UIHLEIN SOCCER PARK , WI by Tammy Gilpin-Ripp

pened in 1994, Uihlein Soccer Park is a and the park’s accessible location from Oproud part of the award-winning Milwaukee across the Midwest, it hosts a number of County Park System and is host to over high profile, highly attended soccer events 600,000 visitors each year. A member of and tournaments. Examples include World the Indoor Sports Association Cup viewing parties; a fundraising event in since 2002, many consider it ’s partnership with the Wisconsin Youth Soccer premier indoor/outdoor soccer complex. Association (WYSA) for TOPSoccer and Soccer Built as a joint venture between Milwaukee Across America, led by special guest and County and the Milwaukee Kickers Soccer Club soccer legend Abby Wambach; four major (MKSC), the park houses MKSC coaching and youth soccer tournaments, averaging 150 administrative staff, and serves as the “Home teams per event; the Wisconsin Youth Soccer of the Milwaukee Kickers” which is a nonprofit Association (WYSA) State Championships; youth soccer organization that spans 15 and the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic regions and serves over 6,000 youth players Association (WIAA) Boys and Girls State ages 5-17 in Southeastern Wisconsin. Soccer Championships.

The soccer park’s many features include 13 full The park has also served as host to semi- size outdoor soccer fields, two lighted stadium professional and professional soccer turf fields, three indoor fields surfaced with teams. Uihlein was home to United States artificial turf, full food and beverage facilities, and locker rooms. Because of these amenities

12 not turn anyone away who wants to rent space or partner with the park to host their events.

To meet that growing demand, the park initiated a growth development plan that includes expanding the current footprint from 69 acres to 86 acres and, possibly, the addition of more land adjacent to the park. As conceived, the additional property would provide court sports, like , volleyball and futsal.

Interregional Soccer League A-League “Without question, the motivation for the (1994-2002) and the current expansion and prospecting for adjacent long-time practice facility for the Major Arena land is based on supply and demand,” said Soccer League (1984-). Alvaro Garcia-Velez, Executive Director of the Beginning in 2016, the park will home games Milwaukee Kickers. “We continually receive for the National Premier Soccer League requests to host more tournaments and Milwaukee Torrent (2015-). increased interest from our MKSC teams, as well as local clubs, leagues and collegiate With indoor and outdoor play capability, the park is a bustling year-round facility that serves youth and adult soccer leagues. The park is also host to practices, games and tournaments for lacrosse, field hockey, frisbee and indoor football. With a full-time grounds crew, transforming fields is not an issue. What is an increasingly common issue is trying to fulfill requests and

Abby Wambach at Uihlein Soccer Park

SUMMER2 0 16 13 teams to play year-round. It’s not a question of the Milwaukee community. Hundreds of staff if we expand, it’s a question of when.” and field hours are donated each year to provide underserved and at-risk youth through Increased demand has also been the result organizations like America SCORES Milwaukee of a mutually beneficial partnership with VISIT and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee. Milwaukee, the tourism marketing organization of the Greater Milwaukee Area, to attract sporting events of regional and national scope. One of the new events that Uihlein Soccer Park will be hosting in September 2016 is the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) College North, Soccer Showcase – a win-win-win for all three organizations, plus the Milwaukee Kickers.

Partnerships also play an important role in the park’s steadfast commitment to serving

14 The facility is host to free or reduced fee clinics and special events for nonprofit organizations and schools, and offers year- round Open Play (weekday indoor field play for MKSC members and the general public) when field space is available.

“It’s a privilege to have this premier sports facility, and it’s our goal to ensure that each guest, whether they’ve traveled five or five hundred miles to play or spectate, has an outstanding, rewarding and memorable experience,” said Garcia-Velez.

Tammy Gilpin-Ripp is the Director of Marketing and Sponsorship at Milwaukee Kickers Soccer Club.

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