USL News Release
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
TAMPA, Fla. – The United Soccer Leagues’ Annual General Meeting in preparation for the 2012 season kicked off with new franchise training this morning at the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa in Florida. The event, which has been held in downtown Tampa for the past six years, draws hundreds of owners, executives and coaches from USL’s professional and amateur teams, as well as influential figures from national and international soccer organizations. It will conclude on Sunday, December 18.
The annual gathering features a combination of business and social activities including operational, educational and scheduling meetings, as well as annual team and executive awards presentations and the USL Hall of Fame dinner. The Clearwater Beach setting provides a getaway for families and a welcome escape from winter for the representatives of USL’s professional and amateur clubs that will attend from throughout North America.
After the two-day new franchise training, the AGM moves into high gear with the Kickoff Social Thursday evening at the Hyatt and will get down to business on Friday with a full day of league meetings and special seminars. Executives and coaches from USL’s teams will have the opportunity to participate in seminars regarding sponsorships and ticket sales, game presentation, international affiliations, communications and social media, international club affiliations, player registration, insurance, etc.
The annual USL Hall of Fame and Awards Dinner concludes the festivities Friday evening as the teams gather to honor the teams and executives for their performances during 2011 and the induction ceremony for the USL Hall of Fame. Nine men and women who have proven to be highly influential in North American soccer have been chosen for induction into the USL Hall of Fame in 2011. For the first time, the USL HOF has been divided into three wings to increase the recognition for those who have helped make USL a success through the years because of their tremendous efforts and personal sacrifices made on behalf of the sport of soccer in North America.
The AGM continues Saturday with continued league meetings, and closes with 2012 scheduling sessions on Sunday.
Through the support of the City of Clearwater Parks & Recreation Department and the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission, the 2011 USL AGM will run in conjunction with USL’s Major Beach Soccer National Championships, which will be held on Clearwater Beach December 17-18.
The MBS National Championships will bring 12 teams from throughout the U.S. that qualified through a series of eight Major Beach Soccer and Soccer in the Sand tournaments this summer. They will compete for titles on pristine Clearwater Beach, just steps from the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach and the USL AGM.