Beyond Sports, the NC Fusion Foundation - December Newletter



As the holiday season approaches and we launch our updated website, we find ourselves reflecting on the incredible year we’ve had with the Beyond Sports, The NC Fusion Foundation. Our impact has continued to deepen thanks to the generosity of many, and for that we are very thankful.


As we kick off our Give the Gift of Sport campaign to close out the year, your gift of any amount directly supports us in our mission to level the health, wellness and athletic equality for youth in our community.


Thank you for helping us make an impact in our community!



List of Services


PRESS RELEASES

  • 2025 Adidas Clash Tournament Press Release

    NC Fusion Set to Host Record-Breaking Adidas Clash Tournament


    557 Teams, 33,000+ Visitors Expected Across the Triad Region


    Greensboro, N.C. — November 6, 2025 — NC Fusion is proud to announce the return of the Adidas Clash Tournament, one of the largest youth soccer events in the Southeast, taking place November 14-16, 2025, across multiple premier venues in the Triad. This year’s event will mark a record-breaking milestone with 557 participating teams — the largest in tournament history.


    The 2025 Adidas Clash will feature 91 clubs representing 9 different states, competing in U8 to U19 age groups in both boys’ and girls’ divisions. Of the total teams, 355 boys’ teams and 202 girls’ teams will be competing in the event, the tournament stands as a testament to the thriving youth soccer community and its continued development.


    Welcoming more than 33,000 visitors, the Greensboro Area Convention & Visitors Bureau projects an economic impact of over $10 million for the Triad region. More than 5,000 hotel rooms have been booked across 90 partner hotels, accommodating families and teams traveling to take part in this prestigious event.


    Games will be played across 88 soccer fields at the following top-tier facilities:


    • Bryan Park Truist Soccer Complex

    • Truist Sports Park

    • Springwood Park

    • Zoo City Cone Health Soccer Complex

    • Jamestown Athletic Complex

    • High Point Athletic Complex

    • Sara Lee Soccer Complex

    • Hine Park

    • Proehlific Park

    • Jaycee Park


    “We’re thrilled to welcome a record number of teams to this year’s Adidas Clash,” said Gary Gartner, NC Fusion Tournament Director. “This event not only showcases incredible youth soccer talent, but it also strengthens our community through collaboration, tourism, and the shared love of the game.”


    The Adidas Clash continues to embody NC Fusion’s mission of ‘Building Athletes Who Thrive Beyond the Game’—creating meaningful experiences that promote development, sportsmanship, and lifelong connections through sport.


  • Beyond Sports 5th Anniversary Press Release

    Greensboro/Winston-Salem, NC – September 25, 2025 – Beyond Sports, the NC Fusion Foundation, is proud to announce its 5th anniversary, marking five years of breaking down barriers and creating opportunities to positively impact youth through health, wellness, and athletics.


    Launched in 2020, Beyond Sports was created to ensure every child—regardless of physical ability, background, or financial resources—has access to the benefits of sport. Providing equipment, opportunities and resources to youth, coaches and mentors in Title 1 schools across the Triad has opened the doors to sport for thousands of kids across the Triad. We believe that connecting kids to sports at a young age fosters social and physical activity and essential life skills that can carry them through adolescence and BEYOND.


    “Reaching this five-year milestone is both humbling and inspiring,” said Mike Kennedy, Co-Founder of Beyond Sports, the NC Fusion Foundation. “We started Beyond Sports with a vision to use athletics as a catalyst for growth, connection, and equity. Thanks to the support of our community and partners, we’ve seen firsthand how sport can change lives well beyond the game.”


    Highlights of Beyond Sports’ impact over the past five years include:

    • Over $500,000 in programming provided

    • 25,000 Youth Impacted

    • Opened a Sports Equipment Warehouse and donated over $150,000 in sports equipment

    • Currently serving 41 Elementary and Middle Schools in Guilford and Forsyth County

    • Partnering with over 30 Community Organizations to provide programming and equipment support

    • Partnering with Police Officers in Greensboro, High Point and Winston and SRO officers in Schools to provide over 500 pieces of sports equipment

    • 2024 Aspen Institute Project Play Champion & Department of Health and Human Services National Youth Sports Strategy Champion


    “As we celebrate five years, we are even more committed to making sure every young person in our community has the chance to grow through sport,” said Micheala Amidon, Co-Founder of Beyond Sports.


