Regional Events in Barboursville, W.Va., Frisco and Plano, Texas, Lancaster, Calif., and Sioux Falls, S.D., total over $44 million to local economies in 2009
FRISCO, Texas (May 13, 2009) - The 2009 US Youth Soccer Region III (South) Championships, to be played June 18–24, is estimated to provide more than $7.3 million in economic impact to the areas of Frisco and Plano, Texas.
Local restaurants, hotels, retail stores and others will benefit from the more 3,600 players and their families who will take part in the seven-day tournament. Visitors to the Frisco and Plano area will book an estimated 12,000 room nights at area hotels.
The top 184 US Youth Soccer Boys and Girls teams, including about 20 teams from host North Texas State Soccer Association, will compete at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco and Russell Creek Park in Plano for the US Youth Soccer Region III Championships.
"North Texas Soccer is proud to be chosen as host of the 2009 US Youth Soccer Region III Championships being held at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco and Russell Creek Park in Plano. These two cities are in the heart of Collin County, just north of Dallas, and lay claim to two of the finest soccer complexes in the nation, boasting a total of 37 fields," said Bob Black executive director of the North Texas State Soccer Association, who hosted the 2005 event. "Both Frisco and Plano offer an excellent setting for top-notch soccer games. The 10,000 plus players, coaches, referees and spectators representing the top clubs and teams throughout the south will descend upon north Texas this June and are sure to enjoy the area."
The US Youth Soccer Region III Championships, which will feature top teams in the Under-14 through Under-19 age groups, begin Thursday, June 18, with opening ceremonies, the venue will be announced soon. Round robin games are Friday, June 19, through Sunday, June 21 at both complexes. Quarterfinal matches are Monday, June 22, and semifinals are Tuesday, June 23, both at Pizza Hut Park. The US Youth Soccer Region III Champions will be crowned following final games on Wednesday, June 24, at Pizza Hut Park.
US Youth Soccer State Cup Champions and select runners-up from 12 US Youth Soccer State Associations in Region III, including host North Texas State Soccer Association will participate. The other State Associations represented are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Texas and Tennessee.
Regional winners of the Under-14 through Under-19 brackets earn a berth to the 2009 US Youth Soccer National Championships to be played July 21-26, at Citizens Bank Field at Progin Park in Lancaster, Mass.
One of the 12 national crowns awarded is the James P. McGuire Cup, the oldest trophy in youth sport dating back to 1935 with the inaugural youth championships. The Under-19 Boys National Champion will hoist the McGuire Cup on the 74th anniversary of the storied cup.
The dates and locations for the 2009 US Youth Soccer Regional Championships and the 2009 US Youth Soccer National Championships are:
US Youth Soccer Region I (East) Championships | Village of Barboursville, W.Va.
Fields: Barboursville Soccer Complex, Huntington YMCA Kennedy Center and Scott Orthopedics Soccer Complex
Opening Ceremony: July 2 | Marshall University, Joan C. Edwards Stadium
Round Robin: July 3-5
Semis: July 6
Finals: July 7
US Youth Soccer Region II (Midwest) Championships | Sioux Falls, S.D.
Fields: Yankton Trails Park
Round Robin: June 20-22
Semis: June 23
Finals: June 24
US Youth Soccer Region III (South) Championships | Frisco and Plano, Texas
Fields: Pizza Hut Park (Frisco) and Russell Creek Park (Plano)
Opening Ceremony: June 18 | TBD
Round Robin: June 19-21
Quarters: June 22
Semis: June 23
Finals: June 24
US Youth Soccer Region IV (West) Championships | Lancaster, Calif.
Fields: Lancaster National Soccer Center
Round Robin: June 15-17
Quarters: June 19
Semis: June 20
Finals: June 21
US Youth Soccer National Championships | Lancaster, Mass.
Fields: Citizens Bank Field at Progin Park
Player Luncheon: July 21 | DCU Center
Round Robin: July 22-24
Finals: July 25-26
To learn more about the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, visit
championships.usyouthsoccer.org.
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About the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series
The US Youth Soccer National Championship Series provides more than 10,000 teams from US Youth Soccer's 55 State Associations the opportunity to showcase their abilities against the best in the nation while emphasizing teamwork, discipline and fair play. The yearlong competition begins with over 185,000 players in the US Youth Soccer State Championships. These champions and selected wildcard teams, through US Youth Soccer Regional Leagues, advance to compete in one of four the US Youth Soccer Regional Championships. Champions (U-14 through U-19) from each regional event advance to the US Youth Soccer National Championships. The Under-15 through 17 Boys and Girls age groups have two teams representative of the US Youth Soccer National League, in which the top two teams in each gender age group earn a direct path to the national championships. Overall the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series provides the nation's top collegiate coaches with the premier stage to identify and scout the most coveted players in the country.
Media Request: When referring to the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, the most prestigious event in youth sports, please refer to the event as US Youth Soccer National Championship Series on first reference and National Championship Series on anything thereafter. Never refer to as NCS or USYS NCS. We appreciate your cooperation.
About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer) – US Youth Soccer -
The Game for ALL Kids!
® is the largest youth sports organization in the country and largest member of the United States Soccer Federation, the governing body of soccer in the United States. US Youth Soccer registers more than 3.2 million players annually, ages 5 to 19, and over 900,000 administrators, coaches and volunteers in 55 member state associations. US Youth Soccer programs provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game. For more information, visit
www.USYouthSoccer.org.
Media Request: When referring to the United States Youth Soccer Association, the largest youth sports organization in the United States, please refer to the association only as US Youth Soccer, and never USYS or USYSA. We appreciate your cooperation.