Tournament Hosts Creighton Quidditch Are Out to Impress

Creighton University is kicking off the 2018 quidditch season with a two-day tournament from October 6 to 7 in Omaha, Nebraska. The tournament will allow teams to play in a competitive environment before the all-important regional championships, where teams will battle for a qualification to the US Quidditch Cup.

Joining the Bluejays at the Blue Jay Classic II are the teams from the University of Kansas, the University of Missouri, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Indiana University, and the University of Northern Colorado.

The opening day will consist of a round-robin format before shifting into double elimination style on Sunday, when a winner will be crowned.

The team is partnering up with the Sarpy County Tourism Department to put on the event. Sarpy Tourism athletic events coordinator Alex Schiphoff stated that it was the growing popularity of quidditch that led to Sarpy’s partnership with the team.

We are trying to get more niche sports in the metro area and we would like to be a quidditch hub of the [M]idwest.

Bluejays coach Curtis Taylor believes that the unique nature of the game means that it appeals to a broad spectrum of people.

People who watch Harry Potter will get it, but people who are just sports fans will get it. You’re looking at full contact, co-ed rugby with brooms.

Schiphoff, though, is targeting particular groups within the Omaha community that might have a special curiosity for quidditch.

You’ve got groups like the Omaha Nerd Society and Harry Potter fanatics around the area, so there is interest. We hope to reach them.

For spectators who are new to the sport, cheat sheets will be provided, explaining the many complexities in the game.

As exciting as the tournament will be by itself, it holds a further special significance for Taylor. He is hoping that a large turnout will boost a new bid to host the Midwest Regional after last year’s application was unsuccessful.

A strong turnout at this tournament would go a long way toward landing regionals because when we’ve played in regionals before, there hasn’t been a big turnout.

If you’d like to attend the event, tickets are available to buy now! Be sure to check out the event for further details!