Former New England Patriot Tully Banta-Cain Brings Tackle Beach Football to Hampton Beach
A full day of football fun coming to Hampton Beach on Saturday, August 31
HAMPTON, NH – Two-time Super Bowl champion Tully Banta-Cain is bringing a revolutionary concept to the beach: the Beach Football League. Hampton Beach will be the first location to host tryouts and showcase fast-paced, sand-based football action on August 31st, from 9 am to 6 pm.
Meet football legends, try out for the league, and play
Fans can expect appearances by current and former New England Patriots like Kendrick Bourne, Patrick Chung, Jamie Collins, Dexter McCluster, and Max Lane, alongside other NFL veterans. These stars will be available for photo ops, meet-and-greets, and some will be scouting talent for the inaugural Beach Football League season, which is expected to start in 2025. There will be a 8 on 8 coed flag game as well as a men’s tackle exhibition game. Governor Chris Sununu will be on hand for the coin toss.
The event is co-hosted by the Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce, the Hampton Beach Village District, Bernie’s Beach Bar, and NH State Parks. The event is sponsored by Polar Beverages, Solforce Solutions, Fast Signs of Portsmouth, NH, True Religion, the Beach Club Casino, Kanjam, Renee Ryan Real Estate, Seacoast Garage Pros, The Salema Group, The Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce, The Fleury Group, and Kraft Sports + Entertainment.
Fun for All Ages – the Kid’s Zone
While aspiring athletes get measured and tested, The BFL’s Kid Zone, presented by Polar Beverages will offer a haven for children ages 5-17. Staffed by experienced volunteers, the area will provide a safe and engaging environment with games, relay races, and football drills, giving youngsters a chance to interact with players. Children must be registered and accompanied by an adult.
Tryout Details:
Registration is open now for tryouts but there are only 50 spots remaining. In the morning, potential players will showcase their skills through drills like, 20-yard dashes, 3-cone agility, catching gauntlet, and position specific 1 on 1 competitions.
The Inspiration Behind Beach Football
Beach Football co-founder Adam Cyril Nesheim shared the genesis of the league. During the pandemic, he and Tully had become neighbors in Manhattan Beach, California. After witnessing the AVP (Association of Volleyball Professionals) bring back events and attract massive crowds, Tully wondered if there were any beach football leagues. After some research, they both realized there were no beach football leagues at a professional, high-end level. A lot of sports have evolved into playing on sand, including volleyball, rugby, and soccer. “Once we saw that a tackle beach football league could be next, I started pulling together my resources, former players, teammates, and coaches that I’ve played with,” Tully recalls.
“We knew that if we weren’t the first to put our flag in the sand, that someone else would try and create the sport without us,” Adam explained. “That sat in our hearts for weeks.” They decided that they had to create a Beach Football League. “It was a calling,” Adam added.
Beachside Sport Spectacle
Labor Day Weekend at Hampton Beach will come alive with a specially designed field – half the size of a regular football field – and the whole event is free to watch. The day will be packed with activities, in partnership with Bernie’s Beach Bar and the Beach Club Casino, culminating in the highlight: thrilling 8-on-8 flag and tackle football games. There will also be musical entertainment, including a live band in the evening. The event will be commentated by the Patriots own Mike “Sarge” Riley, who will also be doing interviews throughout the day. The emcee of the event is Mikey V, from KISS 108 FM. Other radio stations covering the event include: Hot 96 Boston, WZLX, WEEI, 89.5 the Sports Hub, as well as television station WMUR-TV. Spectators are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets to sit on the beach and enjoy the activities.
Following the Hampton Beach event, a draft will be held, including some of the local talent discovered here. After additional tryouts, the league will draft players to play games that will be scheduled for the 2025 season.
“We hope that Hampton Beach will be an annual event location,” Tully said. Next year’s goal also includes tournaments for league play.
To help coordinate this historical event they enlisted the help of a seasoned event producer, Colton Cadarette, founder of 724 LLC. Motion Bazaar, a full service video production company. He was hired to help capture the event on camera and will be shooting a short documentary featuring Hampton Beach and the founding of the Beach Football League. In addition, the NFL LCC will be filming live content throughout the day.
Visit www.beachfootballleague.com for more information, and to register for Tryouts or the Kid’s Zone. Registration is required for both activities.
The full list of players attending include: Patrick Chung, Jamie Collins, Dexter McCluster, Roland James, Patrick Pass, Max Lane, Vernon Crawford, Ronnie Lippett, Tully Banta-Cain, Mike Ruth, and former Patriots coach Rick Buffington as well as other surprise guests.
Full Schedule is below.