    To celebrate this milestone, Beyond Sports will host their 5-Year Anniversary Celebration on October 1st at Natty Greene’s in Greensboro. The event will feature stories of impact, recognition of community partners, and opportunities for continued support to sustain and grow the initiative.


    “Beyond Sports is at the heart of who we are as an organization,” said Scott Wollaston, Executive Director of NC Fusion. “This initiative ensures that every child, regardless of their circumstances, has the opportunity to experience the joy, confidence, and community that sports can provide. The past five years are just the beginning—we’re excited to continue expanding our impact for years to come.”

  • Labor Day Shootout Press Release

    Greensboro, NC — August 29, 2025 – NC Fusion is set to host the annual Labor Day Shootout Soccer Tournament this weekend,  one of the Southeast’s premier youth soccer tournaments, bringing together 290 teams from 61 soccer clubs across the region. The event features boys’ and girls’ divisions from U9 to U19, showcasing top-level competition and community spirit throughout the holiday weekend.


    The tournament is expected to welcome an estimated 14,500 visitors to the Triad, with matches played across three top-tier venues: Bryan Park Soccer Complex, Springwood Park, and Cone Health Zoo City Sportsplex.


    To accommodate the influx of athletes, families, and supporters, NC Fusion partnered with 40 local hotels, filling more than 3,000 rooms and driving significant economic impact to the area.


    “We are thrilled to welcome players, families, and fans from across the region,” said Gary Gartner, tournament director.  “At NC Fusion, our promise is building athletes who thrive beyond the game. The Labor Day Shootout is more than a competition — it’s an opportunity to develop character, foster friendships, and create lasting memories through sport.”


    The annual tournament has become a hallmark event for NC Fusion, providing a stage for youth athletes to compete, develop, and celebrate the game of soccer, while also generating meaningful connections between sports and the Triad community.


  • ECNL Regional League Playoffs Press Release

    Bryan Park Truist Soccer Complex to Host ECNL Regional League Playoffs,  June 27–July 1, 2025.


    Greensboro, NC — The nationally acclaimed Bryan Park Truist Soccer Complex will once again take center stage as it hosts the ECNL Regional League Playoffs from June 27 to July 1, 2025. This prestigious event will welcome 176 elite boys and girls teams from the U13 to U19 age groups, representing clubs from across the East Coast.


    A marquee moment in the competitive youth soccer calendar, the ECNL Regional League Playoffs bring together top-tier talent and generate significant regional interest. With over 10,000 hotel room nights expected to be booked, the event is projected to deliver a substantial economic impact to the Greensboro and Triad area through lodging, dining, transportation, and tourism.


    The five-day tournament will take place exclusively at the Bryan Park Truist Soccer Complex, a premier venue known for its high-quality fields and exceptional facilities. The site has previously hosted major regional and national youth soccer events, reaffirming its reputation as one of the best soccer complexes in the country.


    “We are excited to once again welcome ECNL competition to our facility,” said Gary Gartner, NC Fusion Director of Tournament and Events. “Events of this scale not only showcase the tremendous talent and dedication of these young athletes but also highlight the economic and community value of youth sports tourism in our region.”


    Spectators are welcome throughout the weekend. Admission is free, and food and merchandise vendors will be on site. Additional event details, including schedules and team matchups, can be found HERE on the ECNL Regional League website.  


  • 2025 Summer Events Press Release

    June 12, 2025


    NC Fusion Hosted Elite ECNL Girls Showcase at Bryan Park for Second Consecutive Year


    Prestigious National Event Draws Thousands to the Triad Region, Boosts Local Economy


    Greensboro, NC – NC Fusion proudly hosted the ECNL Girls Showcase at the nationally recognized Bryan Park Soccer Complex for the second consecutive year, welcoming elite U15–U17 girls’ soccer teams from across the country for one of the most prestigious events in youth sports.


    The 2025 showcase brought 191 teams from over 30 states, attracting more than 10,000 visitors to the Triad region and filling 10,000+ hotel rooms. With over 700 college coaches and scouts in attendance, the ECNL Showcase continues to be the most heavily recruited youth soccer event in the nation.


    “Bryan Park is the ideal setting for an event of this magnitude,” said Gary Gartner, NC Fusion Director of Tournaments and Events. “With over 100 college soccer programs within a three-hour radius, and national recognition as one of the top 10 soccer facilities in the country for the second straight year, Greensboro has become a true destination for elite youth sports.”


