FormerWildcat
07-07-08, 10:57 AM
Interesting development out of Clevesburg...
CONTINENTAL CUP: Getting AC next year (http://www.cleveland.com/sports/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/121541953627330.xml&coll=2)
CONTINENTAL CUP
Getting AC next year
Monday, July 07, 2008
Chris Herring
Plain Dealer Reporter
AC Milan, one of the world's premier soccer clubs, is close to signing a contract that would make it the title sponsor for next year's Continental Cup.
This year's tournament, which ended Sunday, featured no chief sponsor.
The deal gives added credibility to the Continental Cup, which is aiming to become one of the nation's elite youth soccer tournaments. In its three years, the event has seen the number of tourney registrants triple - from 32 teams in 2006 to 96 in 2008 - and attracted teams from new countries.
Adidas already has signed on as one of the tournament's sponsors for 2009. Tournament officials said the event likely will be called the "AC Milan Continental Cup presented by Adidas."
Along with backing next year's tournament, AC Milan has agreed to host the team that wins the 2009 Continental Cup's 15-and-under division in Italy for a week to train with the professional club. Tournament officials had hoped to send this year's 15-and-under champions on the trip, but said the plans to do so came together too late.
Expansion on the way?
Continental Cup Director George Nanchoff said this year's tournament was largely successful, citing relatively good weather - the first day of the tournament saw heavy rainfall - and large crowds throughout the weekend.
Nanchoff did say, however, that organizers may try to expand the tournament's playing locations next year. He said soccer fields at Lost Nation Sports Park in Willoughby and John Carroll University were sufficient this summer, but things were a bit cramped at times.
"We basically just need to add more fields," Nanchoff said, adding that he expects more teams to register for next year's event.
As a result, the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission might reach out to schools like Cleveland State and Case Western Reserve to see whether they can use their fields for the tournament.
Local colleges to play larger role:
The commission has said it plans to make the local colleges a big part of next year's tournament by promoting them to the visiting college-aged players who hail from different states or countries. Throughout their stay at the Continental Cup, international players spoke highly of their dorms at John Carroll, saying they hadn't stayed in such nice rooms before.
Along with pitching the local schools to the college-aged players, the commission also plans to reach out to college soccer coaches in hopes of having them to recruit at next year's tournament.
CONTINENTAL CUP: Getting AC next year (http://www.cleveland.com/sports/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/121541953627330.xml&coll=2)
CONTINENTAL CUP
Getting AC next year
Monday, July 07, 2008
Chris Herring
Plain Dealer Reporter
AC Milan, one of the world's premier soccer clubs, is close to signing a contract that would make it the title sponsor for next year's Continental Cup.
This year's tournament, which ended Sunday, featured no chief sponsor.
The deal gives added credibility to the Continental Cup, which is aiming to become one of the nation's elite youth soccer tournaments. In its three years, the event has seen the number of tourney registrants triple - from 32 teams in 2006 to 96 in 2008 - and attracted teams from new countries.
Adidas already has signed on as one of the tournament's sponsors for 2009. Tournament officials said the event likely will be called the "AC Milan Continental Cup presented by Adidas."
Along with backing next year's tournament, AC Milan has agreed to host the team that wins the 2009 Continental Cup's 15-and-under division in Italy for a week to train with the professional club. Tournament officials had hoped to send this year's 15-and-under champions on the trip, but said the plans to do so came together too late.
Expansion on the way?
Continental Cup Director George Nanchoff said this year's tournament was largely successful, citing relatively good weather - the first day of the tournament saw heavy rainfall - and large crowds throughout the weekend.
Nanchoff did say, however, that organizers may try to expand the tournament's playing locations next year. He said soccer fields at Lost Nation Sports Park in Willoughby and John Carroll University were sufficient this summer, but things were a bit cramped at times.
"We basically just need to add more fields," Nanchoff said, adding that he expects more teams to register for next year's event.
As a result, the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission might reach out to schools like Cleveland State and Case Western Reserve to see whether they can use their fields for the tournament.
Local colleges to play larger role:
The commission has said it plans to make the local colleges a big part of next year's tournament by promoting them to the visiting college-aged players who hail from different states or countries. Throughout their stay at the Continental Cup, international players spoke highly of their dorms at John Carroll, saying they hadn't stayed in such nice rooms before.
Along with pitching the local schools to the college-aged players, the commission also plans to reach out to college soccer coaches in hopes of having them to recruit at next year's tournament.