Colorado 4th of July Ready to Host Over 1,100 Teams

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - ​There is nothing bigger in the youth softball calendar than the Colorado 4th of July (Sparkler/Fireworks) event. This year once again proves that as Triple Crown Sports will welcome over 1,100 teams to Colorado’s Front Range for the event, slated for June 24-July 3, 2022.
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Stretching from the northern communities of Fort Collins and Greeley all the way down the I-25 corridor through Denver to Colorado Springs, the 4th of July tournament has rebounded fiercely from the pandemic-related disruptions of 2020 to once again welcome age groups 12u through 18u. The nation’s most competitive and high-achieving club programs will arrive in droves as the TCS fastpitch division puts over 40 complexes and 150 fields in motion.

The event has long been a prized destination for college coaches and programs as they look for talent to fortify their rosters. Showcase games as well as tournament play will put athletes in front of more than 500 coaches; added value comes through a series of camps and clinics directed by the coaching staffs from national D-I powerhouses through NAIA and JUCO programs.

Returning for a second-consecutive year to the 4th of July menu is the TC International Challenge, which kicks off the excitement from June 24-26 at the Christopher Fields complex in Westminster. These 28 teams were built on rosters that give players a unique opportunity to represent their nationalities and will be another recruiting highlight on the schedule.

Tournament officials are gearing up for two powerful convergence moments during the event, on the evenings of June 29 at Christopher Fields and June 30 at Aurora Sports Park. Both nights will feature all-star and power pool games to be broadcast by ESPN 3 and AthletesGoLive, along with multiple vendors, food and merchandise options – thousands of people are expected to attend each location.
 
College Sports Evaluation will be running a series of camps throughout the Colorado 4th of July event as well as their must-qualify events, which will have top-performing athletes showcasing their skills using sensor data technology while college coaches watch live.

Other key numbers revolving around the Colorado 4th of July event include:

• 150+ hotel properties
• 50,000+ hotel room nights
• Five umpire assignors
• Over 500 umpires
• Over 4,000 games scheduled
• Nearly 15,000 athletes
• 47 states represented 
• 1,400 players in college camps
• 2,000 players in all-star games

The 12u and 14u Sparkler Juniors brackets will play out in Colorado Springs and north of Denver, respectively. Championship day for 12u is Saturday, July 2, and for all other age divisions is Sunday, July 3.
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“We are once again so excited to put on the Colorado 4th of July event,” said TCS fastpitch event director Stephanie Klaviter. “This has become the marquee event on the softball calendar, and we couldn’t be more excited for the turnout this year. We will put all our effort into making this tournament as memorable an experience as it can be for players, parents and coaches.”

“We are pleased to welcome Triple Crown Sports back to our community. There is no question about the significant economic effect that tourism brings, and tournaments such as the Colorado 4th of July add a large boost to our city,” said Juliet Abdel, President and CEO of the Westminster Chamber of Commerce. “Attendees spend dollars in gas, food, lodging and retail. This is pivotal to key areas of job creation, revenue for the betterment of our community’s infrastructure needs and our economy, which will ensure business doors stay open and families are taken care of.”
 
“Loveland is thrilled to welcome back the Colorado 4th of July tournament for 2022,” said Cindy Mackin Director of Visit Loveland. “We look forward to hosting this event every year in Loveland as thousands of tournament players, their families, coaches and spectators explore the beauty of Northern Colorado and get to experience everything you LOVE about Loveland. The economic impact from an event of this magnitude for a smaller city like Loveland is huge — this is especially true for our hotels, restaurants, shops and local attractions.”