The World’s Largest Cash Cornhole Tournament!
What started as a block party in downtown Ventura, California has, in just a few short years, become the can’t miss cornhole tournament of the year. In addition to three days of cornhhole on the beautiful California coast, each night there is a variety of entertainment, including stand up comics and live bands. With high payouts and hundreds of teams, the atmosphere at Spencer McKenzie’s Throw Down is electric. The buzz of voices, music, and bags hitting the board increases the excitement as players from all over the country fill the Ventura County Fairgrounds.
The Throw Down has been a unique tournament, in that players from all leagues and affiliations are welcome to compete. Since its inception, the tournament has been independently run. The Throw Down serves as a family reunion of sorts for cornhole players, from beginners to professionals, an opportunity to reunite with players and friends that we may see only once a year. Players from the ACL and the ACO, from CCA to TCL, get to hangout and visit and compete against each other.
Most folks keep their calendars clear the final weekend in August to attend this one of a kind tournament.
This year, there are big changes.
The American Cornhole League has graciously offered to assist Spencer McKenzie’s in the running and registration of The Throw Down. What does this mean for the players? The most obvious is that it will attract more of the ACL Professional players to attend. With increased payouts, more visibility, and the potential for ESPN coverage, this could potentially increase attendance at all levels. As Donny stated in this article, the ACL is working hard to grow the game. There is a lot to be said for brand recognition, of which the ACL has plenty, causing it to grow as a household name exponentially.
In order to compete in an ACL tournament, one must be an ACL member. Where does this leave devoted ACO members, or those that play exclusively with CCA? What about our fine friends that created the original cornhole scoring app?
Historically, The Throw Down has sold out within 24 hours of ticket sales going live. This year, with more spots available, registration has been live for over a month and has not yet sold out. Will the ACL’s takeover of the World’s Largest Cash Cornhole Tournament grow The Throw Down to unprecedented popularity or will it result in fewer players in attendance? Has this affected your decision to register and attend? Let us know in the comments!
-Suzzanne
