2021 NCA & NDA College Nationals Begin Today

Daytona Beach, FL – An event that’s taken place in Daytona Beach since 1996 gets underway today (April 7) at the Ocean Center and the Bandshell in Daytona Beach. The 2021 NCA & NDA College Nationals get underway at 8 a.m. today and every day through Sunday. The competition is open to the public and tickets are $10 each and they can only be purchased online at nca.varsity.com/College/Nationals. CDC guidelines will be in effect and masks or face coverings are required. From a press release issued by Volusia County Community Information: Since 1996, cheer and dance teams from top universities throughout the county have gathered in Daytona Beach to compete for the national title and coveted golden trophy. After a hiatus in 2020 due to the pandemic, the event returns to the Ocean Center and Daytona Beach Bandshell April 7 through 11, marking 40 years of competition and 25 years in Daytona Beach.“Twenty-five years ago, our annual championship took place in the Southwest. We had barely 1,000 participants and were struggling to grow. We knew our event had great promise, but the destination wasn’t a draw,” said Bill Boggs, senior vice president of the National Cheerleaders Association. “So we reassessed and looked to Florida. While many towns weren’t interested in hosting our event, Daytona Beach recognized our potential and welcomed us with open arms. And here we are, 25 years later, with a reputation as the single largest collegiate cheer and dance competition in the world!”The event has created a platform for teams to showcase not only their athleticism, but also the role the student athletes play at their respective organizations. Additionally, leaving the competition with a championship title generates tremendous recognition and increases a school’s ability to recruit high-quality student athletes.And recognizing the opportunities that result from competing at Nationals, the National Cheerleaders Association and National Dance Alliance have made efforts to turn that dream into a reality for as many teams as possible. Attendance is limited due to the added safety protocols that have been implemented to mitigate and reduce the spread of COVID-19.