MEDIA ADVISORY
Dec. 1, 2008
CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION:

 

  • Charlie Slagle, CEO of CASL ... 796-8985 (cell)
  • Scott Dupree, VP for Sports Marketing for the Greater Raleigh CVB ... 645-2657 (direct) and 414-4022 (cell)


Largest Youth Sporting Event in Triangle History (421 Teams) Begins Friday

The CASL visitRaleigh.com National Soccer Series Girls Showcase Presented by Chelsea Football Club


Facts & Figures & Random Information
Dates: Friday through Sunday, Dec. 5-7
Number of Teams: 421
Number of States Represented: 38
State with Most Teams Represented: Texas (35 teams)
Number of International Teams: 4 (all from Canada)
Most Miles to Raleigh Traveled to Raleigh: 4,379 miles (The Alaska Rush from Anchorage)
Age Range of Participants: 14-19
Number of Athletes: 7,157
Number of Coaches: 450
Number of Visiting Family & Friends: 8,500 (estimated)
Number of College Coaches: 600 (estimated)
Total Number of Visitors: 16,257
Number of Games: 996
Number of Venues: 12 (Primary site is WRAL Soccer Center)
Number of Fields: 51
Number of Referees/Umpires: 180
Number of Soccer Balls Needed: 420
Number of Hotels Used: 108
Furthest Hotel from WRAL Soccer Center: Hampton Inn Sanford (55 miles)
Second-furthest Hotel: Residence Inn Rocky Mount (50 miles)
Total Hotel Room Nights: 14,000
Estimated Economic Impact: $3.1 million in direct visitor spending
Total Tax Revenue Generated: $305,000 (estimated)
Number of Meals Enjoyed by Visitors: 146,313
Number of Pizzas Ordered by Visitors: 3,000 (educated guesstimate)
Loads of Laundry: 2,526
Best Team Names: D'Feeters (TX), Tsunami (FL), Riptide (MD), Kickkats (PA), Blue Monkeys (DE)

Strangest Team Name: Wombats (NJ)
Total Number of Teams in Nat'l Soccer Series: 1,114 (Boys Shootout, Girls Shootout, Boys Showcase, Girls Showcase)
Teams in Town for NCAA Women's College Cup: 4
Tickets Sold for College Cup: 8,500
Tickets Available for College Cup: 0 (Sold Out)

NOTE: The National Soccer Series Girls Showcase weekend includes the following components: The CASL visitRaleigh.com Girls Showcase (325 teams), the Red Bull National League competition (72 teams), and the US Youth Soccer National League competition (24 teams). All are part of the National Soccer Series.

NOTE: To the best of my knowledge, this is the largest youth sporting event in Triangle history, based on the number of teams (421). In my research I have not come across a larger one. If you know of a youth sporting event held in the Triangle that drew more than 421 teams, please let me know. Thank you. -- Scott Dupree