NEWS RELEASE — A growing soccer tournament is breaking into two parts to enhance the experience for teams and their families visiting Pensacola, Orange Beach and Foley, Ala.

 The 2014 Publix SuperCup, formerly known as the FloraBama Showcase, will be played on two weekends – Sept. 13-14 for boys and Sept. 20-21 for girls. Publix has become both the title sponsor of the tournament and a major supporter of youth soccer in the Perdido Key area.

More than 200 teams are expected to play in this year’s tournament, which has grown steadily since it began with 75 teams in 2007.

The division will mean less shuttling among fields for teams and their families, and it will allow the tournament to grow the number of teams because of limited field space locally.

"When we hosted boys and girls on the same weekend, we maxed out all of the fields at 220 teams," said Fred Garth of Snap Soccer, the organization that manages the tournaments. "Going to two weekends will give us space to grow to 220 boys’ teams one weekend and 220 girls’ teams the next weekend. That might take a few years, but we're just trying to bring more visitors to the area, which is one of our key goals."

For this year’s tournament, teams will come from as far away as Nashville, Tenn., Baton Rouge, La. and Harrisburg, Miss.

 The tournament will be played at various fields, including the Perdido Sportsplex in Southwest Escambia County. The tournament draws thousands of players, parents and coaches to the Perdido Key area, filling hotels, condos and restaurants. The Perdido Key Area Chamber of Commerce is a sponsor of the tournament.

 For more information and game schedules go to www.perdidobayfc.com orwww.snapsoccer.com

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