Hospitality, safety draw annual Triple Crown Sports event and 15 top U.S. collegiate softball teams to Pacific Coast resort
February 21, 2019, PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico — The proven safety track record, renowned hospitality and world-class sports facilities of this renowned Pacific Coast resort city contributed to a successful 2019 edition of the annual Puerto Vallarta College Challenge softball tournament, which this year brought together the 15 best collegiate teams in the U.S. to play official division matches in Puerto Vallarta venues.
This year’s Puerto Vallarta College Challenge drew 600 players, plus staff, family and fans. The event not only helped fill local hotel rooms — generating associated economic benefits for the resort city during its two-week run — but also resulted in valuable publicity and promotion for the destination, thanks to sports channel broadcasts of tournament events in both local markets and the states participating teams hailed from. The first series of games was held February 7 to 9, and the second, February 14 to 17, in the “Agustín Flores Contreras” softball field. On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, there were five daily matches and, on Sundays, one more. The participating teams were from Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Carolina, Utah and Washington state. Previously, teams from Duke University (North Carolina), Notre Dame (Indiana), Baylor (Texas) and Liberty (Virginia) had participated.
This event was made possible thanks to the Triple Crown Sports organization, which for 25 years has held several tournaments in Puerto Vallarta, where it has found very favorable conditions for playing softball — including suitable facilities in a safe and hospitable environment.
David King, director of Triple Crown, praised Puerto Vallarta’s overall conditions, tourist services and sports facilities. The later have been improved with the addition of an LED lighting system for night games, an upgrade funded by Triple Crown itself.
When not playing ball, tournament participants and their families enjoyed beach time and the ideal local weather. They report good impressions of Puerto Vallarta as a vacation destination, and near-perfect conditions for practicing their favorite sport. The teams also worked with the local Puerto Vallarta community via sport clinics, preselecting public and some private schools where they taught softball fundamentals. Each team, accompanied by its coach, took to school playgrounds to show students softball rules and techniques. In addition, they received souvenirs in gratitude for their time. The schools visited this year were: Emiliano Zapata, November 20, Tepeyac School, Ameyalli, ISPAC. Francisco Gonzalez Bocanegra and Valentín Gómez Farías.
Puerto Vallarta is dedicated to hosting not only the College Challenge but other great sporting events that take advantage of its ideal climate and relevant facilities, such as the Marathon II (April 7); the PV Tennis Open (April 29-May 5), named the best debut Challenge tournament; and the Urban Cycling Tournament Down Puerto Vallarta (May 18 and 19); as well as various beach volleyball and basketball tournaments, athletic races and other events.For more information on the College Challenge, see www.pvcollegechallenge.com.
