2017 USOC Fan Prize to Christos FC
Donation protected
In countries around the world, open tournaments between professional and amateur sides are an avenue for lower division clubs to gain name recognition and an injection of money, and the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup should be no different. The Open Cup is the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the U.S. and the world's third-longest-running open soccer tournament. After Christos FC's tremendous fight against DC United, the team's name has been circulating through major US soccer news outlets but was only awarded $15,000, the amount the furthest-advancing team from a lower division receives, for their effort. They have gained name recognition but will walk away from the tournament with what is relatively very little money.
With news of US Soccer sitting upon a $100 million surplus, one way the federation could increase the level of play in our country is to reward these talented and driven teams more than $15,000. Other ways include dynamic TV deals to broadcast high-profile games featuring amateur sides with split profits, allowing lower division teams the option to host their matches for free and keep gate profits, or simply create a return leg process to offer ticket and publicity opportunities to lower division teams. While we encourage you to contact US Soccer to express similar concerns, we cannot sit idly by and do nothing as lower division American fans.
An increase in money being awarded to the amateur sides that launch competitive US Open Cup campaigns would allow these clubs to invest in youth programs and player development, as well as club operations and infrastructure. These clubs should be given a realistic ability to use their US Open momentum to invest in developmental and other soccer opportunities that will strengthen and bring their communities together.
All money from this GoFundMe will be given to the amateur team that makes it the furthest in the US Open Cup (or split between the amateur teams that make it to the furthest round) to help them capitalise on their momentum and grow the American soccer system.
With news of US Soccer sitting upon a $100 million surplus, one way the federation could increase the level of play in our country is to reward these talented and driven teams more than $15,000. Other ways include dynamic TV deals to broadcast high-profile games featuring amateur sides with split profits, allowing lower division teams the option to host their matches for free and keep gate profits, or simply create a return leg process to offer ticket and publicity opportunities to lower division teams. While we encourage you to contact US Soccer to express similar concerns, we cannot sit idly by and do nothing as lower division American fans.
An increase in money being awarded to the amateur sides that launch competitive US Open Cup campaigns would allow these clubs to invest in youth programs and player development, as well as club operations and infrastructure. These clubs should be given a realistic ability to use their US Open momentum to invest in developmental and other soccer opportunities that will strengthen and bring their communities together.
All money from this GoFundMe will be given to the amateur team that makes it the furthest in the US Open Cup (or split between the amateur teams that make it to the furthest round) to help them capitalise on their momentum and grow the American soccer system.
Organizer
Noah Toumert
Organizer
Cleveland, OH