In 2021, Sarasota and Bradenton will be the first U.S. cities to host the under 18-baseball world cup in 26 years!

This event will bring visitors from all over the world to Southwest Florida in September, which is usually a  slow time for Sarasota and Bradenton’s tourism industry.

The best 16-18 year old baseball players in the world will compete in front of fans and recruiters at Sarasota’s Ed Smith Stadium, and Bradenton’s LECOM Park, which are home to the Baltimore Orioles and the Pittsburg Pirates for their spring training.

Sarasota and Bradenton have been growing ever more popular as a location for international sports competitions. They were also the hosts in 2017 for the World Rowing Championships, which were held at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota.