By Alan Hodge • alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Thursday, August 23, 2018 8:42 am
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One of the largest sporting events in North Carolina history will be taking place in September at the Tryon International Equestrian Center.
Located at 4066 Pea Ridge Rd, just off US74 near Mill Spring, TIEC is only a short drive away.
Horseback heaven is a good way to describe TIEC- it had a "soft opening" in June 2014 with sanctioned horse shows and initial supporting amenities including 10 riding arenas, 850 permanent stalls, a covered riding facility- but now many more attractions are already open with even more planned.
Starting in September, Tryon International Equestrian Center at Tryon Resort, will host the FEI World Equestrian Games, making it one of the world's premier equestrian lifestyle destinations.
The FEI World Equestrian Games™, are held every four years in the middle of the Olympic cycle, they're the property of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the world governing body for horse sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It is one of the biggest events on the global sporting calendar, combining World Championships in the Olympic disciplines of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing, the Paralympic discipline of Para-Equestrian Dressage, as well as Driving, Endurance, Vaulting and Reining.
The inaugural FEI World Equestrian Games™ were hosted in Stockholm (SWE) in 1990. Since then the Games have been staged in The Hague (NED) in 1994, Rome (ITA) in 1998, Jerez (ESP) in 2002, and Aachen (GER) in 2006. The first Games to be organized outside Europe were the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Kentucky (USA) 2010, where 57 countries were represented by 800 human athletes and their horses. The Games returned to Europe for the 2014 edition, the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™, which was held in Normandy (FRA).
The 2018 WEG has the potential to be the largest sporting event in North Carolina history with over $400 million dollars of projected economic impact and 500,000 spectators over the 13-day event held September 11 through 23. TIEC is preparing for a daily attendance of 40,000 - 50,000 people.
"Definitely there will be economic impact here when up to 500,000 people attend the largest sporting event ever in North Carolina. "It's an international event, so people will be coming from all over the world. We're going to be hearing a lot about the Equestrian Games for the next few months."
In addition to the spectacular horse shows, TIEC visitors also have the opportunity to enjoy some fine dining on-site.
TIEC boasts a diverse range of affordable dining options, whether you've planned a family night out with the kids or an intimate evening of casually elegant dining with close friends. Open every week, 50s-inspired Roger's Diner offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a menu of classic and southern favorites like burgers, patty melts, grits and milkshakes along with breakfast all day. Also offering lunch and dinner service and indoor or patio seating, Legends Grille serves dishes that are prepared using the freshest ingredients and presented with casual elegance. Get your sushi fix year-round at Blue Ginger Sushi & Noodles where the freshest seafood and locally sourced ingredients are handcrafted into edible works of art. During competition weeks, try Mane St. Coffee, Clear Rounds Pub, and The Siesta Cantina. The on-site General Store also offers groceries, local and NC-based treats and delicacies, and a huge variety of basic toiletries and home supplies for your convenience.
The WEG event is just the tip of the iceberg for TIEC. The venue is open year round and is a perfect getaway for a day trip. During non-competition weeks, Tryon hosts other events including festivals and concerts. Come out to the facility, enjoy the views, and grab a bite to eat any day of the year. There are also "Saturday Night Lights", a Grand Prix equestrian event featuring food, fun, live music, and the highest level of competitive show jumping on select Saturday evenings throughout the year. Bring the whole family: admission, parking and carousel rides are all free.
For more information on the WEG event and TIEC go to https://tryon.coth.com.