GULF SHORES AND ORANGE BEACH, ALA. – The SEC Women’s Soccer Championship returns to the Gulf Coast for another year of exciting soccer.

“As the newest SEC Corporate Sponsor, we are tremendously excited to welcome the return of these collegiate student-athletes to the area,” said Beth Gendler, vice-president of sales for Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism and Sports Commission. “This sponsorship is an exciting partnership for the area and continues to provide additional access points to potential guests.”

The championship will start play on Nov. 2 as eight teams compete for a spot in the semifinals, which is scheduled for Nov. 4. A championship team will be determined on Sunday, November 6 following the final game scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m.

The SEC Women’s Soccer Championship game will be televised live, but if you don’t want to miss any of the action then admission at the gate is $5 for adults and $2 for children per day and all games will be played at the Orange Beach Sportsplex.

To see the complete schedule of SEC games, go to www.secdigitalnetwork.com/SECSPORTS/CHAMPIONSHIPS/2011SoccerChampionship.aspx.

Also new to the event this year is the addition of the 2011 Alabama Soccer Festival, which is set for November 4 through 6 at the Orange Beach Sportsplex. This team-based event is for U6 through U12 boys and girls teams. All proceeds will benefit the Alabama Youth Soccer Association to support our youth and stars of tomorrow. For complete information, visit www.alabamasoccerfestival.com.

This championship represents the eighth consecutive year that the SEC has chosen Orange Beach as the location for the women’s soccer championship.

For information on these or other athletic events on Alabama’s Gulf Coast, please visit www.gulfshoresorangebeachsports.com, or call 1-800-745-SAND.

ATLANTA—Through the years, Southeastern Conference football fans traditionally have spent their summers on the white-sand beaches along Alabama’s Gulf Coast and their falls cheering on their favorite college teams in stadiums around the Southeast. This season, the SEC and new corporate sponsor Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism are combining the two favorite pastimes via an advertising campaign—featuring some of the league’s most legendary football coaches—that will air during game-day television broadcasts this fall.

Launched August 27 during the SEC Network’s college football pre-game shows and airing on regional game broadcasts throughout the 2011 college football season, the 30-second spots will showcase the destination beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Ala., as well as some of the attractions along Alabama’s scenic Gulf Coast. The television ad campaign is one of the premier components of the SEC sponsorship that was negotiated by SEC multimedia rights holder IMG College, sports marketing consultant Fishbait Marketing, Shaul Zislin, a prominent local business leader in Gulf Shores, and Atlanta-based sports and entertainment marketing agency MELT, in collaboration with Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism.

Former SEC head football coaches Gene Stallings (Alabama), Frank Broyles (Arkansas), Pat Dye (Auburn), Jerry Stovall (LSU) and Phil Fulmer (Tennessee) serve as celebrity tour guides in the lineup of commercials, incorporating their former occupations into the mix to point out just some of reasons why fans should plan a getaway to the 32 miles of sugar-white sand and sparkling emerald waters along Alabama’s Gulf Coast region. The commercials will incorporate the tagline: “Gulf Shores and Orange Beach … Where SEC Families Come to Play.”

“The partnership of our destination and the SEC has resulted in a multifaceted activation and marketing plan that will allow us to reach millions of potential guests throughout the Southeast,” said Herb Malone, president/CEO of Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism. “Perfectly complementing our existing marketing efforts, this campaign utilizes legendary coaches on our beach, and we are very grateful that they took time out of their busy schedules to lend their support to our destination.”

Conceptualized, produced and distributed by MELT (Marketing Entertainment Lifestyle and Trends), the multi-spot TV campaign was filmed during two production shoots over the summer at popular locales such as Craft Farms Golf Course and The Hangout in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach’s Cobalt restaurant, the Gulf State Pier and area beaches. Viewers will be treated to scenes that include a couple of the SEC’s all-time greatest football coaches buried up to their necks in the sand, as well as other conference legends participating in some of the numerous activities the region has to offer.

According to MELT CEO Vince Thompson, the partnership reportedly is the first time a destination has used a conference sponsorship to promote a tourism strategy.
“MELT is thrilled to be able to showcase these legendary coaches in this beautiful setting,” said Thompson. “Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are two truly pristine beachfront communities, and MELT couldn’t be happier to work with a finer group of legendary coaches to bring this region to life in front of millions of SEC fans each week during the college football season.”

The commercials, as well as the official corporate sponsorship of the SEC, are part of Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism’s ongoing efforts to restore the region to a prominent vacation destination following last year’s oil spill. Authorities from Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism reported a record $54.7 million in lodging revenue in June—reflecting an 8.4 percent increase over the previous record set in June 2007—as well as $82.2 million in retail sales that month.

The Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism ad campaign is targeted toward the SEC’s expansive football fan base. With 6,521,151 fans attending football games in 2010, the SEC once again was the NCAA’s top conference in attendance for the 13th straight season.

Announced during the SEC’s Football Media Days in July, Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism’s sponsorship agreement with the Southeastern Conference will run through June 2014 and will incorporate other activations, such as an interactive presence before the LSU-Oregon football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, during Labor Day weekend, the Dr Pepper SEC FanFare during the conference’s annual football championship weekend, the SEC men’s basketball tournament and a football kickoff weekend, set to take place in August 2012.

(Gulf Shores)

From the couch of our "Football Blogger" FES.

(Gulf Shores)

People ask me all the time, "What is going on this weekend?"  Well, here you go for this weekend.

We will begin in Foley, at Heritage Harbor Days.  This is a three day arts and crafts, children events, food and music festival.  for more information:  http://www.heritageharbordays.com/

Next we will venture to the Orange Beach Sportsplex for the 2010 Southeastern Conference Women's Soccer Championships.  The top eight SEC Women's Soccer Teams have gathered to find their conference champion.  The semi-finals will be held Friday and the finals on Sunday.  Bring the whole family out for some great soccer action.  For schedule and results:  http://secsports.com/SPORTS/2010SoccerTournament.aspx

Finally, we head to an adult only event in Perdido Key.  Head to The Jellyfish Bar for the 4th Annual Perdido Key Martini Festival.  The event features, arts and crafts, fabulous foods and some of the best martinis you will ever taste.  The event is topped off with the bartending competition.  For more information:  www.perdidokeymartinifestival.com

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(Orange Beach)

Once again the Southeastern Conference Women's Soccer Championships are ready to take place at the Orange Beach Sportsplex.  Tickets will be available at the gates the days of the matches.   For more information: