The American Cornhole Organization holds its inaugural Ann Arbor Major Tournament at Ypsilanti’s Fowling Warehouse on Friday and Saturday, March 24 and 25.
“This is the second year we have the opportunity to host the American Cornhole Organization in Washtenaw County,” says Meaghan Hughes, associate director of the Ann Arbor Sports Commission. “Last year the event took place at the EMU (Eastern Michigan University) indoor track and field building. This year we are excited to host at the Fowling Warehouse in Ypsilanti. The Ann Arbor Sports Commission met with ACO at a few national trade shows and was able to find the facility and needs they wanted to host a successful ACO Major.”
Newly opened in 2021, the Fowling Warehouse is a 30,000-square-foot sports and entertainment facility established to provide a space for people to play “fowling,” the original football bowling game. It also stocks more than 100 beers and offers cocktails as well.
“Any new event we are able to bring to the area and promote, we are excited about,” Hughes says, noting that about half of the attendees will be overnight visitors taking hotel rooms for two to three nights, with an estimated economic impact anticipated to be nearly $123,000. “This year is especially exciting, though, with being able to promote cornhole at Fowling Warehouse and introduce people to what fowling is by seeing the facility.”
ACO’s Michael “Fin” Walter says the Ypsilanti event is one of 35 American Cornhole Organization Major/points-earning tournaments where players compete to earn points to qualify for the World Championships. “We expect the competition for the $5,000 guaranteed purse to be hard fought,” Founder and President Frank Geers said in a press release. World Championships are held the last week of July—in Owensboro, Kentucky this year.
Some 200 players from 13 states are expected to attend in Washtenaw County, according to Walter. Most are from the Midwest, though some come from as far away as Alaska. There’s also a tournament for people who just want to come and play socially and compete for prize money. Spectators are also welcome to attend and watch at no charge.
Walter says the ACO team arrives the Thursday prior to the weekend tournament to set up the venue with as many as 60 to 72 sets of boards. He says they’ll likely support 24 sets of courts.
Hughes says the sports commission is excited about being able to support different sporting events in Ann Arbor and the surrounding area. For information on participation, divisions, ACO membership and more, visit americancornhole.com. Register to play here.
