G’day Mate – US Footy Comes to Town

USAFL National Tournament to be Held in Louisville October 9-10

LOUISVILLE, KY – ( February 12, 2010) – The largest Australian Rules Football tournament in the world, the United States Australian Football League (USAFL) 2010 National Tournament, will be held in Louisville, Kentucky, at Champions Park on River Road over the weekend of October 9-10, 2010.

Louisville’s own Australian Rules Football team, the Louisville Kings, will help host the event with up to 40 USAFL teams scheduled to play. Over 1,000 people including players, coaches and USAFL officials will be in town during the week. The event is expected to generate an estimated economic impact of $900,000.

“We are thrilled to return to the birthplace of Aussie Rules football in the US,” said Richard Mann, USAFL President and Tournament Director. “The first ever game of Aussie Rules football played in the US took place in Louisville in 1996. The City and the Louisville Sports Commission have been great partners in helping to bring the 2010 National Tournament to Louisville, Kentucky. We are looking forward to further developing the tournament after a hugely successful 10-year Anniversary Tournament here in 2007. I want to thank in particular Greg Fante and Troy Killian from the Sports Commission and Marty Storch from Metro Parks for everything they have done. We look forward to working closely again with them this year.”

Australian Rules Football (also "Aussie Rules" or “Footy") is a physical contact sport. It is a form of football with roots traceable from early forms of Rugby and Gaelic football, but it is uniquely Australian. Its rules were codified in 1858, and predate all other modern forms of football, such as American, Canadian, Rugby Union and League, Association (Soccer) and Gaelic football. Today it is a multi-million dollar business, with a National Competition and numerous smaller leagues.

The USAFL Executive Board will also be in town this weekend (February 12th-14th) for their annual meeting and Mr. Mann will be available for interviews.

Louisville Media Contacts: US Footy Contacts:

Karl Schmitt, Executive Director Richard Mann, USAFL President

Louisville Sports Commission National Championships Tournament