Rugby fans get ready: Infinity Park will host the fifth annual Serevi RugbyTown 7s Tournament from August 26 through August 28.
Nearly 10,000 spectators are expected to attend the three-day event at Infinity Park—the first stadium built solely for rugby in the United States—and more than double that number will log on to the live webcast. Fans will watch as twenty teams will vie for a $10,000 winner-take-all purse.
Serevi RugbyTown 7s weekend has been growing since its inception five years ago. In 2014, attendance was just shy of 5,000. In 2015, that number rose to over 7,000. The number of teams competing in the tournament is also up this year, as 20 teams including the Glendale Raptors Rugby Football Club will compete. All five branches of the U.S. armed forces will be represented. Teams from Bermuda, the United Kingdom, and Canada will join teams from across the U.S. As this event continues to develop a national and international following, its clear that Glendale’s vision to be known as RugbyTown USA is on the right track.
This year, the Serevi RugbyTown 7s Tournament comes on the heels of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, at which rugby sevens will be an Olympic sport for the first time. Longtime fans and new fans alike can take advantage of back-to-back opportunities to enjoy top-rate international competition.
Coinciding with the Serevi RugbyTown 7s Tournament is Glendale’s Bruises & Brews Beerfest. Held on Saturday from 12-4 p.m. on the Festival Plaza at Infinity Park, Bruises & Brews Beerfest pairs perfectly for the weekend. Attendees can celebrate their team’s victory, cool off with a cold drink, or use the event as a way to entice friends to give rugby a try. More than twenty breweries will bring their top brews, and craft distilleries and cideries will also be in attendance. Admission to the Bruises & Brews Beerfest includes a ticket to the rugby tournament and a commemorative beer tasting mug presented by Westerra Credit Union.
The tournament is a great low-cost option for weekend full of fun for families and groups. Friday’s games are free for everybody. General admission costs $10 on Saturday and Sunday. Children younger than 13 are admitted for free all weekend. Parking is free and only a short walk from the stadium. Once in the stadium, guests will find a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. The stadium’s open seating lets guests choose exactly the experience they want, whether that’s a shady spot by the try zone or a sunny, front-row seat. The amphitheater-like seating is perfect for large groups.
Regardless of who walks away with the $10,000 first-place prize, the sense of camaraderie, appreciation for competition, and respect for sportsmanship will be the legacy of the weekend.
