CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Something magical could be coming to the Shawnee Sports Complex in Kanawha County.
Facility officials have submitted bids to host regional and national championship events of U.S. Quidditch, a sport based on the “Harry Potter” novels and movies which has also become popular among college students.
If selected, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship would take place this October, while the U.S. Quidditch Cup would be held in April 2020. It would bring hundreds of college-aged athletes to the Kanawha Valley. U.S. Quidditch had 170 teams and more than 4,100 members take part in its 2015-2016 season.
Kanawha County Commissioner Ben Salango said organizers seem interested in the sports complex because of the facility’s synthetic turf, which would allow games to be played in poor weather.
“That’s what we’re using to sell the tournament, and honestly, they like it,” he said. “They enjoyed the city and enjoyed their tour here. I think we’ll eventually get one (event).”
Other finalists for the regional championship are the Bryan Multi-Sports Complex in Goldsboro, North Carolina, and Troy Park in Elkridge, Maryland; both facilities have synthetic turf and field lighting, just like the Shawnee Sports Complex.
As for the U.S. Quidditch Cup, the other finalists are The Fields at Saluda Shoals Park in Columbia, South Carolina — which hosted the U.S. Quidditch Cup in 2016 and the 2017 South Regional Championship — and the Regional Athletic Complex in Salt Lake City. Both facilities have natural grass and field lighting available.
Salango was a driving force in opening the sports complex in July 2018, which has caught the attention of local and nationwide organizations; he announced in May the sports complex and the Barboursville Soccer Complex will host the U.S. Youth Soccer Eastern Regional Championship and the Eastern Regional President’s Cup over the next two years.
The first round of soccer tournaments will take place this month.
“We’re going to have our fair share of soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball and football, but there are so many things we can do there,” Salango added.
According to Salango, officials will know by June 30 if any of the tournaments will be held at the Shawnee Sports Complex.