The second annual “Miami Football Festival” at Tropical Park wrapped up an exciting day of all things “football,” showcasing the power of the sport to unite and improve lives. The free community event on Saturday, July 25, is part of the Youth Sports Championship Series, an initiative of Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez.
The featured activity was the “Mayor’s Cup Flag Football Tournament” for boys and girls, ages 14 and under. There were 500 children who participated in the tournament, representing more than 25 Miami-Dade parks and youth league teams.
Tournament awards went to the following teams in three age divisions:
• 11 and Under: Miami Fire /Tamiami Colts
• 12 and Under: Red Zone All-Stars
• 14 and Under: Florida City Razorbacks The youth players, their families and other football-loving attendees also enjoyed free football clinics and a kids’ area with bounce houses. Also making the scene were UM’s Sebastian the Ibis, FIU’s Roary the Panther and Golden Dazzlers and several gourmet food truck vendors.
The festivities took place next to the park’s softball fields and were kicked off with a special presentation by Mayor Gimenez and Miami-Dade Parks director Jack Kardys, recognizing past Youth Sports Championship winners and ambassadors, and highlighting the park’s stadium and track renovations.
“Youth sporting events, such as the Mayor’s Cup Flag Football Tournament, provide opportunities for children to learn and compete in a sport, as well as enhance their self-esteem, social development and fitness level,” Gimenez said. “Good sportsmanship, teamwork, responsibility, and discipline, are the life lessons of sports that will stay with these young athletes into adulthood.”
