2020 FLORIDA SUNSHINE CUP $3.95 • COMPETENETWORK.COM
FLORIDA SUNSHINE CUP 2020 ISSUE COMPETE MAGAZINE EXECUTIVE EDITOR Connie Wardman, M.A., SDLT connie@competesportsdiversity.com PUBLISHER/CEO Eric Carlyle, SDLT eric@competesportsdiversity.com SALES & OPERATIONS VICE PRESIDENT Jared Garduno, SDLT jared@competesportsdiversity.com This special Player’s Guide issue of Compete Magazine was created in partnership with Florida Sunshine Cup. If your organization produces or hosts a run, tournament, sports festival, awards ceremony or other type of event, please contact Compete today to find out how we can partner to produce a highquality issue unique to your organization and its special events. Send us an email at publications@competesportsdiversity.com MISSION STATEMENT Compete unites the world through sports. Copyright © 2020 MEDIA OUT LOUD, LLC All Rights Reserved. Corporate Office 6991 E Camelback Rd., Ste. D-300 Scottsdale, Arizona 85251 (480) 386-7174 Compete is a trademark of Media Out Loud, LLC
5 WELCOME FROM FORT LAUDERDALE MAYOR 7 WELCOME FROM SFFL COMMISSIONER DOMINIC GRASSO 8 PHOTOS FROM 2019 SUNSHINE CUP 9 TOURNAMENT FIELDS 10 SUNSHINE BOWL TURNS 10 12 EVENTS 18 THANK YOU TO PARTICIPATING TEAMS competenetwork.com facebook.com/competemag @competesports Compete Magazine instagram.com/competemagazine
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On behalf of the Sunshine Cup X Host Committee, and the Board of Directors of the South Florida Flag Football League, we are excited to welcome you to Fort Lauderdale! We know you'll have a great time playing football here, and we hope you also enjoy our warm weather, beautiful beaches, and our thriving LGBTQ nightlife establishments! Sunshine Cup is the annual tournament hosted every Presidents Day Weekend by the South Florida Flag Football League. We have grown in participation every year, and we are extra excited about this year being our 10 year anniversary, taking place February 13th-17th, 2020. This year, we are beyond excited to have grown our tournament to 28 teams, spanning from across the country including Denver, Los Angeles, Detroit, and New York. Due to our tremendous growth, we are excited to feature an A, B, C, and Women's Division at this years tournament. We are also proud to introduce our first ever "Sunshine Cup" Hall of Fame Class, at our closing ceremony, taking place at the state of the art Manor nightclub on Sunday night. The tournament will also have on-site food and vendors, sponsored social events, and plenty of chances for everyone to compete, connect, and unite. I would like to especially thank all of the players, both first timers, as well as returning veterans who choose every year to make Sunshine Cup a tournament priority. I would also like to thank both our new, and returning sponsors, our referees, fans, and volunteers. Finally, I would like to thank our entire Board of Directors, as well as our Sunshine Cup X Committee for all of your selfless hours of hard work and dedication towards making Sunshine Cup X the best LGBTQ flag football tournament it can possibly be! Please browse our site: https://www.sunshinecup.net/ for more information, and feel free to contact our Tournament Directors at sunshinecupdirector@gmail.com if you have any questions!
Dominic J. Grasso, Ph.D. Commissioner South Florida Flag Football League
League
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8 COMPETE 2020 florida Sunshine cup
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TOURNAMENT FIELDS CENTRAL BROWARD REGIONAL PARK & BROWARD COUNTY STADIUM
3700 NW 11th Place Lauderhill, FL 33311
DRIVING DIRECTIONS FROM THE EAST Take Sunrise Boulevard West. Exit US-441 / State Road 7. Merge onto N. State Road 7 / US-441 N. Turn right into the drive for the Central Broward Regional Park and Stadium. Parking is available in the lot immediately to the South, behind the Center near the Stadium and in the Broward Regional Park lot, just to the side of the building. FROM I-95 Take Exit 29 for Sunrise Boulevard West. In 1.8 miles, Exit US-441 / State Road 7. Merge onto N. State Road 7 / US-441 N. The theater will be at the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and State Road 7. Turn right into the drive for the Central Broward Regional Park and Stadium. FROM THE TURNPIKE Take Exit 58 Sunrise Boulevard East. In a little less than a mile, exit US-441 / State Road 7. Merge onto N. State Road 7 / US-441 N. The theater will be at the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and State Road 7. Turn right into the drive for the Central Broward Regional Park and Stadium. www.competenetwork.com 9
Sunshine Cup Turns 10 In preparation for the Florida Sunshine Cup’s tenth anniversary in Fort Lauderdale over the Presidents Day weekend, Compete was pleased to speak with Dominic J. Grasso, Ph.D., commissioner of the league tournament host, the South Florida Flag Football League (SFFFL). Compete: Please give us a little history on the Sunshine Cup, like its founding and mission, Dominic. Dominic Grasso: The SFFFL was founded in 2009 with the mission of proudly fostering community, camaraderie and inclusivity for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual or aromantic (LGBTQ+) communities and straight allies living in the state of Florida by providing opportunities to engage in competition through flag football. C: When did the first Sunshine Cup take place and how many players showed up for the inaugural event? DG: The first Florida Sunshine Cup took place in 2011 with eight teams total that included South Florida, Atlanta, Detroit, Philadelphia, New York City, Cleveland and two from Washington D.C. Each team had approximately 12-14 players. C: Now ten years later, how many teams and players do you expect? DG: This year we are pleased to announce that we have hit a record number of 28 teams: 16 are open division and 12 are women’s division. We are also expecting approximately 400 players. With additional referees, volunteers and spectators, we are planning for 500 people each day at the fields and event venues.
