The 2015 Schwan’s USA CUP will be the largest ever
1,153 teams will represent 19 states and 17 countries
BLAINE, Minnesota (July 1, 2015) – Team registration has now closed for the 31st annual Schwan’s USA CUP at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn., July 10-18, and tournament officials announced that a record number of teams have registered for the 2015 tournament.
A total of 1,153 teams will play in the tournament. This is an increase of 93 teams over last year’s tournament, which also set a registration record. Teams will represent 19 states and 17 countries.
“This is a milestone for Schwan’s USA CUP,” said Jen Een, the tournament director. “It’s a credit to all the tournament staff who work all year long to market this tournament all over the world. In the past twelve months we’ve traveled all over the U.S., in Canada and even to China to sell coaches on the quality of the USA CUP experience.”
Een said that word-of-mouth and personal testimonials are the most effective marketing message to attract teams.
“When one team plays in the tournament and has a positive experience, they spread the word,” she said. “That message is powerful because it’s authentic and genuine.”
Some of the highlights of the 2015 Schwan’s USA CUP include the Opening Ceremony on July 14, three Minnesota United FC home games (July 11 vs. Ottawa, July 15 vs. Jacksonville and July 18 vs. Club Leon), and the crowning of the 2015 USA CUP champions on championship Saturday, July 18.
Here is a breakdown of the registration numbers for the 2015 tournament:
17 countries: Aruba (2 teams), Brazil (17), Canada (92), Cayman Islands (4), Colombia (4), Costa Rica (13), Ecuador (3), Haiti (3), Iceland (3), Japan (2), Mexico (21), Nepal (1), Norway (3), Sweden (2), Uganda (2), United Kingdom (2), United States (980).
5 Canadian provinces:Alberta (5 teams), Manitoba (33), Ontario (46), Saskatchewan (8), Yukon Territory (2).
19 states: Alaska(8 teams), Colorado (1), Florida (1), Hawaii (5), Illinois (61), Iowa (23), Kansas (3), Michigan (13), Minnesota (662), Missouri (4), Nebraska (10), North Dakota (13), Ohio (2), Oklahoma (1), South Dakota (41), Texas (2), Utah (1), Wisconsin (97), Wyoming (3).
71 different Minnesota communities:Albertville, Andover. Anoka, Apple Valley, Arden Hills, Bemidji, Blaine, Bloomington, Brainerd, Buffalo, Burnsville, Byron, Cambridge, Champlin, Chanhassen, Chaska, Chisago Lakes, Circle Pines, Cloquet, Coon Rapids. Cottage Grove, Duluth, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Edina, Elk River, Farmington, Forest Lake, Golden Valley, Hastings, Isanti, Lakeville, Lino Lakes, Mahtomedi, Maple Grove, Mendota Heights, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Mounds View, New Hope, New Prague, North Oaks, Oak Grove, Orono, Owatonna, Pine Island, Plymouth, Princeton, Prior Lake, Ramsey, Richfield, Rochester, Rockford, Rogers, Rosemount, Roseville, Saint Paul, Shakopee, Shoreview, South St. Paul, Spring Lake Park, St. Cloud, St. Francis, St. Louis Park, St. Michael, Stillwater , Waconia, Wayzata, West St. Paul, White Bear Lake, Woodbury.
Here is a link to the 2015 Media Guide and a complete list of registered teams:
http://www.usacup.org/page/show/1551475-schwan-s-usa-cup-media
About Schwan’s USA CUP:
Schwan’s USA CUP will be held July 10-18, 2015 at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn, 20 minutes north of Minneapolis/Saint Paul. With an economic impact of $32.3 million, Schwan’s USA CUP is Minnesota’s largest annual sports tourism event. The event is also the largest youth soccer tournament in the Western Hemisphere. All Schwan’s USA CUP games are free and open to the public.
Sons of Norway initiated USA CUP in 1985 by inviting several Norwegian teams to play in Minnesota. The first USA CUP featured more than 1,500 players on 69 teams representing 51 local, 11 international and six out-of-state teams. The original site for the tournament was the Blaine Soccer Complex, and those fields are still used for Schwan’s USA CUP games. When the National Sports Center opened in 1990, tournament ownership was transferred to the NSC and most games were moved to the larger NSC campus.
About the National Sports Center:
The National Sports Center (NSC) is a 600-acre multi-sport facility located in Blaine, Minnesota. The campus includes the Schwan Super Rink; a soccer stadium; the Schwan Center meeting and convention building; a multi-faceted family golf center, the National Youth Golf Center, which features the 18-hole Victory Links course; an indoor Sports Hall with a FieldTurf field; 150-bed residence hall; and 52 soccer fields. The facility hosts nearly 300 events annually, and has welcomed approximately 32 million visitors since its opening. The NSC generates over $50 million in annual economic impact. Visit nscsports.org.
