Let's use this thread to post official Bucks' news and discuss.

MICHIGAN BUCKS ANNOUNCE NEW $17 MILLION SOCCER HOME FOR 2008


Pontiac, MI (January 22, 2008)- The Michigan Bucks of the United Soccer League’s (USL) Premier Development League (PDL) have announced a formal agreement with Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac to be the home of the 2006 North American Champions, as they open their thirteenth season this spring. Ultimate Soccer Arenas began construction in August of 2007 and completed the first of three indoor fields for play in October. While the largest facility of its kind in North America continues to get its finishing touches, those who have visited the massive 267,000 square foot facility (located just one mile south of the Pontiac Silverdome) have been overwhelmed. Bucks Chairman/CEO Dan Duggan made the public announcement this weekend in an interview with GolTV’s Phil Schoen as a part of this week’s American Soccer program filmed live at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) convention in Baltimore, MD.
“According to one of the Ultimate Soccer Arena partners, George Derderian, we don’t play indoor soccer, we play soccer indoors,” said Duggan. “This magnificent facility allows us to train any time day or night, 365 days a year and takes Mother Nature out of the equation. The weather for all of the Bucks games this year will be 72 degrees and perfect,” referring to the climate controlled facility which has state of the art heating and cooling for year round comfort.


Derderian and his partners put the dream facility together as “soccer dads” who traveled from indoor facility to indoor facility and were never quite satisfied with one aspect or another. The Ultimate Soccer Arenas will house two full size soccer fields (110 yards X 75 yards) and one smaller sided field (85 X 47) that are covered by a seventy two high ceiling that is high enough to allow the Bucks to play their league games, US Open Cup matches and host their Major League Soccer (MLS) affiliate, the Columbus Crew later this summer. The Bucks will also be hosting many professional soccer events at Ultimate over the coming years, as well as top college games. One such tournament is the Bucks College Cup on Saturday, April 5th between Michigan State University, Indiana University, Oakland University and University of Michigan. This year’s PDL club will include top players from all four teams, as they try to become the first team in league history to play in three consecutive North American Championship matches.


In addition to the first rate fields, the Bucks stadium will house 2,000 permanent seats that sit below the mezzanine level, which many think has the best view in the house. “The intimate setting is sure to create an incredible environment for a top notch soccer match,” continued Duggan. “We will enable the fans to select their seat for the entire season so that they are assured of being right on top of the action for not only Bucks games, but for all Bucks sponsored events.” The 16 acre facility will also be the home of the Bucks corporate offices and will house a European style café and restaurant, St. Joe’s Mercy Oakland Hospital speed, strength and agility training center, the Bucks Bar, game room and massive pro shop. Derderian hopes to have the finishing touches applied to his masterpiece by the end of February at the latest. Meanwhile, the facility continues to house youth soccer, college soccer teams, Olympic Development Program (ODP) teams and All American Lacr!
osse from 8:00 am until midnight, seven days a week.


The 2008 Michigan Bucks sixteen game league schedule is set to be released by the USL later this week. The Bucks will hold open tryouts in April and the team will begin training on May 1, as they prepare for US Open Cup qualifying during the last two weeks of May. For further information about the Bucks schedule, Ultimate Soccer Arenas, tryouts, season tickets, Bucks training camps and all the new exciting Bucks events, visit our web site at www.buckssoccer.com and sign up for the Bucks Insider newsletter.

Wonder how much logistical & financial overhead is involved with assigned seating. Does it really make sense? And speaking of weather, I don't know how you could beat last year's playoff games.

Top college games? Assuming the price is reasonable, I could really go for that.

"Bucks Bar"? Is that like a real soccer pub? "European-style cafe"? Does that mean the women there won't be shaving their armpits?

Sounds great...can't wait to see it for myself.

As for the thread itself, we could probably get away with making a separate thread for each news item that comes across -- it's not like there's news like this every day (or even every week).

Note that you could also post just a link to the Bucks site, and give highlights of the news.

MICHIGAN BUCKS ANNOUNCE NEW $17 MILLION SOCCER HOME FOR 2008

http://www.buckssoccer.com/home/222876.html

Highlights:

- The Bucks have a formal agreement with U.S.A.

- Dan Duggan will be on this week's (meaning, tonight's) American Soccer show on GolTV.

- Bucks College Cup on Saturday, April 5th between Michigan State University, Indiana University, Oakland University and University of Michigan

- PDL schedule will be out this week

- season tickets will be available; same seat for the entire season and other special events ("hosting many professional soccer events at Ultimate over the coming years").

I think making each news item a separate post because that makes it more likely that other people will chime in and take notice of what's going on here in the mitten state.

If a random USL fan sees "Bucks Official News" -- they might overlook it -- but if they see "Bucks announce brand new indoor soccer stadium" -- you're probably going to get more attention.

oj is right. Separate thread for every Bucks' news release. Wonder what tix prices are going to look like.