles champion made her first Grand Slam singles final earlier this year at the Australian Open. She’s 4-0 in singles for the U.S. Billie Jean King Cup Team, including a 3-0 mark in the 2021 Finals in Prague and a singles win in Asheville in 2019.

Pegula, 28, is currently ranked No. 19 and reached a career-high No. 14 in the world earlier this year. She reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open for the second straight year in 2022 and had seven wins over Top-10 opponents in 2021.

Stephens, 28, is currently ranked No. 38 and is a former world No. 3. The 2017 US Open singles champion was a part of the U.S. team that won the 2017 Billie Jean King Cup and has won seven career WTA singles titles, including this year in Guadalajara.

Rogers, 29, is currently ranked No. 49 and was ranked as high as No. 36 earlier this year. A part of the U.S. team that won the Billie Jean King Cup title in 2017, Rogers has reached the quarterfinals of the US Open and French Open in singles and the Australian Open and French Open in doubles. 

Krawczyk, 28, is currently ranked No. 20 in doubles and reached a career-high No. 15 in January. Krawczyk won three of four Grand Slam events in mixed doubles in 2021, a feat only achieved by seven players in the Open Era (since 1968).

Billie Jean King Cup is the world’s largest annual international team competition in women’s sport, with approximately 100 nations taking part each year. Deloitte is the official sponsor and Wilson is the official ball of the U.S. Billie Jean King Cup Team.

# # #

 The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level -- from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization with more than 655,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, one of the highest-attended annual sporting events in the world, and launched the US Open Series, linking nine summer WTA and ATP Tour tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns approximately 90 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S. and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA’s philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, provides grants and scholarships in addition to supporting tennis and education programs nationwide to benefit under-resourced youth through the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network. For more information about the USTA, go to USTA.com or follow the official accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

ABOUT HARRAH’S CHEROKEE CENTER - ASHEVILLE (HCCA)

Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville (HCCA), which features the ExploreAsheville.com Arena and Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, annually hosts a diverse variety of events that reflect the creativity, uniqueness, and artistry that Asheville, N.C., and Western North Carolina is known for primarily. In recent years, the facility has hosted world-class sporting events such as NBA Preseason Games, two Billie Jean King Cups by BNP Paribas ties, the annual Ingles Southern Conference Basketball Championships, Asheville Championship, and the Camping World Maui Invitational as well as music and performances by Bob Dylan, The Lumineers, Dave Chappelle, John Prine, Old Dominion, Sturgill Simpson, Kacey Musgraves, Widespread Panic, Billy Strings, Warren Haynes’ Christmas Jam, and more. For more information, visit HarrahsCherokeeCenterAsheville.com.

For more information, contact:

Pat Mitsch, USTA Corporate Communications, (914) 656-9021, Mitsch@usta.com

# # # 

U.S. BILLIE JEAN KING CUP QUALIFIER TO BE HELD IN ASHEVILLE, N.C. IN APRIL

The U.S. Billie Jean King Cup team to return to Asheville for the third time in five years.

Photo Credit - USTA.com

(ASHEVILLE, NC) November 16, 2021 - The U.S. Billie Jean King Cup team will return to Asheville, N.C. for the third time in five years in April when it hosts Ukraine with a spot in the 2022 Billie Jean King Cup by BNP Paribas Finals at stake. The USTA has selected Harrah’s Cherokee Center as host for the April 15-16 qualifying tie, making Asheville just the second three-time host for a U.S. Billie Jean King Cup tie all-time.

Tickets for April's Qualifier will go on sale to the general public on Nov. 19 at 10:00 a.m. USTA members have the opportunity to purchase tickets in an exclusive presale from Nov. 16-18, while supplies last. Two-day packages for both Friday and Saturday, as well as single-day tickets for Friday or Saturday, are available. Click here to purchase tickets.

Team USA previously played at Harrah’s Cherokee Center -- Asheville in 2018 and 2019, when the competition was played as Fed Cup. The two events combined, both World Group first-round ties in the event's old competition structure, generated more than $8 million in economic impact for the region and spurred increases in tennis participation at the grassroots level.

