Finally! The news you’ve all been waiting for is now here! We are pleased to announced that we not only have a regional logo (thanks to Paulina Pascual and Jake Hines from Emerson College!), but we also have a date AND a location for this year’s Northeast Regional Championship Tournament. Like all the other regional tournaments held throughout the 2012-2013 season, this tournament will act as a qualifier for the World Cup in April. It’ll also be an important event in its own right, with a chance to meet and compete against the area’s top teams.

Regional logo commissioned by Paulina Pascual and Jake Hines.

You may last recall from our regional tournament announcements that the Northeast Regional Tournament was originally going to be held in Boston, MA. After much negotiation with various venues in the area, and without much support, we decided to let this bid go. Many of the venues we contacted had limited to no availability for our desired event date, or else limitations on what we could have on the pitch (no amplified sound, vendors, merch, etc.).

For the last few weeks, we have been accepting bids for a new location and have been in deep conversation with these contacts and the venues. We couldn’t thank these folks more than enough for stepping up and helping us out, so thanks to those who submitted bids! Please note that for all bids, we have considered  location, costs, hotels, travel, finances and other factors to influence our final decision.

With that said, the Northeast Regional Tournament will be held from November 17-18, 2012 at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, RI. You can keep up or find more updates at our Facebook event page!

Details about team registration will be coming soon. In the meantime, we are still looking for Regional Championship Members to help run this tournament! Remember, if we don’t have enough people to help out, we can’t make this a good event. We encourage anyone and everyone to apply for our key RCC roles, as well as volunteer departmental roles. Learn more and apply today!

NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND

Bid by: URI Quidditch Club

About the Area:

“Home to spectacular coastal scenery, awe-inspiring architecture, a thriving waterfront downtown, and welcoming hospitality, Newport, Rhode Island is considered by many to be a shining gem in the coastal crown of New England. From weekend getaways spent touring the famed Gilded Age mansions that once were the summer playground for socialite families with names like Astor and Vanderbilt to an afternoon of wine-tasting through Newport’s three scenic vineyards, the options for interesting activities, distinctive stories, and enticing photo opportunities are countless!”
-Discover Newport

Tournament Venue: Fort Adams State Park

• Support from Fort Adams Trust and Discover Newport (RI CVB)
• Venue large enough to “draw thousands of people” for annual events like the Newport Jazz Festival and Folk Festival
• Areas where stages, team tents for rest could be set-up (tents day-to-day)
• Has large field spaces for soccer and rugby, and can accommodate up to 7 fields
• Park is open year round from sunrise to sunset.
• Overnight Parking:  Residents – $3.00 per night; Non-Residents – $6.00 per night
• Facilities & Activities: Restrooms, Restrooms for disabled, Parking, Phone, Concession Stands, Information, Boat ramp, Fireplaces, Sailing Center, Coin Operated Showers, Museum, Beach, Fishing Piers, Picnic Tables, Swimming, Fishing, Boating, Windsurfing, Soccer, Rugby, Picnicking
• Lovely views of the water (Brenton Cove and Narragansett Bay)
• Ferry Rides to Block Island or Point Judith, Narragansett

Accessibility and Transportation:

Newport is easy to get to…

By plane:
Fly into TF Green International Airport, located in Providence (really Warwick), RI. From here, it is easy to travel down or up Interstate 95 and follow:

• SOUTH: exit 9 for Rt 4, which flows down to Rt 1 where you take Rt 138 over through Jamestown and into Newport
• NORTH: exit 19 for Interstate 195, which flows over to Bristol, RI and you can ride Rt 114 or 138 down to Newport

By bus:
Newport is home to one of the two major Bus Depots in Rhode Island. Buses travel until around 5pm every day, if not later. They go from Newport up to providence, the other
central hub, and over to Narragansett and Kingston, RI. You can get from most places in the state to any other.

From the Newport Gateway Center bus hub, you can take #67 outbound within a distance of 3 miles, where you can then either take a taxi, drive, or walk. Bonus – this bus is a trolley! Bus fare is $2.00 each way, with transfers available for very cheap. Visit RIPTA.com for more information.

By car:
Equally easy to get to from both Interstate 95 north and south.

• From the North: see directions under by plane
• From the South: get off at exit 3B and follow Rt 138 out to the island!

By train:
Closest train stops are in Kingston, RI and Providence, RI. The train station in providence also serves the MBTA from Mass, and is within walking distance of Kennedy Plaza, the other major Bus Hub in RI. Ripta Bus #64 can take you from the Kingston station to Newport. Visit Amtrak.com and MBTA.com for more details.

By boat:
You can take the ferry if you really want to! Ferry rides are available from Pt. Judith in Narragansett and Block Island, directly to Fort Adams. See http://www.blockislandferry.com/rates/ for more details.

Accommodations:
There are at least 25 hotels/inns/bed and breakfasts within 30 miles of Fort Adams State Park, many of which are within 7-20 miles. Room rates run from $50-160 a night. These prices will vary once we get discounted packages for teams.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Northeast Regional Director Kristina Moy.