MESA, Ariz. — This year flag football in Arizona is getting more exciting with the inaugural Turkey Bowl scheduled just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.
The Mesa tournament, held by Arizona Athletic Grounds (AAG), is expected to draw more than 100 teams nationwide.
"We can't wait to welcome more than a thousand girls and their families for three days of fun and spirited competition across our world-class facility and 24 fields," said Meg Stevens, the president of AAG.
Organizers said the Turkey Bowl marks the latest milestone in AAG’s commitment to gender equity in youth sports.
"With the explosion in popularity of flag football, and the sport's inclusion in the Olympics starting in 2028, what better way to continue building AAG's 'Girls First' platform than to create a flag tournament of our own," said Stevens.
The tournament will run from Nov. 29 until Dec.1
For Turkey Bowl information and team registration click here.
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Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to four major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events every year, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.