ÃÛÌÒÓ°ÏñAV

The shootout’s opening ceremony and parade of athletes kick off at 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 17, at the Veterans Memorial Stadium, . Gates open at 4 p.m.

The shootout, presented by RSL-AZ Southern Arizona, runs through Sunday, Jan. 19.

Following the opening ceremony, athletes will test their juggling, dribbling and penalty kick skills in the Bob Foley Memorial Soccer Olympics. This year's Soccer Olympics includes more food options, live music and rides and games.

The rest of the tournament will take place at the Kino Sports Complex starting on Saturday, Jan. 18. 

Admission is free. Kino Sports Complex usually has a clear bag policy, so purses and bags will be checked by security at the gate before entering the shootout.

Unlike traditional soccer tournaments where competition takes precedence, the Fort Lowell Shootout is more like a festival celebrating the sport and its athletes. 

“It’s a huge event and the kids have so much fun,� said Sue Page Nesper, the field marshal coordinator for the event. “We have medals and first- and second-place trophies for the kids. And everyone gets a participation medal in our younger groups. It's an amazing event. And I'm so excited.�

Nesper, who has been involved in the shootout since its inception in 1990, says she expects 7,000 to 8,000 people to attend the event this year. Due to the large number of attendees, the event organizers recommend getting there early to find parking.

The event has grown exponentially over the last 35 years. In the 1990s, the shootout featured less than 200 teams in the tournament.

Now, the shootout includes around 400 teams from across the country, including New Mexico, Texas, Colorado and Michigan. Teams from Arizona and Northern Mexico will also compete in the event. 

The number of teams isn’t the only change the tournament has faced over the past 30-plus years. Initially, the event was held at Fort Lowell Park until it outgrew the space five years ago. 

The event officially moved over to the Kino Sports Complex in 2020. After a year off in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament returned in 2022.

“We were the inaugural tournament out there and we've been out there ever since,� Nesper said.

The Fort Lowell Shootout was founded by Bill Viner, the owner of Pepper-Viner Homes, after being disappointed by the lack of community feel in other local soccer tournaments. 

In 1990, the Fort Lowell Shootout, committed to creating an entertaining and community-focused experience, was born.

Since then, the event has gained numerous sponsors and partners, including the RSL-AZ Southern Arizona Soccer Club, Goodwill of Southern Arizona, Nova Home Loans and Visit Tucson, just to name a few.

The shootout has generated an “economic impact upward of $4 million,� according to a news release, and is one of the largest events dedicated to children in Southern Arizona.

“(I’m excited about) seeing all the happy kids, amazing, amazing kids, and how happy they are,� Nesper said. “It's a lot of work to put this on, but once it starts and you see the smiles on all those kids' faces, you just can't beat it.�

For more information about the Fort Lowell Shootout, visit .