U.S. Quidditch Cup 12 Scheduled In Round Rock

ROUND ROCK, TEXAS — Some 1,700 athletes will participate in the collegiate and community divisions of the U.S. Quidditch Cup 12 this weekend in Round Rock.

Eighty-three teams are registered to compete this weekend at the Round Rock Multipurpose Complex 2001 N. Kenney Fort Blvd., including 59 collegiate teams and 24 adult community teams, organizers said. With 13 teams in the event this year, Texas has more teams participating than any other state — furthering the city's efforts to brand itself as the self-described Sports Capital of Texas.

“We are excited to be back in Round Rock,” said Sarah Woolsey, executive director, US Quidditch. “The Round Rock Multipurpose Complex is a gorgeous facility and everyone in the community has been so welcoming and easy to work with.”

Approximately 200 quidditch games will take place this weekend in Round Rock, which hosted its first quidditch match June 2017 at the Round Rock Multipurpose Complex shortly after it opened. The U.S. Quidditch Cup 11 at the complex last year lured about 2,500 fans attended, officials noted.

Quidditch is a real-world adaptation of the game played in the Harry Potter novels. The sport is a cross between rugby, dodge ball and capture the flag, and players are required to have a broom between their legs at all times.

“The U.S. Quidditch Cup is one of the most highly anticipated and attended events we host here in the Sports Capital of Texas,” City of Round Rock Sports Management and Tourism Director Chad McKenzie said. “Quidditch is a highly competitive, athletic sport that is so much fun to watch. We hope the players and fans from all over the U.S. have a great time at the event here again this year and enjoy visiting their favorite Round Rock restaurants, shopping and entertainment areas.”

All games on pitch one will be live-streamed on the USQ YouTube channel featuring ESPN play-by-play commentator Brad Woznicki who is returning to cover the tournament after a one-year hiatus. Commentator Ashton Jeanlewis will join Woznicki periodically throughout the weekend with his own play-by-play commentary.

Local business partners for the U.S. Quidditch Cup 12 event include Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches, Academy Sports + Outdoors and Athletic Tune-Up Professionals.

For information on teams, volunteer registration, and tickets, visit usquidditchcup.com.

Photo via City of Round Rock.

WHEN:

9 a.m.-9:45 p.m. Saturday, April 13

9 a.m.-7:45 p.m. Sunday, April 14

WHERE:

Round Rock Multipurpose Complex

2001 N. Kenney Fort Blvd., Round Rock

ADMISSION COST

One-day and weekend general admission tickets for $10 to $33 are available online at usquidditchcup.com and at the gate. A limited number of VIP upgrades will be available at the door.

• One-Day Pass - Grants access to a full day of games and the fan festival on either Saturday OR Sunday, including the semifinals and finals matches on Sunday.
• Weekend Pass - Grants access to approximately 200 exciting games of quidditch Saturday and Sunday, including the semifinals and finals matches on Sunday.
• VIP Pass - (One-Day VIP $75, VIP Weekend $150) VIP ticket holders receive access to the VIP area with an air-conditioned lounge overlooking both championship pitches, free food and drinks, swag bag with an event shirt and individualized attention from our VIP volunteers and staff. For those who already purchased tickets online and want to upgrade to a VIP ticket at the door, cost is an additional $55 for a one-day VIP pass and $110 for a VIP weekend pass.
• Youth Pass (age 3-17); children ages 2 and under are free.
• Student Passes – With a valid student ID.

PARKING

Free onsite parking is available at the Round Rock Multipurpose Complex.

WEATHER

The U.S. Quidditch organization has extensive plans prepared for cases of inclement weather during the US Quidditch Cup. In case of severe weather, updates will be sent via email, posted on U.S. Quidditch Cup social media, and texted out through a mass text-messaging provider called Trumpia. To sign up for schedule updates and weather alerts, click here. (https://platform.trumpia.com/onlineSignup/usquidditch/usqc12).

The Round Rock Multipurpose Complex is a mix of natural grass and synthetic turf, which is designed for play during and after rainfall. US Quidditch will line extra pitches on the turf if rain affects the tournament.