10 COMPETE 2020 florida Sunshine cup
C: Congratulations, Dominic! In what other ways has the Sunshine Cup changed and grown? DG: Sunshine Cup has evolved from a small regional tournament to a premier national tournament under the umbrella of the National Gay Flag Football League (NGFFL). One of our biggest changes has been a renewed commitment to providing tournament players and spectators the best experience both on and off the field by moving from small local fields and after parties to larger, more pristine tournament fields with a stadium backdrop complemented by bigger and better venue spaces for after parties. Another area of growth for the tournament has been the women’s division which this year will include 12 teams. That makes this the largest women’s division for an NGFFL tournament outside of the Gay Bowl. Additionally, we have expanded to include an A, B and C division to increase both the enjoyment and competitiveness among all teams! Finally, we have grown by increasing our sponsors and partnerships to include big names like the Miami Dolphins, Holy Cross Medical Center and the Visitors Bureau for Greater Fort Lauderdale. C: Does the Sunshine Cup support any charities? DG: Our goal this year (depending on finances) is for each winning team from the A, B, C and women’s division to select and donate to a charity of its choice. In previous years, the Sunshine Cup has supported the local LGBTQ+ charity SunServe which does amazing things for LGBTQ+ individuals and their families across the South Florida area. C: What are some of the Sunshine Cup sponsors and partners? DG: Both the South Florida Flag Football League and Florida Sunshine Cup are extremely thankful for our amazing sponsors which include not only the Miami Dolphins, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Visitors Bureau and Holy Cross Medical Center but also the NGFFL, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, Blue Ocean Press, PAC Pastries, Pink Sub, Humbld Beverages, Miami Acura, Impact Imagery and Island City Massage. We are also extremely thankful for our amazing longtime event and venue sponsors Hunters, Sidelines, Alibi, GYM Bar and the Manor. C: What else would you like the public to know about the Sunshine Cup? DG: The Sunshine Cup has grown so much over the past few years! We are extremely thankful to all our LGBTQ+ and ally athletes who make the trip to beautiful South Florida every year. We also would like to extend an especially warm welcome to all our first time Sunshine Cup athletes, spectators and fans. We promise this is an experience of a lifetime! C: Thanks so much for your time, Dominic. We wish all of you a fabulous and exhilarating tenth anniversary tournament!
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EVENTS
Thursday, Feb 13th - 7PM
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION PARTY Hunters Wilton Manors 2232 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors, FL 33305
Kick the weekend off with our annual Early Bird Registration Party! Great drink specials, music, and access to your registration swag! Friday, Feb 14th - 7PM
SUNSHINE CUP X REGISTRATION PARTY Sidelines on the Drive 2426 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors, FL 33305
Join us on Friday night for the official Sunshine Cup X Registration Party. Pick up your tournament swag, and enjoy a beautiful South Florida night! Drink specials, music, and the opportunity to get the advanced scouting report on your competition. 12 COMPETE 2020 florida Sunshine cup
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Saturday, Feb 15th | 8 a.m.
SUNSHINE CUP X ROUND ROBIN PLAY Central Broward Regional Park
Saturday, Feb 15th | 6-9 p.m.
BRACKETS REVEAL/TIGHT END CONTEST
Georgie’s Alibi Monkey Bar 2266 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors, FL 33305
Join us as we reveal the tournament brackets for Sunday play while also revealing each team's best "assets" during our booty contest. Skip your team dinner! Food will be provided to all attendees. *20% off food Thursday-Sunday when you present this coupon.* www.competenetwork.com 13
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EVENTS
Sunday, Feb 16th | 9 a.m.
SUNSHINE CUP X TOURNAMENT PLAY Central Broward Regional Park
Sunday, Feb 16th | 7 p.m.
SUNSHINE CUP X CLOSING/AWARDS PARTY The Manor 2345 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors, FL 33305
The party you've been waiting for all weekend! Awards, Trophies, Food, Drinks, Music! Also, don't miss the first annual Sunshine Cup X Hall of Fame Class. * Free entry with Sunshine Cup X wristband, $10 cover without.* 14 COMPETE 2020 florida Sunshine cup
WELCOME SUNSHINE CUP TEAMS
OPEN DOOR... OPEN MIND
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YEARS
FLORIDA SUNSHINE CUP
X
THANK YOU
SUNSHINE CUP X PARTICIPATING TEAMS
League
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Good luck
To all of the athletes attending ! Sunshine Cup
2020
Looking forward to seeing you in Hawaii!
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