BALTIMORE, June 12, 2012 — US Lacrosse today named the WRAL Soccer Center in Raleigh, N.C., site of the 2013 and 2014 US Lacrosse Southeast Championships, Powered by Lacrosse Unlimited, a three-day youth lacrosse tournament for boys’ and girls’ teams in the U11, U13 and U15 age divisions. Event dates will be June 7-9, 2013, and either June 6-8 or June 20-22, 2014.
Teams may register for the 2013 US Lacrosse Southeast Championships online at uslacrosse.org beginning on or about Sept. 10, 2012.
The selection represents an extension of the existing two-year deal with the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (GRCVB), as the 2012 US Lacrosse Southeast Championships approach June 15-17 following a successful debut in Raleigh in June 2011.
“When it comes to lacrosse, Raleigh has it all,” said Beth Porreca, director of special events at US Lacrosse. “The US Lacrosse membership includes nearly 45,000 players under age 15 south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Raleigh is very accessible and convenient by car to both the traditional lacrosse community in the Mid-Atlantic and the growing lacrosse community in the Southeast. Between that and the planned upgrades to the WRAL Soccer Center, we’re very excited to host the US Lacrosse Southeast Championships in Raleigh for another two years.”
The WRAL Soccer Center, owned and operated by the Capital Area Soccer League (CASL), features more than 15 fields, including three with turf and lights, a field house, permanent concession stands, and parking for 1,000 cars. Plans are underway to convert seven grass fields fully or partially to turf, all with lights. The complex is just 20 minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport, and Raleigh is easily accessible from Interstates 95, 85, and 40. Greater Raleigh hosts nationally-acclaimed artists and concerts and family-friendly festivals and events, and it’s within a short drive to eight colleges and universities in the Research Triangle area.
“We are excited and honored to continue this great partnership with US Lacrosse, ” said Jason Philbeck, sports marketing manager for the GRCVB. “The US Lacrosse staff and volunteers work tirelessly to provide a great championship atmosphere, and the extension of this agreement shows the commitment from all of the organizations involved to provide the best experience possible for the participating teams. Lacrosse is one of the fastest-growing youth sports in the country, and Raleigh is an ideal location to showcase the sport.”
This weekend’s event will feature 46 teams from 11 states: Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia. Twenty-one teams hail from North Carolina. US Lacrosse Southeast Championships will be contested this weekend in girls’ U13 and U15 divisions and in boys’ U11, U13, and U15 divisions.
Team registration fees for 2013 will remain unchanged from the 2012 US Lacrosse Regional Championships: $1,000 for a U11 team, $1,250 for a U13 team, and $1,350 for a U15 team. Up to 24 players and four coaches/chaperones may comprise each team, resulting in a per-player cost as low as $42. In the U15 division, the top four teams in Raleigh will earn automatic invitations with free or reduced registration to the US Lacrosse U15 National Championships, Powered by Lacrosse Unlimited.
The 2013 US Lacrosse Southeast Championships will represent part of the organization’s 16th annual series of youth events. US Lacrosse youth tournaments allow the organization’s national membership to compete with class, honor the game, and build relationships with teammates and opponents alike.
For more, like www.facebook.com/uslacrossechampionships and follow www.twitter.com/uslaxchamps. Tweet using the hashtag #youthlaxchamps.
About US Lacrosse
US Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is the national governing body of men’s and women’s lacrosse and the home of the nation’s fastest-growing sport. US Lacrosse has more than 400,000 members in 64 regional chapters across the country. Through responsive and effective leadership, US Lacrosse provides programs and services to inspire participation while protecting the integrity of the game. Bookmark, like and follow US Lacrosse at uslacrosse.org, fb.com/uslacrosse and @uslacrosse, respectively.
About the Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau, as the official destination marketing organization of Raleigh and Wake County, accelerates sustainable growth and development by increasing visitor, convention, and sports business. The Greater Raleigh CVB sports marketing department markets and promotes the area’s sports venues in order to create economic development for the region in the form of sports events, tournaments, championships and sports-related meetings. Through its websites, visitraleigh.com, raleighsports.org and other tools, the GRCVB assists local visitors in a variety of ways.
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