A new event aims to make niche sports − like korfball and ultimate frisbee − more popular across Cincinnati.
The Cincinnati Regional Sports Commission, which is backing the Rec Fest Cincinnati, says the event could also open the door to bring niche world championships to the city.
Kyle Reiser, who runs a group called Queen City Korfball, said his organization and 15 other niche sports teams are working together to organize the event, which will take place at Downtown's Sawyer Point park on Sept. 27, noon to 6 p.m.
"We kind of got our brains together and decided ... to showcase the wonder of the niche sports community here," he said. "We have so many, and we're so bountiful."
Each sport will have a designated area at Sawyer Point where visitors can learn about the sport and sign up for local teams, including Cincinnati Ultimate, Cincinnati Gladiators Handball Club and Skate Downtown Cincinnati.
"It's kind of this walking big stadium where you get a chance to jump in and jump out of different sports and try it alongside the teams that are actively recruiting players," he said.
Niche sports are 'where we go in the future'
The Cincinnati Regional Sports Commission works with Visit Cincy, the city's visitors' bureau, to attract sports events that benefit Cincinnati's economy. The commission has received Hamilton County and city financial backing.
Ben Huffman, executive director of the commission, said niche sports have the potential to bring millions of dollars into Greater Cincinnati. He said Warren County saw a "multimillion dollar impact" when it hosted the World Flying Disc Federation's World Ultimate Club Championships in 2018 and 2022. The 2018 event had a $10 million economic impact on the county, The Enquirer reported.
Huffman told The Enquirer the commission is vying for Cincinnati to host the Men's Rugby World Cup in 2031.
As niche sports participation grows across the city, there's an opportunity to bring large events to Cincinnati, he said, and it's "where we go in the future."
"A lot of these events have national, international, regional championships that thousands of people come to compete in," Huffman said. "(Even if) the sport isn't directly on ESPN on a Friday night, there are a lot of people participating."
What sports will be at the event?
Rec Fest Cincinnati will showcase 16 sports, according to the event posting on Facebook. Some lesser-known sports include:
- Team handball: In this sport, two teams of seven try to pass and throw a ball into the opposing team's goal.
- Korfball: In this sport, which is similar to basketball, teams try to throw a ball into a netless basket on an almost 12-foot pole. The teams are made up of eight players − four men and four women − and players only guard players of the same sex.
- Gaelic football: This is a traditional Irish sport where two teams of 15 players work together to kick or punch a ball through or over the opposing team's goal. Players can only take four steps before they have to bounce the ball.
- Orienteering: In orienteering, competitors try to navigate an unfamiliar terrain using a detailed map.
- Broomball: Broomball is often played on an ice hockey rink, and players try to hit a ball into an opposing net using specially designed brooms.
Other sports at the event include tennis, pickleball, rugby, Australian football, fishing, ultimate frisbee, disc golf, women's football, e-sports, roller skating and cricket.
The event will also include food trucks and music. Attendance is free but visitors need to complete a waiver, available online, to participate.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What is korfball? You can learn at this new city event