Livingston Today

Fenton & Linden Regional Chamber of Commerce issued the following announcement on Mar 4.

The United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) has selected the Flint City Bucks as host for the 2022 Hank Steinbrecher (National) Cup at Kettering University’s historic Atwood Stadium, June 3-5, 2022. This is the first time the national tournament will be held in the state of Michigan.

Historically, the prestigious tournament competitors include the previous year’s Steinbrecher Cup winner and the U.S. Amateur Cup champion, along with top delegates from USL League Two and the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). Due to the tournament’s absence due to COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021 and with the changing landscape of pre-professional soccer leagues across the country, the other three teams joining the Bucks in the final four formats are yet to be determined.   The Bucks are the current tournament defending champs, as winners of the Steinbrecher Cup in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

When the Cup was last played in Milwaukee in 2019, the Bucks were crowned the nation’s top amateur team amongst all of the top U.S. Soccer amateur leagues. The tournament features three total matches – two semifinals on Friday, June 3 (4 pm and 7 pm) – with the winners playing on Sunday, June 5 at 1 p.m. The Bucks are expected to play in the 7:00 p.m. semifinal match on Friday.

Tickets for the 2022 Hank Steinbrecher Cup will be on sale on April 15th at 10:00 am at www.ticketmaster.com and at Flint Prints in the lobby of the Ferris Wheel Building in downtown Flint.  (615 S. Saginaw Street, Flint, MI 48502) One ticket is valid for both games on Friday, June 3rd.  The championship match requires its own ticket on Sunday, June 5th.  Hank Steinbrecher Cup tickets will be included at no cost for Bucks’ 2022 season ticket holders.

USASA Executive Director, Duncan Riddle remarked, “It is fitting that the 2022 Steinbrecher Cup will be played in Michigan, as three-time (Steinbrecher) champions the Flint City Bucks have more than earned the right to host this prestigious competition. We look forward to seeing some highly competitive matches.”  The competition is the only one of its kind in the country that brings all the national amateur champions together from a previous season to be crowned the best of the best in US men’s amateur soccer.

The Steinbrecher Cup honors longtime U.S. Soccer legend, Hank Steinbrecher, Secretary-General of the United States Soccer Federation from 1990-2000. Steinbrecher oversaw the successful 1994 World Cup in the United States, the 1996 Summer Olympics Soccer Tournament, the 1999 Women’s World Cup, and the birth of Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States in 1995.

“We take great pride in winning three consecutive Steinbrecher Cup national championships as the best team each year from across the ranks of amateur soccer from coast to coast,” said Bucks Chairman Dan Duggan. “I know our fans in Flint will embrace this opportunity to welcome three of the nation’s top clubs to our city to compete for this prestigious honor – and to be presented as the winner by soccer legend Hank Steinbrecher himself.”

Flint Mayor, Sheldon Neeley commented, "The Flint City Bucks’ 2021 season was fantastic. I cannot wait to see what they do this year. We are delighted that Flint will have the opportunity to host the best amateur soccer teams from around the country in the Hank Steinbrecher Cup, an all-champions tournament.”

“To be the host site for the 2022 Steinbrecher Cup is a tremendous opportunity for Flint and Genesee County,” said Tim Herman, CEO of the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce. “This prestigious tournament will mean significant business for the local hospitality industry, including our hoteliers, restaurants, and event support staff. It will also allow us to showcase Flint & Genesee to players, team and US Soccer officials, and fans from out of state. The community has really embraced the Flint City Bucks, and the Flint City Bucks have embraced Flint & Genesee. We’re looking forward to another terrific season and an outstanding tournament.”

The Hank Steinbrecher Cup is an all-champion tournament that was started in 2013. Its name honors Hank Steinbrecher, a US Soccer Hall of Fame member as well as recipient of the esteemed Werner Fricker Builder Award, former Secretary-General of the USSF, coach, player, and sports executive. Previous winners of the Hank Steinbrecher Cup include Flint City Bucks – 2019, Michigan Bucks – 2018, Michigan Bucks – 2017, Chicago Fire U23 – 2016, Chattanooga FC – 2015, RWB Adria – 2014, and Carolina Dynamo – 2013.

Follow the 2022 Flint City Bucks via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.  Visit www.flintcitybucks.com and www.ticketmaster.com for season tickets and team schedule information.

Original source can be found here.