MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Aug. 25, 2004 - US Club Soccer and Disney Sports Attractions, Inc., have reached a multi-year agreement to jointly host and manage the Champions League Cup, a new tournament for elite youth soccer clubs in U13-U17 age groups in the United States. The inaugural Champion's League Cup is scheduled for Easter weekend, March 24- 27, 2005 at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Fla.
The invitation-only Cup will feature eight of the nation's best boys' clubs and eight of the nation's best girls' clubs competing in separate tournaments during the four-day holiday weekend. Invitations will be extended to clubs later this fall and the tournament will be contested on the Hess Sports Fields at the Disney sports complex.
"At the Club Soccer Summit in March, we discussed the creation of a new event that would focus on developing club programs with strong teams at each age group," said US Club Soccer Executive Director Bill Sage. "The Champions League Cup will identify and recognize some of the nation's best clubs, compliment the existing National Cup and further promote US Club Soccer's goal of building top-to-bottom competitive club programs."
"We are thrilled to join US Club Soccer in the creation of the Champions League Cup at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex," said Patrick Dicks, events manager for Disney Sports Attractions. "Our facility prides itself on hosting new and innovative events that give top teams the opportunity to compete against one another, and the Champions League Cup is sure to produce many great matches, while also strengthening the club soccer system."
Eight girls' and eight boys' clubs will vie for the 2005 Champions League Cup. The format will include round- robin pools of four teams competing against one another during the first three days of the Cup. Following pool play, placement matches will determine the eventual Cup winner in each age group.
Individual age group winners will be recognized, while the club program with the most cumulative points from its participating teams in all five age groups will be crowned the 2005 Champions League Cup winner.
Clubs seeking more information about the Champions League Cup should visit the official Champions League Cup page on the US Club Soccer web site or contact US Club Soccer at [email protected].