    Beyond the impact on players and college recruiting, the event also creates meaningful benefits for the local community. Local referees gain valuable experience and income, while area food trucks and small businesses see increased revenue from the influx of teams, families, and fans.


    NC Fusion is thrilled to announce that the ECNL Girls Showcase will return to Bryan Park in 2026, continuing to elevate Greensboro’s position on the national stage for youth and amateur sports.

    ________________________________________


    Upcoming Events at Bryan Park:


    • June 13–15, 2025 | USASA Adult Regionals – Bringing both men’s and women’s adult teams from across the southeast to complete for advancement to the National Amateur Cup.  


    • June 21–22, 2025 | Body Armour State Games –North Carolina’s largest multi-sport festival and one of the largest State Games programs in the US.  Both soccer and flag football events will be held at Bryan Park.  


    • June 27 – July 1, 2025 | ECNL Regional League (RL) Playoffs – Top performing teams that have qualified for the event, creating high visibility recruitment opportunities for local and regional college programs,  will compete to earn their spot in the ECNL Regional League Finals in July.  


    Upcoming events at Truist Sports Park:


    • June 21-24, 2025 |  US Club Southeast Regionals -  This event is part of US Club National Cup, qualifying teams from 4 National Cup Regionals advance to the National Cup Finals. 



  • 2025 Fusion Cup Press Release

    Fusion Cup 2025 Delivers Record-Breaking Turnout and Regional Impact


    Greensboro, NC – June 2, 2025


    The 2025 Fusion Cup, held May 16–18, once again solidified its place as one of the premier youth soccer tournaments in the Southeast, bringing unprecedented energy and economic vitality to the Triad region. With over 408 teams representing 72 different soccer clubs from six states, this year’s tournament surpassed expectations in scale, participation, and community impact.


    A Showcase of Growth and Excellence


    Spanning six high-quality facilities and utilizing 52 fields, the Fusion Cup provided a professional, well-organized environment for competition across all age groups—from U9 to U19, boys and girls. The event featured over 223 referees from six different states, ensuring fair and high-level officiating for more than a thousand matches throughout the weekend.


    “Our goal has always been to deliver an exceptional tournament experience, and 2025 has taken that to new heights,” said Gary Gartner, NC Fusion Tournament Director. “Our continued growth is a testament to the reputation NC Fusion has built, the trust of our partner clubs, and the support of our regional stakeholders.”


    A Boom for the Local Economy


    With over 25,000 visitors flooding into the Triad from across the Southeast, hotels, restaurants, and local businesses saw a major boost over the weekend. Early estimates suggest the economic impact will rival or exceed 2024’s $4.5 million figure.


    Scott Wollaston, CEO of NC Fusion, remarked, “The Fusion Cup is more than a soccer tournament—it’s an economic engine for our region. Our strategic planning, including access to top-tier facilities and weather contingency measures, allows us to deliver consistently for our teams and our community.”



    Building Athletes Who Thrive Beyond the Game


    The Fusion Cup exemplifies NC Fusion’s broader mission: Building Athletes Who Thrive Beyond the Game. Beyond athletic excellence, the event fosters community, resilience, and personal growth for thousands of young players. As NC Fusion continues to lead the way in youth sports tourism and development, its role as a cornerstone institution in the Triad becomes increasingly clear.


  • Beyond Sports Hosts Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for New Warehouse

    (Greensboro, NC) On Tuesday, August 13, Beyond Sports NC and NC Fusion are hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of a facility that will warehouse free athletic equipment for low-income families through our Title 1 schools and partner organizations.

    About Beyond Sports
  • NC Fusion Events Generate Over $20 Million Economic Impact in June

     NC Fusion Events Generate Over $20 Million Economic Impact in June

  • Beyond Sports, the NC Fusion Foundation, Recognized by Aspen Institute

    What an HONOR to be recognized by Aspen Institutes @AspenProjectPlay as a 2024 Champion! 

    About Beyond Sports
  • NC Fusion Cup Crushes Economic Impact Goals for the Triad Region

    Despite Rough Weather: The Fusion Cup Crushes Economic Impact Goals for the Triad Region

  • Burlington Soccer Club is joining NC Fusion!

    Welcome to our Burlington players and families!  We look forward to being a part of your player's soccer journey.

    Video conversation
  • Sports Performance Parenting, written by Gordon MacLelland and Sarah Murray

    NC Fusion Families: 

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