Dates Announced for First-Ever Combined U.S. Open-Youth Club Championships Event
Posted: August 30, 2016 02:44 PM
Colorado Springs, Colo. (Aug. 30, 2016) – Following an earlier announcement describing the plan to combine the U.S. Open Championships and the Youth Club Championships, USA Ultimate is excited to announce dates for the new, united event.
In each of the next three years, the new event will take place at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn., and will be hosted by Minnesota Ultimate, one of USA Ultimate’s first state-based organizations, with support from the National Sports Center and Twin Cities Gateway. The 2017 edition will take place Aug. 4-7; the U.S. Open Championships will be contested Aug. 4-6, with the Youth Club Championships (YCC) taking place Aug. 5-7.
The 2018 event will be held Aug. 3-6, and the 2019 event will take place Aug. 2-5. Scheduling the event on the first weekend in August, as well as reducing the event from four days to three, was a decision made with input from elite athletes regarding preferred timing for the U.S. Open, which has traditionally been held over the Fourth of July weekend. The new weekend moves the Youth Club Championships one week earlier than its traditional spot on the calendar.
While the U.S. Open will be contested over three days for the first time, the Youth Club Championships will remain a three-day event for a third consecutive year. In 2017, YCC will move from a Friday-to-Sunday schedule to Saturday-to-Monday competition.
"Minnesota Ultimate is delighted to be selected by USA Ultimate to host the combined Youth Club Championships and U.S. Open for 2017-2019," said Minnesota Ultimate Chairman Bruce Mebust. "Minnesota Ultimate, along with the National Sports Center, has been privileged to host this premier youth event for the past 12 years as well as the 2014 U.S. Open, and we appreciate USAU’s faith in our ability to deliver a quality tournament. YCC has contributed significantly to the growth of youth ultimate in Minnesota, and a three-year contract combining both events will propel that growth even further, as well as the growth of ultimate for all other competition levels in Minnesota."
The U.S. Open is a stage for the best ultimate teams in North America – those that place in the top eight at the National Championships the previous year – along with some of the top teams from around the world. Beginning in 2017, USA Ultimate will also be extending invitations to international youth teams to compete at the Youth Club Championships.
"We see the combination of the U.S. Open with the Youth Club Championships as an enhancement to two of USA Ultimate’s biggest and most visible events," said Will Deaver, USA Ultimate’s managing director of competition and athlete programs. "In addition to adjusting the timing of both events to better serve participants, this is a great opportunity to bring together two important groups within our larger community. The Triple Crown Tour’s best teams and international clubs will have a chance to interact with and play in front of our sport’s future stars. And today’s youth players, coaches and parents will have an opportunity to watch the best teams in the world compete while showcasing Spirit of the Game. We’re excited about extending our partnership with Minnesota Ultimate, and are confident they will help put together a great event."
Details surrounding this new event are still being finalized. Stay tuned to usaultimate.org for all the latest information about the U.S. Open and Youth Club Championships.
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