USYSA to move to Frisco

Here is the entire release from the Burn yesterday.
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FRISCO SOCCER & ENTERTAINMENT CENTER PRESS RELEASE

UNITED STATES YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION SELECTS FRISCO, TEXAS AS ITS NEW HEADQUARTERS

Organization to office at the new Frisco Soccer & Entertainment Center



DALLAS – The Hunt Sports Group, on behalf of the Frisco Soccer & Entertainment Center, announced today that the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer) has voted to move their corporate headquarters from Richardson to the new Frisco Soccer & Entertainment Center in Frisco, Texas. The 20-year agreement with US Youth Soccer, coupled with a 15-year marketing agreement between the Dallas Burn and the North Texas State Soccer Association, makes the Frisco Soccer & Entertainment Center a focal point for soccer in the nation.

“It is very exciting for our Organization to be a part of this new premier soccer facility, which will be host to outstanding youth, adult, and professional soccer events for years to come. Bringing US Youth Soccer, North Texas Soccer, and Major League Soccer together in one location will allow for some excellent benefits for our membership including enhanced player development opportunities in this state-of-the-art facility,” said David Messersmith, President of US Youth Soccer.

The Major League Soccer team currently known as the Dallas Burn, who will be changing their name and identity next season, will play their home schedule at the Frisco Soccer & Entertainment Center beginning in the spring of 2005 at the intersection of Main Street and the North Dallas Toll Road in Frisco. The Frisco Soccer & Entertainment Center is made possible by an innovative public private partnership between the Hunt Sports Group, the City of Frisco and its Economic and Community Development Corporations, as well as Collin County and the Frisco Independent School District. This 117-acre facility will feature a 20,000 seat soccer stadium, accommodating Major League Soccer matches, major concerts, international soccer matches and high school football. Adjacent to the stadium will be 17 regulation-size, tournament-grade soccer fields which will be utilized on a year-round basis, making the Center the focal point of youth and adult soccer in North Texas and around the country. An estimated 1.4 million spectators and participants are expected to visit the facility annually.

“In addition to being the largest soccer facility of its type in the world, the Frisco Soccer & Entertainment Center will now become home for the largest youth sports organization in the United States,” said John Wagner, President of Hunt Sports Group. “We are elated that US Youth Soccer has joined us at our new facility, and look forward to hosting many of their regional and national events in the future.”

US Youth Soccer is the largest member of the United States Soccer Federation, the governing body for soccer in the United States. US Youth Soccer is a nationwide body of over 600,000 volunteers and administrators, and over 300,000 dedicated coaches, most of whom also are volunteers. US Youth Soccer registers over 3,200,000 youth players between the ages of five and nineteen. US Youth Soccer is made up of 55 member State Associations; one in each state, and two in California, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas.

“We’re honored the City of Frisco has been chosen as the new home for the US Youth Soccer Association,” said Frisco Mayor Mike Simpson. “To be selected is a ‘feather in the caps’ of our city, Frisco’s Economic Development Corporation, Hunt Sports Group and North Texas Soccer. We look forward to the many tournaments and clinics US Youth Soccer will bring to our world class facility, which helps all of us grow Frisco into a premier destination city. We welcome the US Youth Soccer Association to our Frisco family.”

US Youth Soccer is a non-profit and educational organization whose mission is to foster the physical, mental and emotional growth and development of America's youth through the sport of soccer at all levels of age and competition, making the sport fun, and instilling in young players a lifelong passion for the sport.

"North Texas Soccer applauds the decision by US Youth Soccer to move their corporate headquarters to the Frisco Soccer & Entertainment Center,” said John Sutter, President of the North Texas State Soccer Association. “Our sport is the real winner here, as youth, adult, and professional soccer come together in a single setting that should serve as a shining example for the rest of the country. The Frisco Soccer & Entertainment Center will provide soccer enthusiasts with truly unique opportunities to experience soccer at its best."

North Texas Soccer is the largest joint youth and adult soccer association in the United States, representing 145,000 youth players, 24,000 adult players, 40,000 indoor players, 25,000 coaches, 6,600 referees, and over 1,300 administrators. Including member spouses and parents, the North Texas Soccer family is estimated to be at least 500,000 strong.

 

Does anyone know how many employees work at the USYSA HQ? And does anyone else know if they recieved financial assistance from Frisco Economic Development Corp. to move their operation? I ask because I've used this situation in arguments against some of my fellow Frisco residents who are against the stadium. Its good to see that, despite their claims otherwise, this stadium has actually spurred economic development in the city....and it isn't even opened yet. There is no question that USYSA was attracted to Frisco solely on the location of the stadium and adjacent facilities.

 

Sixteen, according to their website. I don't see any impact on Frisco whatsoever. Gosh, they are only moving from Richardson.

 

All these players in the D/FW area and our attendance still blows.

 

The North Texas Soccer Assn includes East Texas, Central Texas, West Texas, The Panhandle, Far North Texas and El Paso as well as the DFW area.

 

Not El Paso, that is definitely South Texas.

Draw a line at Temple.