The Little League Softball® World Series (LLSWS) is set to stay at its home in Greenville, North Carolina, as Little League® International and the City of Greenville have agreed to an extension of their contract through 2027. The original decision to move the iconic event to Greenville came as part of a five-year agreement in 2020, with the first event being held at Stallings Stadium at Elm Street Park in 2021.
“We are thrilled to announce that Greenville will continue to serve as the home for the Little League Softball World Series for the next few years and we look forward to continue to work with the entire community to bring this event to the next level,” said Ashlea Miller, Little League Softball World Series Tournament Director and Little League Director of Softball Development. “The ‘Road to Greenville’ has become a phrase that thousands of our girls and their families have come to dream about as they journey to become one of the 12 lucky teams to participate in our event. We are thankful to all the volunteers and staff who have continued to invest their time, effort, and excitement into making this event special each and every year.”
Since its debut as host of the event in 2021, which was made up of all teams from the United States due to challenges from the coronavirus pandemic, the LLSWS in Greenville has continued to grow each year since. In 2022, the event saw the return of international teams to the tournament as it became the most watched event in five years, and in 2023 welcomed professional softball athletes from Athletes Unlimited to town as part of a historic event with the first-ever AU Pro Games at the LLSWS. In addition to the excitement both in town and on the field, the City of Greenville was brought into the homes of millions of fans around the world as the 2023 Little League Softball World Series championship game was showcased on ABC for the first time in the event’s history.
“We are thrilled to extend our partnership with Little League and ensure that the Little League Softball World Series will continue to call Greenville home,” said P.J. Connelly, Greenville Mayor. “Our community looks forward to welcoming the players and their families for years to come, and we will continue to do whatever it takes to make it an experience they will never forget.”
Located just inland off the North Carolina Coast, the City of Greenville is filled with accommodations to fulfill the needs of visitors from all over the world and provides visitors a balance of front-porch hospitality and the amenities of a metropolitan university town. In its first three years of hosting the event, the City of Greenville and all the volunteers who come to support it have fully embraced Little League’s purpose, mission, and value and have provided an enhanced experience for the participants, families, and fans from all around the world.
The announcement of the extension also comes during National Volunteer Week, an annual celebration of volunteers around the world, like those from the Greenville Little League program who make up the majority of the Little League Softball World Series Committee and are responsible for making the event a fun and memorable experience each year.
Since 1974, the Little League Softball World Series has provided girls with a meaningful experience to interact with their peers and compete against communities from around the world. Hosted and operated largely by Little League volunteers, the annual event brings thousands of visitors together each summer in Greenville for a week of competitive softball and memorable moments. The LLSWS features top competition from around the world and a unique opportunity for young female athletes to make new friends while interacting and experience a number of different cultures.
The 2024 Little League Softball World Series, Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, is set to take place from August 4-11 at Stallings Stadium at Elm Street Park. Additionally, fans and participants will once again have the unique opportunity to experience the AU Pro Games at the LLSWS, Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, as Athletes Unlimited Professional Softball players and their staff return to Greenville for two days of interaction, including a doubleheader at ECU on August 7.
This year’s festivities will also showcase the Little League Girls with Game 50 Celebration as leagues and volunteers from around the world join together to recognize 50 years of girls and women in the Little League program as well as celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Little League Softball World Series.
The 2024 Little League Softball World Series, AU Pro Games at the LLSWS, and the #GWG50 Celebration are all proudly supported by DICK’S Sporting Goods, a long-time Little League partner that is committed to creating opportunities for girls and women in sports and will be activating around key events and milestones this year. To learn more about the Little League Softball World Series, and to start planning your trip to experience the event first-hand in Greenville, visit LittleLeague.org/LLSWS.
About The City of Greenville
Located just inland from North Carolina’s beautiful crystal coast, Greenville is the thriving economic, medical, educational, and cultural hub of eastern North Carolina. Home to East Carolina University, ECU Health Medical Center, a thriving downtown district, and numerous other parks and amenities, Greenville is a place where no matter where you turn, you will find yourself in good company.