SAGINAW TOWNSHIP, MI (WNEM) -
Officials said the 2012 US Youth Soccer Region II (Midwest) Championships, presented by the National Guard and to be played June 23-27, will provide an estimated economic impact of $8 to $10 million to the Saginaw area.
Local restaurants, hotels, retail stores and others will benefit from the more than 3,500 players, coaches, teams and tournament officials, who also bring along their families to the five-day tournament.
Visitors to the Saginaw area will book an estimated 12,000 room nights at area hotels.
The top 212 Boys and Girls US Youth Soccer teams from Region II, including at least 14 teams from the host Michigan State Youth Soccer Association, will compete at the Saginaw Township Soccer Complex.
"Having the US Youth Soccer Region II Championships here not only helps our economy but it gives Saginaw Township and the Michigan State Youth Soccer Association a chance to host a premier soccer tournament," said Tom Faro, executive director of the Michigan State Youth Soccer Association. "We are excited to showcase Michigan and for the positive impact this event will have."
The US Youth Soccer Region II Championships will feature top teams in the under 13 through under 19 age groups with registration beginning on June 22.
Round robin games will take place Saturday, June 23 through Monday, June 25, with semifinal matches Tuesday, June 26.
The US Youth Soccer Region II Champions will be crowned following final games Wednesday, June 27.
US Youth Soccer State Champions and select wildcards in the U-13 through U-19 Boys and Girls age groups from 14 State Associations, including from host Michigan State Youth Soccer Association, will participate in the event.
The other state associations represented include Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio South, Ohio North, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Regional winners of the U-14 through U-19 Boys and Girls brackets will earn a berth to the 2012 US Youth Soccer National Championships presented by the National Guard, July 24-29, at Manchester Meadows in Rock Hill, SC.
The dates and locations for the 2012 US Youth Soccer Regional Championships and the 2012 US Youth Soccer National Championships are:
US Youth Soccer Region I (East) Championships | Lancaster, PA.
Classics Park Soccer Complex, Hempfield High School, Elizabethtown College
Opening Ceremony: June 28 | Clipper Stadium, Lancaster, PA.
Round Robin: June 29-July 1
Semis: July 2
Finals: July 3
Teams: 260
Age Group: U12 – U19
US Youth Soccer Region II (Midwest) Championships | Saginaw, MI.
Saginaw Township Soccer Complex
Registration: June 22
Round Robin: June 23-25
Semis: June 26
Finals: June 27
Teams: 212
Age Group: U13 – U19
US Youth Soccer Region III (South) Championships | Greenville, SC.
Opening Ceremony: June 14
MeSA Soccer Complex
Round Robin: June 15-17
Quarters: June 18 U14, U15, U16
Semis/Quarters: June 19 Semifinals U13 and U19/ Quarters U17 and U18
Finals/Semis: June 20 Finals U13 and U19 / Semifinals U14-U18
Finals: June 21 Finals U14-U18
Teams: 200
Age Group: U13 – U19
US Youth Soccer Region IV (West) Championships | Phoenix, AZ.
Reach 11 Sports Complex
Round Robin: June 18-20
Quarters: June 22
Semis: June 23
Finals: June 24
Teams: 248
Age Group: U12 – U19
US Youth Soccer National Championships | Rock Hill, SC.
Manchester Meadows
Player Luncheon: July 24
Round Robin: July 25-27
Finals: July 28-29
Total Number of Teams: 60
Age Group: U14 – 19
For more information on the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, visit http://championships.usyouthsoccer.org, the online home for the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, providing the latest in news, information and more.
Get all US Youth Soccer National Championship Series updates on Twitter and Facebook.
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Saginaw Township Soccer Complex
