United States Adult Soccer Association To Bring More Than 2,000 Soccer Players To NC’s Cape Fear Coast During The 2006 Veteran’s Cup Soccer Tournament

On July 18-23, 2006, travel industry partners in Historic Wilmington and North Carolina’s Cape Fear Coast will once again welcome the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) Veteran’s Cup to Wilmington, North Carolina for the second consecutive year. The Veteran’s Cup is a national adult amateur soccer championship established by USASA in 1998 to provide high-level competition for both male and female veteran soccer players. Veteran’s Cup soccer tournament host cities have included: Bellingham, WA (1998/99); Nashua, NH (2000); Beckley, WV (2001/02); Honolulu, HI (2003/04); and Wilmington, NC (2005/06).

The 2006 Veteran’s Cup is hosted by the USASA, the North Carolina Adult Soccer Association, and the Cape Fear Soccer Association. According to Tom O’Shea, Veteran’s Cup North Carolina general chairman, this year’s registration is once again expected to reach nearly 100 teams with more than 2,000 adult soccer players (men and women) from 24 states across the U.S and Japan. Teams are divided into 13 age group divisions from Over 30’s to Over 60’s. Many players will bring family and friends, which brings the estimated total attendance in excess of 3,000. Spectators are invited to watch tournament play each day from 7am until 6pm. Admission is free to all games.

The 2006 tournament will be held at Veteran’s Park (555 Halyburton Memorial Pkwy.) and Hoggard High School soccer fields in Wilmington. Opening ceremonies will be held Tuesday, July 18 from 6pm-7pm in front of the Federal Courthouse located along Downtown Wilmington’s riverfront on Water Street. Semi-finals and finals begin on Saturday, July 22 and continue on Sunday, July 23, followed by trophy presentations and a final ceremony at Veterans Park. During the 5-day tournament, participants will stay at area hotels, shop, and dine in local establishments. This year’s host hotels are the Hilton Wilmington Riverside/Riverview Suites and the Comfort Inn & Suites on Market Street.

“The Veterans Cup has received tremendous local support and organization,” states O’Shea. “Local organizers Harper Peterson, Bill Furjanic, Jennifer Brown, the CVB, and all of the dedicated and hard-working folks involved in the organizing committee are the reason these tournaments have been a great success for the local soccer community and for the Cape Fear region.”

Former Mayor Harper Peterson, co-chair of the Veteran’s Cup Wilmington organizing committee, anticipates that the 2006 Veteran’s Cup will rival last year’s tournament, which was Wilmington’s biggest sporting event to date. “By bringing in 3,000 players and guests each year, the Veteran’s Cup tournaments have created a major economic impact on Wilmington and surrounding beach communities. That impact is ongoing, as many players will return to our destination for leisure travel,” said Peterson.

“Hosting a national soccer championship such as this provides the Cape Fear Coast with a unique opportunity to showcase the destination to players and their families from across the United States and Japan,” said Kim Hufham, Interim President/CEO of the New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority. “Based on last year’s successful tournament, we know that many players arrive prior to and stay on after the tournament to enjoy our island beaches and historic riverfront town. We welcome team players and their families and hope they have a memorable Cape Fear Coast experience.”

The New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority d/b/a Cape Fear Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing organization of New Hanover County that stimulates economic development through the promotion of travel and tourism. For more information on the 2006 Veterans Cup, please call 910-392-0306 or email jen@capefearsoccer.com or visit www.ncsoccer.org/ncasa/veterans%20Cup.htm and www.capefearsoccer.com For a free Visitors Guide to Historic Wilmington and NC’s Cape Fear Coast, please call 1-866-266-9690 or visit www.gocapefearcoast.com

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June 15, 2006   Posted in: United States East