News, Notes & Numbers

The MEAC held its Tip-Off Basketball Press Luncheon on Oct. 9 at the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel. The regular season begins in November and culminates March 10-15 in Raleigh, when the MEAC Tournament is held at the RBC Center for the third time. ... Raleigh hosted the United States Youth Soccer Fall Region III Meeting in early October. The event, held at the Hilton North Raleigh, served as a precursor to the 2008 USYS Southern Regionals, which will be held in Raleigh and Wilson this summer (June 19-25). That event will bring 184 teams to region and is expected to generate approximately 20,000 hotel room nights.

The 2007 PONY Softball 14-U Fastpitch Nationals was a hit success, as 118 teams traveled to Cary to compete for the title. The event generated approximately 6,400 total hotel room nights and $1.7 million in economic impact. A huge thank you goes to the Raleigh Jaycees for doing a tremendous job as first-time tournament host. Currently the local partners (Raleigh Jaycees, Town of Cary, Greater Raleigh CVB) are in discussions with PONY regarding the potential return of the Fastpitch Nationals in 2008. ...

Congratulations to the Carolina Railhawks on an ultra-successful soccer season. In just their first year at SAS Soccer Park in Cary, the Railhawks advanced to the USL First Division Playoffs, a tremendous accomplishment for a new franchise. The team also made a remarkable run in the prestigious U.S. Open Cup, winning four games before falling to New England in the semifinals. And to top it off, the Railhawks were just as successful at the gate as they were on the field, as nearly 100,000 fans passed through the turnstiles during the inaugural season. ... The Railhawks also announced recently the formation of a USL W-League women's soccer team for the 2008 season. The team will play seven home games at SAS Soccer Park. ... The first summer at the USA Baseball National Training Complex was a busy one. The sparkling new facility hosted the Tournament of Stars, the Women's International Friendship Series and a series of international games for the National Collegiate Team.

Cary Tennis Park will be the site of the 2008 USTA National Campus Championships, set for April 17-19. For the second consecutive year, the nation's top 64 collegiate club teams will travel to Cary to compete for the national title. ... Tori Collins of the GRCVB traveled to Schaumburg, Ill., in early October to attend the AAU National Convention. While there, Collins and representatives from USA Baseball and the Town of Cary made a bid presentation for the 2009 AAU Baseball 17-U National Championship. A decision on the 2009 site is expected soon. ... In the coming weeks, GRCVB Sports Marketing staff members will meet with event owners and rights-holders who represent potential sports business for Wake County at three national conventions: TEAMS, United States Specialty Sports Association, and the National Softball Association. ...

Dates for the 2008 Deep South Classic are set. The tournament will be held April 18-20 at multiple sites throughout the Triangle. Approximately 288 teams from throughout the U.S. are expected to compete, generating 8,100 total hotel room nights and $2.1 million in economic impact. Games will be played at N.C. State, UNC, Duke and Bond Park in Cary. ... The City of Raleigh and GRCVB have landed the 2008 Senior Softball USA Eastern Nationals. The event will be played July 29-Aug. 3 at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex. About 40-60 teams are expected to attend.