GREAT FALLS — To cap off the first-ever spring season in the new Great Falls NFL flag football league, the individuals who helped create the league set up the championships to be played at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
WATCH THE VIDEO:
First-ever Memorial Bowl flag football championships take place Saturday in Great Falls
“Let’s get the kids in (to Memorial Stadium), see what they’re going to eventually play in,” league founder George Fontanez said. “Get the parents out here … have the community out here, get some food trucks out here just to make it a big community event. And especially to have the kids play on the turf for the first time, it’s going to be awesome.”
Fontanez, alongside Mitchell Morris and Zack Ringler — a current assistant football coach at Great Falls High — grouped together to create this league, and with that the opportunity for kids to play for a championship in a setting they aren’t normally accustomed to.
Cody Westbrook is one of the coaches, and he said it gets the kids pumped up to play at Memorial Stadium.
“Because you get a big stadium like this, the kids are thinking they’re only getting to play in the back of a baseball field or at a practice field,” Westbrook said.
Some kids expressed their positive feelings about Saturday’s event, as well.
“Yeah, very excited,” Noah Lambers said.
“Pretty awesome,” Cooper Willis said.
“It’s a lot different and cooler,” Colt Popham said.
“It’s really cool,” Hurley Grant said. “In my tackle football league, we played in this for our championship and won it, so it’s really nice to be back here.”
Grant also has a nickname on the field.
“Mr. Touchdown,” Grant said. “Because my coach says every single game I score the most touchdowns and get MVP most of the time.”
Memorial Bowls will be held for every flag football season moving forward, Fontanez said.
“This just shows that the sky’s the limit,” Fontanez said. “If we can show it here, when we move to Helena and then eventually Butte, get something the same way to where we can all just bring all the cities together and say we did this, the kids, the families, the parents did this together. We all do this together. It wasn’t just one person.”
Fontanez and Westbrook both have been anticipating this day, too, they said.
“I want to win a championship today with my son,” Fontanez said. “My son is 6 years old. I told my wife this morning — and I kind of teared up thinking about it — 6 years old, I said this could be his first championship, and then we’re going to look back on it when he’s playing in the state championship in high school.”
“I get giddy every time,” Westbrook said. “I’m pumped up right now. This is kind of my favorite thing to do in life is coach, so this is probably something I’m going to do after I retire from my job and then continue it on. I love it. … I get pumped up for the kids every time.”
After arriving in Fayetteville, it doesn’t take long to realize that sports are woven into the city’s DNA. From Razorback game days to the cyclists on our trails to families filling fields and courts across the region, this is a community that moves.
And that movement represents far more than recreation. It is one of the strongest economic opportunities ahead of us.
Sports tourism has grown into one of the most powerful, reliable economic engines in the country. According to the Sports Events & Tourism Association, spectator sports tourism generated $47.1 billion in direct spending last year, supporting more than 665,000 jobs nationwide. Youth and amateur sports, everything from tournaments to camps to regional competitions, contributed even more, with $52.2 billion in travel-related spending. These visitors stay in hotels, eat in local restaurants, shop in stores, and explore outdoor assets, leaving a meaningful mark on local economies.
In Arkansas, that story is magnified. Outdoor recreation alone contributed $7.3 billion to the statewide economy in 2023, supporting more than 68,000 jobs. And tourism reached $17.4 billion in economic impact in 2024, with Northwest Arkansas playing a major role in that growth.
Ryan Hauck
At a time when leisure and business travel have softened nationally, sports-related travel has continued to rise, providing a level of stability and resilience that communities increasingly depend on. When communities like Fayetteville lean into their strengths — outdoor recreation, hospitality, accessibility and local culture — the returns are significant.
Fayetteville is uniquely positioned to lead the state and region in this space. We’re home to a thriving SEC city, incredible year-round weather, world-class outdoor recreation, a variety of indoor sporting facilities, and a welcoming culture that makes competitors and travelers feel instantly at home.
Our community has also invested intentionally in the infrastructure that makes sports tourism possible. Centennial Park is a perfect example. Purpose-built to host world-class cycling events, it has already welcomed the 2022 UCI Cyclocross World Championships and will host the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships this December, and again next year. These events don’t just bring athletes. They bring national attention, media coverage, and significant economic impact for our hotels and hospitality businesses.
And that momentum extends well beyond cycling. In the past year, organizations such as the Women’s Football League, Athletes Unlimited Softball League, and the Marshall Islands Soccer Federation have approached us about hosting events in Fayetteville. Their interest reinforces what the sports community already knows: Our city is emerging as a national-caliber sports destination.
But the value of sports tourism extends beyond visitor spending. It strengthens identity and builds civic pride. It brings families together. It activates public spaces and showcases the best of who we are. In my previous role in Cody, Wyo., I saw firsthand how powerful it can be when a community rallies around its strengths and invites the world to experience them. In Fayetteville, that same opportunity is in front of us, and we are already leaning in.
The path is clear: We need to continue investing strategically. That means purpose-built sports facilities and deeper partnerships across the region. If we continue investing with intention, collaborating across sectors, and telling our story with clarity and authenticity, Fayetteville can set the standard for what a modern, movement-driven destination looks like.
The momentum is already here. Our job now is to harness it and to make sure the world knows exactly why Fayetteville is a place worth traveling to, competing in, and coming back to again and again.