“Asheville was a tremendous host in 2018 and 2019, and we’re happy to be coming back,” said Megan Rose, Managing Director, Major Events, USTA. “April will be an exciting time for women’s tennis in the Carolinas. The week before the Billie Jean King Cup returns to Asheville, the Credit One Open WTA event in Charleston is celebrating its 50th anniversary, with a new, state-of-the-art facility. When Billie Jean founded the WTA tour, her dream was that any girl in the world would have the opportunity to play professional tennis, and to be able to celebrate her vision 50 years later with the largest women’s-only tournament in U.S., the Credit One Open., followed by the international team event named in her honor is an incredible tribute to her dream being realized.” 

The Qualifier is a best-of-five match series split across two days. It begins with two singles matches on Friday, April 15, with two reverse singles matches and the doubles match to follow on Saturday, April 16. Matches will be played on a temporary, indoor court laid down for the tie. The winner of April's tie will advance to the 2022 Finals in November at a location to be determined.

Team USA is 1-1 in its last two ties in Asheville, having beaten the Netherlands in 2018, 3-1, before losing a 3-2 tie to Australia in 2019.

"We are honored to become only the second city to host three Billie Jean King Cup ties,” said Chris Corl, General Manager, Harrah's Cherokee Center. “We thank the USTA and our local community partners, organizers and volunteers for their continued support with this event at the Harrah's Cherokee Center Asheville. This event has played a pivotal role in the expansion of youth and adult tennis programs throughout Western North Carolina over the past five years."

Added Kelly Gaines, Executive Director, USTA North Carolina: "On behalf of USTA North Carolina and the USTA Southern Section, we are thrilled to have this prestigious international event come back to our area."

The U.S. was drawn against Ukraine at the conclusion of this year's Billie Jean King Cup Finals earlier this month. The two countries have played just once in the history of the competition since Ukraine's independence from the Soviet Union: a 5-0 World Group Play-off win for the U.S. on the road, on clay in Kharkiv, back in 2012. Notably, that tie marked the Billie Jean King Cup debut of future Top 10 player Elina Svitolina, who was then just 17 years old. The winning nations of the nine 2022 Qualifiers will advance to the 2022 Finals, a field which will be rounded out by Russia and Switzerland—the 2021 finalists—and either the hosts of the 2022 competition (if not already qualified when the host venue is announced) or the highest-ranked loser of a qualifying tie.

The Billie Jean King Cup by BNP Paribas is the flagship international team tennis competition for women and has been played since 1963. Approximately 100 nations participate in the competition at all levels annually, making it the largest international team competition in women's sport. The U.S. has won 18 titles in event history, and bids for the chance to win a record-extending 19th in 2022 after losing in the semifinals at the 2021 Finals in Prague. The site selection is subject to final approval by the International Tennis Federation.

Written By: Victoria Chiesa, USTA.com

Roy Williams Announced as Tournament Ambassador for the Inaugural Asheville Championship as Tickets are Released to the Public

Hall of Fame basketball coach and Asheville native to help welcome the new men’s college basketball Championship to the Blue Ridge Mountains

(Asheville, NC) September 14, 2021 – The Asheville Championship announced today that North Carolina legend and Asheville native Coach Roy Williams has been named the official ambassador of the Tournament. Williams is dedicated to helping grow and expand the event to become a premier early- season championship featuring top basketball programs from across the country. Tickets were released to the public today for the inaugural Championship, which will feature South Carolina, Minnesota, Western Kentucky, and Princeton. The Tournament is scheduled to take place at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center-Asheville on Nov.12 and 14, 2021.

“My love for the game of basketball was born in this city, so helping to start the newest early season college basketball tournament right here in Asheville means a great deal to me,” said Williams. “I believe that you never truly walk away from the game, which is why I’m honored to get to play a role in the inaugural Asheville Championship.”

Fans can purchase tickets through their respective schools, or at ashevillechamp.info/tickets. The Championship is created by KemperLesnik, who operates the Maui Jim Maui Invitational and manages the event portion of the McDonald’s All American Basketball Games. Coach David Odom serves as the official Chair of the Asheville Championship, in addition to his leadership role with the Maui Jim Maui Invitational. The former National Coach of the Year and three-time Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year at Wake Forest has overseen tournament relations for the Maui Jim Maui Invitational since 2009.

