VERO BEACH – Today is the first day of the Florida Shuffleboard State Pro Masters, which gets underway at 9 a.m. at the shuffleboard courts at Pocahontas Park.
The four-day tournament will pit 16 shuffleboard professionals against each other to determine the best male and best female of the sport in the state.
This will be the first time Vero Beach will play host to the event – a coup for the city because not only is an east-state location rarely chosen, but also because it is the 50th anniversary for the tournament.
Between 100 and 200 people are expected to travel to the city between April 5 and 8 to watch 16 of the state’s best shuffleboard players take to the courts at Pocahontas Park.
“It’s bringing in people from all over Florida,” Susan Hunt, of the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce told VeroNews.com when the announcement of Vero Beach’s selection was made.
The Chamber estimates the multi-day tournament will generate approximately $1.2 million in economic impact – not just from the shuffleboard competitors and their supporters – but those elsewhere in the county traveling to watch the games.
Each of the 16 competitors – eight best men and eight best women – plays 21 games to determine the bragging rights for the “Best of Florida” over the course of four days.
The Florida Shuffleboard State Pro Masters tournament will be held 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily from April 5 to 8. The games are free to spectators and there will be free parking nearby.