Editor’s note: Ryan Hauck is CEO of Experience Fayetteville, the city’s tourism marketing agency. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
Omar Sy is one of those personalities who brings people together.
At 47, the internationally acclaimed actor is stepping into a new role – one firmly rooted in real life.
Already the star of productions that have left a lasting mark on audiences worldwide, Sy will now become one of the faces of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Dakar 2026, the first Olympic event to be staged on African soil.
Known for his roles in hit films, the actor first established himself as one of the most popular figures in French-language cinema with The Intouchables in 2011. His global profile grew even further thanks to the Netflix series Lupin, which helped expand his audience well beyond Europe.
His appointment as an ambassador for Dakar 2026 YOG on Monday, 29 December, marks another step in his growing international influence. He shared his feelings upon the announcement of this new role.
“I am proud and honoured to be an ambassador for the Youth Olympic Games that will take place in 2026 in Senegal. These Games represent values that are close to my heart: sharing, solidarity, pushing beyond one’s limits, and intercultural encounters,” he said.
He also underlined the symbolic significance of the event: “Seeing the youth of Senegal and the entire world shine together on the land of Teranga is a powerful symbol of unity and hope.”
Born in France to a father from Senegal, Sy maintains a close personal connection with the country.
This bond has influenced some of his artistic choices, as reflected in his roles in Yao (2018) and Father & Soldier (Tirailleurs, 2022). In January 2025, he was also received by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, further highlighting his commitment to Senegal and its youth.
DICKINSON — It’s no secret that hockey is a huge part of my life. I’d even say it is my life.
When I was interviewing for this job at The Dickinson Press in 2024, the editorial staff said that they’ve never had someone with a lengthy track record of covering hockey. From that conversation, I knew I would have a big role once the puck dropped.
When I returned to Dickinson from Thanksgiving that year, I was told that I was going to be getting a hockey show. I was stoked.
It took me some time to come up with a name. I even bounced around some name ideas with my mom. Let’s just say some of her suggestions weren’t ideal.
Once I settled on The Breakaway, I slated for it to start at the beginning of 2025. The first episode I did featured Kyndall Peterson and Sarah Menge taking on each other in a faceoff competition. I’ll never forget seeing one of the first comments on the video — “this is amazing!”
But this show is more than about me sharing my immense passion for hockey with the Dickinson community. It’s about showing off what these athletes are capable of on the ice. This year I plan on expanding the show beyond the on-ice skills.
I want to get to know them on a personal level and find out more about their hockey background. One of the biggest things I especially want to do this year is get more involved in the hockey community. Those ideas are currently in the works and you’ll have to stay tuned to find out more.
I hope everyone has enjoyed The Breakaway since this started and I can’t wait to see what this season holds.
See you on screen – and on the ice!
Jacob Cheris covers a variety of high school and college sports. A graduate of Penn State University’s class of 2023, with a degree in broadcast journalism, he covered Penn State Men’s Hockey for three years. Jacob also covers Big Ten Hockey for College Hockey News.
CityPickle Kids: Youth Academy Launching Winter 2026, CityPickle is debuting NYC’s first leveled, 12-week junior pickleball program for ages 8–13. Pickleball has emerged as a leader in youth sports, with more than 240 collegiate clubs nationwide (and even varsity programs!). Families are increasingly seeking structured, skill-building opportunities for their children.
CityPickle’s Youth Academy meets that demand with a thoughtfully designed curriculum created by Head of Coaching Josh Gartman, mirroring the rigor and progression of elite junior tennis programs. Players advance through three levels — Competitor, Challenger, and Champion — with coach evaluations at the start and end of each season. The invite-only Champion tier includes tweens and teens with serious talent (and yes, they can already beat most adults).
AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) – A NFL Flag Football youth initiative is coming to Amarillo. This league catered toward youth is bringing new, non-contact sports for kids to get involved and learn the game of football in a different way while still having fun.
The Texas Panhandle is expanding the opportunity for youth to get more involved this summer through the NFL Flag Football program. This league gives boys and girls in Amarillo the chance to play with an NFL name.
Amarillo native, Tascosa High School alum and program owner and operator for this new initiative Mark Jackson explained why he wanted to bring this opportunity to Amarillo to give youth in the Panhandle the chance to be part of a growing sport and put an emphasis on the importance of inclusivity for the sport.
National reach and local opportunity
“When I had the opportunity to bring it up here because they’re playing all across the nation. Over 500,000 youth across the United States are playing right now. So I said, why not Amarillo? Why not, the kids up here have a chance to play like the kids across the United States and have a chance to, you know, maybe be national champions and go to the Pro Bowl and go to other countries and play,” Jackson said. “So, yeah, that’s why I did it.”
Jackson emphasized the NFL’s commitment to inclusivity.
“Well, that’s one of the NFL’s initiative is to have everybody included. Girls, boys, it doesn’t matter. They want everybody who wants to play to play. That’s what we’re gonna, in Amarillo, we’re gonna give. If you’re a girl, it don’t matter. If you think you can play football or you want to tell your dad or mom, look, I want to play, get out there,” he said.
Registration and schedule
Registration will open in January. Games will start at the end of June and beginning of July.
This league is for boys and girls and open to ages 13 through 17. There is still time to get involved as an athlete or a coach as well.
An official website for this initiative and where people can donate to help this grow will be announced at a later time.
