Des Moines to Host Soccer Championships

The cities of Des Moines and West Des Moines, the West Des Moines Soccer Club and the Iowa Soccer Association in partnership with and support from the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau, the parent organization of the Des Moines Area Sports Commission, will host the semifinals and finals of the US Youth Soccer Region II (Midwest Regional) Championships on June 25 and 26, 2013. The championships will bring 12,000 visitors including 4,500 youth athletes, bringing an estimated $6.5 million in economic impact to Central Iowa.

Game play will be held at James W. Cownie Soccer Park (2600 E Hartford, Des Moines) and Hidden Valley Soccer Complex (1875 Walnut Woods Drive, West Des Moines). Admission is free, with single-day parking passes starting at $10 for cars.

The Midwest Regional Championships are a part of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series. The tournament will attract more than 212 boys and girls teams, ages Under-13 through Under-19, from the 14 Midwestern US Youth Soccer State Associations that make up US Youth Soccer Region II (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio South, Ohio North, South Dakota and Wisconsin).

Des Moines hosted the Midwest Regional Championship previously in 2003 and 2007.

“Greater Des Moines should anticipate a packed city during the Midwest Regional Championships,” said Greg Edwards, President and CEO of the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau/Des Moines Areas Sports Commission. “This group of youth and their families, coaches and fans will be highly visible throughout their stay in Greater Des Moines—and we’re proud to welcome them into our community.”

Schedule of Events
Semifinals: Tuesday, June 25
To take place at James W. Cownie Soccer Park only

Finals: Wednesday, June 26
To take place at James W. Cownie Soccer Park only

For more information on the championships, visit catchdesmoines.com/soccer.

About the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series: The US Youth Soccer National Championship Series provides more than 10,000 teams from US Youth Soccer's 55 State Associations the opportunity to showcase their abilities against the best in the nation while emphasizing teamwork, discipline and fair play. The yearlong competition begins with over 185,000 players in the US Youth Soccer State Championships. These champions and selected wildcard teams, through US Youth Soccer Regional Leagues, advance to compete in one of four the US Youth Soccer Regional Championships. Champions (U-13 through U-19) from each regional event advance to the National Championships. The Under-15 through 17 Boys and Girls age groups have two teams representative of the US Youth Soccer National League, in which the top two teams in each gender age group earn a direct path to the national championships. Overall the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series provides the nation's top collegiate coaches with the premier stage to identify and scout the most coveted players in the country. Visit championships.usyouthsoccer.org for more.

About Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau : The Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote Greater Des Moines as a fun, vibrant and affordable destination statewide, nationally and internationally. Our focus increases visitors to our community through meetings, conventions, sports events, leisure travel, and group tours, thereby contributing to the local economy.