THE WILDWOODS - The Wildwoods are an award-winning mecca for youth sporting events, with the Wildwoods Convention Center hosting numerous year-round events, turning the shore town into a hub for youth sports activity. With thousands of accommodations and a fully equipped beachfront Convention Center, the Wildwoods have proven to be a town that's fully committed to, and experienced at, hosting youth sporting events.
Youth sports competitions, which grow in diversity and number year after year, take place at the Wildwoods Convention Center year-round and on the destination's expansive beaches. In 2002, six youth sporting events took place in the Wildwoods, with a total attendance of 16,411. That number has grown to 19 youth sports events in 2022, with a total attendance of 47,392 people. Since 2002, the Wildwoods have had over 300 group bookings for youth sports-related events with over 800,000 athletes. Their economic impact has contributed to the Wildwoods' ability to become a year-round destination.
These events - ranging from beach soccer and Frisbee tournaments; to cheerleading competitions and basketball tournaments; to beach marble tournaments and international kite festivals; to baseball on the beach and national wrestling championships - bring a significant amount of economic revenue to the five-mile island. For years, youth sporting events in the Wildwoods have grown in popularity, with indoor and outdoor events attracting crowds from all over the tri-state area and beyond.
"Youth sporting events thrive at our unique seaside venue, partly due to the fun and excitement of our world famous Boardwalk and award-winning beaches," said John Siciliano, Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement & Development Authority (GWTIDA) Executive Director. "Everyone, from the Convention Center staff to the city's Public Works Department, offers unprecedented support and assistance in helping to make every event a success."
The Wildwoods' five miles of beautiful white sand beaches are often ranked among the best beaches in the country and are also the largest beaches on the entire East Coast, making them the perfect setting for large, outdoor sporting events. Whether it's surfing, boogie board or swimming competitions, beach soccer tournaments, field hockey and lacrosse tournaments, Ultimate Frisbee championships, baseball on the beach tournaments, volleyball or track and field competitions - if you can imagine it, the Wildwoods can host it. Add to that, bleacher seating for over 3,000 for spectators, and the Wildwoods' enormous beaches are the perfect outdoor venue for any sporting events.
The Wildwoods Convention Center is a modern, multi-purpose facility equipped with exhibit, ballroom, meeting and pre-function space. Located on the world famous Wildwoods Boardwalk directly overlooking the beach and ocean, this unique, state-of-the-art, 260,000-square-foot facility offers one of the most spacious, flexible, innovative and inviting venues available for sporting events, conventions, trade shows, meetings, concerts and exhibits. Located within a day's drive of one-third of America's population, it can accommodate groups as small as 100 or as large as 10,000.
Right outside the doors of Convention Center is 38 blocks of Boardwalk excitement with retail shops, arcades, carnival games, over 300 eateries, plus three amusement piers with over 100 rides and attractions and three beachfront water parks.