John Brown University will open the first public futsal courts in Northwest Arkansas at a dedication ceremony on Thursday, April 20 at 4 p.m. on JBU’s Siloam Springs campus. The courts will serve JBU’s varsity soccer and intramural programs, the 700 young people in the Siloam Springs Futbol Club (SSFC), the Parks and Recreation program in Siloam Springs, and the region through both informal games and an adult league.

“JBU is grateful to have received generous grants from the Walmart Foundation and the US Soccer Foundation and to have partnered with Siloam Springs Futbol Club (SSFC) and the City of Siloam Springs to build these courts,” JBU President Dr. Chip Pollard said. “This facility will be a great place for both the ‘town’ and ‘gown’ to enjoy the great game of soccer. It represents the best of private and public partnerships that benefit JBU’s campus, our community and Northwest Arkansas.”

JBU’s 120-by-150-foot outdoor facility consists of two futsal courts that combine to form one larger court fit for 20 players or more. The futsal courts will facilitate a 5-on-5, international version of soccer focused on controlled footwork, dribbling and passing skills with a smaller, denser ball.

The hard-surface courts are fenced and lighted for evening play, and sit adjacent to existing public recreational amenities on campus including the community walking trail and the outdoor fitness gym.

“The futsal courts are a great asset to our community and a valuable resource to SSFC for our players to improve their skills, form relationships with other players, have unrestricted availability of field space and goals and most importantly, more space for the entire community,” said

Dwayne Buxton, SSFC president. “These courts will provide a great opportunity for all to get together, be physically active and enjoy the game.”

John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked regional university (U.S. News Best Colleges, 2017), JBU enrolls more than 2,700 students from 40 states and 37 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, degree completion and concurrent education programs. JBU offers more than 39 majors, with top programs including business administration, graphic design, engineering, construction management, counseling, teacher education and nursing.