RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - Despite one day of bad weather, the 2025 Spring Fling event, which concluded a week ago in Rutherford County, proved to be another successful series of tournaments. Nate Williams, director of the Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department, told WGNS that future Spring Fling events could look slightly different, with possible changes on the horizon...

Tournaments like Spring Fling are not the only athletic events being held within our park system… MLS Next soccer games are held at the Richard Siegel Soccer Park on Cherry Lane near the York VA Medical Center, which is where the city built a large indoor soccer facility… MLS Next is a youth soccer league in both the United States and Canada that is managed, organized, and controlled by Major League Soccer.

Sports of all type continue to be popular throughout Murfreesboro, but overall, soccer has proven to be a major draw. Over a 12-month period in 2024, the number of soccer players and spectators that visited the Richard Siegel Soccer Park is nearing the one-million mark… As far as revenue tied to soccer, Parks Assistant Director Thomas Laird stated… Players visiting the area during the annual Spring Fling games, along with MLS Next tournaments, all contribute to those overall statistics.

While final figures from the most recent Spring Fling tournaments are still being calculated, it's clear that the event generates significant revenue. This is largely due to the influx of high school athletes and their families who visit Rutherford County during the week of games. Additionally, the more events held in the immediate area, the more likely it is that Murfreesboro will be selected to host future tournaments through other leagues.