TEXAS TEAMS COMPETING

Texas teams participating in the U.S. Quidditch Cup include:

• The University of Texas at Austin (Texas Quidditch and Austin Quidditch)
• Texas State University (Texas State University - San Marcos and Bobcat Quidditch)
• Texas A&M University (Texas A&M Quidditch and Silver Phoenix)
• Baylor Quidditch
• Texas Tech Quidditch Club
• The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA Club Quidditch)
• Houston Cosmos Quidditch Club (adult community)
• Lone Star Quidditch Club
• Texas Cavalry (adult community and defending two-time national champion)
• Texas Hill County Heat (adult community)
• Texas Cavalry is the USQ 2019 Southwest Regional Community Division Runner-Up and the US Quidditch Cup defending National Champion in the community division after winning in both 2017 and 2018.

TEXAS TEAMS FUN FACTS

• Texas Quidditch is a three-time US Quidditch Cup National Champion, winning in 2013, 2014 and 2015. The team was runner-up in the US Quidditch Cup 2018 collegiate division and the USQ 2019 Southwest Regional Collegiate Division Champion.
• Texas State University - San Marcos is the USQ 2019 Southwest Regional Collegiate Division Runner-Up. This team was also 2017 US Quidditch Cup Runner-Up.
• Texas Hill Country Heat is a new team comprised of veteran players that already secured a regional win, earning the USQ 2019 Southwest Regional Community Division Champion title.

ABOUT U.S. QUIDDITCH

U.S. Quidditch, established in 2010, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and the national governing body for the sport of quidditch. U.S. Quidditch advances the sport by organizing events and programs that build community and empower all genders to compete together.

Quidditch is a mixed-gender, full-contact sport with a unique mix of elements from rugby, basketball, and dodgeball. A quidditch team is made up of seven athletes who play with brooms between their legs at all times. While the game can appear chaotic to the casual observer, quidditch is an exciting sport to watch and is even more fun to play.

Three chasers play with a ball called the quaffle and score goals worth 10 points each by shooting or dunking the ball through any one of three hoops at the other end of the pitch. They advance the quaffle down the field by running with it, passing it to teammates, or kicking it. Each team has a keeper who defends the goal hoops. Two beaters use bludgers to disrupt the flow of the game by “knocking out” other players. Any player hit by a bludger is out of play until they touch their own hoops. Each team also has a seeker who tries to catch the snitch. The snitch is a ball attached to the waistband of the snitch runner, a neutral athlete in a yellow uniform who uses any means to avoid capture. The snitch is worth 30 points and its capture ends the game. If the score is tied after the snitch catch, the game proceeds into overtime.

For more information, including the official rulebook, please visit the U.S. Quidditch Rulebook page at usquidditch.org/about/rules. Follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/unitedstatesquidditch/ and Twitter: @usquidditch and watch the U.S. Quidditch Cup 12 live on the USQ YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/c/USQuidditch

ABOUT U.S. QUIDDITCH CUP

The U.S. Quidditch Cup is the league's premier event of the season. Featuring 83 teams from two divisions, this tournament is the pinnacle of the competitive season and the largest spectator event of the year. Fifty-nine collegiate teams and 24 adult community teams qualify through regional championships and at-large bids. These teams have the opportunity to compete at U.S. Quidditch Cup to be crowned the National Champions in their division.

ABOUT ROUND ROCK MULTIPURPOSE COMPLEX

Located within Old Settlers Park, the Round Rock Multipurpose Complex is a $27 million state-of-the-art sports venue that enables Round Rock to host many new types of events, such as lacrosse, soccer, rugby, ultimate frisbee, flag football and more. The 60-acre sports complex features a championship field with natural grass, another championship field with synthetic turf, four multipurpose fields with natural grass and four with synthetic turf, and Musco sports lighting on all 10 fields. Spectator amenities include permanent seating with shade structures for 250 people on each of the championship fields, plus options to add portable seating. The complex also has more than 900 parking spaces, and a clubhouse with meeting rooms overlooking the fields. Additional amenities for families include plazas, pavilions, playgrounds and more. Visit www.roundrockmpc.com.

ABOUT SPORTS TOURISM IN ROUND ROCK

The Round Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau, a division of the City of Round Rock Sports Management and Tourism Department, promotes Round Rock as The Sports Capital of Texas for youth, amateur and recreational sports to tournament and meeting planners across the nation. A central location in Texas, unique shopping opportunities and an abundance of tournament-ready fields, courts and courses are helping Round Rock quickly become the top choice for planners when selecting a location for their next big event. Here’s to Round Rock: a great place to visit and a great place to play. Game on! For more information, visit www.sportscapitaloftexas.com.