“Roy Williams is as synonymous with college basketball as the state of North Carolina. We could not think of a more perfect ambassador than Roy to help us launch and grow this new tournament,” said Tom Valdiserri, executive vice president of KemperLesnik. “We cannot wait to see the Asheville Championship continue to grow and evolve. If the outpouring of excitement we’ve received from fans in year one is any indication, we’re definitely on to something special.”

Williams and his family moved to Asheville when he was a child. While in Asheville, he lettered in basketball and baseball at T. C. Roberson High School, and was named all-county and all-conference in basketball for two years (1967 and 1968), all-western North Carolina in 1968 and served as captain in the North Carolina Blue-White All-Star Game. After attending college at the University of North Carolina (UNC), Williams came back to the Asheville area to coach at Charles D. Owen High School in 1973 before returning to UNC as an assistant coach in 1978.

While at the helm of two of the winningest programs in college basketball history - University of Kansas and UNC - for 33 years, Williams led his teams to 30 NCAA Tournaments, including nine Final Four

appearances and three National Championships. As one of the most decorated coaches of all time, Williams won countless awards, including Big Eight Coach of the Year (1990, 1992, 1995, 1996); Big 12 Coach of the Year (1997, 2002, 2003); ACC Coach of the Year (2006, 2011); AP Coach of the Year (1992, 2006); Naismith College Coach of the Year (1997); and USA Today Sports National Coach of the Year (2019). He was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007. He is the only college basketball coach to win 400+ games with two different schools. Upon his retirement from UNC on April 1, 2021, Williams held

The Asheville Championship will air on the ESPN family of networks on Friday, Nov. 12 and Sunday, Nov. 14. Friday’s matchups include Western Kentucky vs. Minnesota at 6:00/6:30 pm ET and Princeton vs. South Carolina at 9:00 pm ET. Sunday’s third place game tips at 5:00 pm ET, followed by the Championship game at 7:30 pm ET.

Supporting partners for the tournament include Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission, Cambria Downtown Asheville, Explore Asheville, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, Ingles Markets, Liquidlogic Kayaks, and Wicked Weed.

Asheville City Soccer Club Joins USL W League

Asheville City SC Announced As Newest USL W League Club

North Carolina-based club becomes the tenth confirmed participant for the W League’s inaugural season in 2022

ASHEVILLE, N.C.- The United Soccer League (USL) today announced Asheville City SC as the latest club to join the USL W League. The North Carolina-based club is the second club to join the W League out of the Carolinas and continues to grow the league’s footprint in preparation for the start of the league’s inaugural season in 2022. 

“The addition of our second club out of the Carolinas speaks volumes about the growth of women’s pre-professional soccer in the South Atlantic region,” said Betsy Haugh, Director of Women’s Soccer for the USL W League. “Asheville City SC has a long history of success both on the field and within the greater Asheville community. We are excited to be adding a club of this caliber to the ranks of W League and look forward to all of the great work they will do in bringing awareness to the women’s pre-professional space.” 

Founded in 2016, Asheville City SC was built on the mission of creating an environment that enables local players to pursue their dreams, using soccer as a force for good within the community and seeking to win championships for its supporters. 

Asheville City SC has fielded a women’s team since 2018 and in joining the W League, the club will expand its ability to offer its players and coaches a competitive gameday environment in which they can exercise their skills and grow their careers to the greatest degree. In addition, the W League’s career development pillar will help continue Asheville City’s mission of helping players pursue their dreams both on and off the pitch. 

“We couldn’t be more excited to join the USL W League at this point in our club’s history,” said Lydia Jackson, Technical Director for Asheville City SC. “We’ve come to know the professionalism with which USL conducts its leagues through our experience in USL League Two and we’re looking forward to competing against clubs that share our vision and ambition for the women’s game.”

To learn more about Asheville City SC, visit www.ashevillecitysc.com or follow Asheville City SC on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.