Stay-to-Play, But Make It Free: How I Booked 4 Nights Near Cheersport Atlanta Using Points

If you’re a cheer parent, you already know that “stay-to-play” competitions are… a lot. You’re required to book a hotel through the official event housing platform, and those hotels? They’re not cheap.

Take Cheersport Nationals 2026 in Atlanta, for example. It’s a huge stay-to-play comp held at the Georgia World Congress Center in mid-February. For most families, this means flying or driving into Atlanta and staying Thursday through Monday. That’s four nights of hotel—and downtown rates add up fast.

I recently looked up hotel options near the venue and saw this:

$300+ per night for hotels within a mile of the Georgia World Congress Center.
That’s over $1,400 total. Just to sleep.

But I wouldn't pay that.

Instead, I’d staying half a mile from the venue—for free—thanks to travel rewards.

Let me show you how.

Step 1: Find a Points-Friendly Hotel Near the Venue

I searched for Hyatt, Marriott, and IHG hotels within walking distance of the GWCC. One great option stood out:

Hyatt Place Atlanta / Centennial Park
0.5 miles from the venue
4-night stay: 45,000 Hyatt points total

This hotel is walkable, includes free breakfast, and has solid reviews from other families who’ve stayed for cheer comps. And most importantly—it’s bookable with points.

Step 2: Use Chase Ultimate Rewards® Points

I use the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card for my cheer travel spending. Why?

Because the points you earn with this card—called Chase Ultimate Rewards®—can be transferred directly to Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio.

So those 45,000 Hyatt points? I would transferr them from my Chase account and book the hotel directly on Hyatt.com. No blackout dates. No surprises. Just free nights in a hotel I’d otherwise have to pay $1,400 for.

Step 3: Apply for Stay-to-Play Exemption

Most of the time, the above strategy makes you eligible for an exemption from the stay-to-play requirement—but always check your gym or event’s rules.

Varsity allows some exemptions from stay-to-play, including if you book your entire stay using points. You MUST submit your exemption request at least 30 days before the event, but I’d suggest submitting as soon as possible. Varsity will email you an approval for your exemption within a few weeks, and I’ve had my requests approved 100% of the time when I’ve booked with points in the past

What About Earning the Points?

Right now (as of this post), Chase is offering:

💳 60,000 bonus points when you sign up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® and meet the minimum spending requirement.
💰 The card has a $95 annual fee.

Let’s do the math:

• You spend $95 on the card’s fee.
• You get 60,000 points.
• You book a hotel stay worth $1,400+.

Even if you only use the card's bonus points once for this comp, you’ve still come out way ahead.

Final Thoughts

I’m not a financial advisor. I’m just a cheer mom who loves travel hacking—and hates paying $1,400 to sleep during a comp weekend in a hotel I was required to book at a price I didn't choose.

Want Me to Hack Your Next Comp?

Tell me where you're headed next—NCA? UCA? Summit? Drop it in the comments below or DM me on TikTok [@mycheerbudget].

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Disclaimers:

This post is for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Credit card offers are subject to change, and what’s available today may not be available tomorrow. Always read the full terms and conditions before applying for any credit card and make sure any strategy fits your personal financial situation.

I may earn a referral bonus if you choose to apply for a credit card through a link on this blog. These bonuses come at no extra cost to you, and I only recommend cards I use personally, or recommend based on my research, and believe are a good fit for cheer families navigating travel and competition costs.

Thanks for supporting My Cheer Budget and helping me keep the confetti flying (on points, of course). 🎉