Youth Sports Championships Moving from Disney World to Universal Orlando

For many years, Disney has been home to all kinds of youth sports competitions, including Pop Warner’s Super Bowl and National Cheer and Dance Championships.

Cheerleaders

You may have spotted these athletes walking around the parks and resorts during one of your trips, or maybe you even participated in one of these events. But, now Pop Warner Little Scholars has announced a big change. It will now be moving its events OUT of Disney.

According to the Pop Warner website, the organization has entered into a new long-term agreement regarding the spots where its Super Bowl and Cheer & Dance championships will take place. Under the new agreement, Camping World Stadium (which is located in Orlando) will serve as the NEW feature field for the Pop Warner Little Scholars youth football Super Bowl.

©Pop Warner

The main Orlando location for the National Cheer and Dance Championship will be announced soon.

Additionally, Pop Warner has announced that Universal Orlando Resort will become the new host for the families staying in Orlando during these championships. Universal Orlando Resort will also host their Pop Warner party during championship week.

Universal Orlando

In their question and answer portion of the page, Pop Warner discusses why they decided to move their competitions from Disney. Pop Warner noted that they still have a great relationship with Disney, but that their partnership came to a pause when the pandemic hit in 2020. Pop Warner says that they were putting the “final touches” on a new agreement when Disney became involved in creating bubbles for professional leagues like the MLS and NBA.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

Pop Warner notes, “With so much uncertainty it was difficult for Disney to commit to the future and because our first priority is our Pop Warner members, we decided to start searching for a new location to ensure our teams had a first-class Championship home.”

This is a BIG change from one venue to another. Disney did in fact host some professional leagues in 2020, and it will have another professional league utilizing its facilities soon — specifically the NBA’s minor league.

We’ll keep an eye out for any more updates regarding sports events at Disney World and let you know what we find.