MEDIA ADVISORY: Opening Ceremonies for US Youth Soccer Region I Championships Thursday, June 28th at 6 p.m. at Clipper Magazine Stadium in Lancaster


WHO:  
  • Approximately 13,000 people, including the top 260 boys and girls teams ranging in age from under-12 to under-19 from US Youth Soccer Region I, which includes the following 16 state organizations: Eastern Pennsylvania (host); Connecticut; Delaware; Eastern New York; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New York West; Pennsylvania West; Premier League; Rhode Island; Vermont; Virginia; West Virginia;
  • Scott Martin, Chair of the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners;
  • Jim Kuntz, Chair of the Lancaster Organizing Committee;
  • Bob Palmiero, US Youth Soccer Region I Director;
  • Chris Armas, former member of the US National men’s soccer team’

WHAT:             Opening Ceremonies for the 2012 US Youth Soccer Region I Championships

WHEN:             Thursday, June 28, 2012 at 6 p.m.

WHERE:           Clipper Magazine Stadium (650 North Prince Street, Lancaster, PA 17603)

BACKGROUND:  
For the second consecutive year, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer and the City of Lancaster will host the 2012 US Youth Soccer Region I Championships, which begin on Thursday, June 28th with opening ceremonies at Clipper Magazine Stadium in downtown Lancaster, and continue through Tuesday, July 3rd at three competition venues in the Lancaster community. A total of 444 soccer matches are scheduled with 260 teams over the course of five days.  Admission to all games at all venues is free of charge.  The official website for the championships is http://championships.usyouthsoccer.org/regionI and a complete overview of local information is available at http://lancastersoccer2012.com.

Opening ceremonies are scheduled for Thursday, June 28th at Clipper Magazine Stadium beginning at 6 p.m.  The opening ceremonies will include a parade of all participating teams and officials, accompanied by the mascots of the Lancaster Barnstormers and other local attractions, as well as members of the National Guard.   Dignitaries from state and local government as well as from the world of soccer are also expected to be in attendance at the ceremony.

Preliminary matches begin on Friday, June 29th and continue through Sunday, July 1st at the Hempfield High School Complex (340 Mumma Drive, Landisville, PA 17538), at Elizabethtown College (1 Alpha Drive, Elizabethtown, PA 17022) and at Classics Soccer Park (the headquarters venue, 1461 Lancaster Road, Manheim, PA 17545). Semi-final matches begin at 8 a.m. on Monday, July 2nd at Hempfield High School Complex and at Classics Soccer Park.  The championship finals matches will be played on Tuesday, July 3rd beginning at 8 a.m. at Classics Soccer Park.

Media Contacts:
Rob Brown, Communications Manager, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer
Cell phone:  215-218-8143; E-mail:  rbrown@epysa.org

Jim DeLorenzo, Jim DeLorenzo Public Relations
Cellphone:  215-266-5943; E-mail:  jim@jhdenterprises.com

Mike Anderson, US Youth Soccer Communications
Cellphone: 972-213-5272; E-mail:  manderson@usyouthsoccer.org