The opening ceremony will take place at the Joan C. Edwards Stadium on Marshall’s Huntington campus beginning at 3:45 p.m., when the Team Fastrax Professional Skydiving Team will parachute into the stadium, according to the tournament chair, Len Rogers.
“We do opening ceremonies better than any other state and that is because of the amazing facilities provided by Marshall University,” Rogers said. “Last year we had over $15 million in economic impact to our state and about half of that stays in the Huntington area. This is an awesome event that continues to benefit West Virginia.”
Rogers said gates open to the public at 2 p.m. and admission is free. Free parking will be available on all Marshall University surface lots. Pre-opening ceremony activities include a photo booth with Marco, the Marshall mascot, from 2 to 2:45 p.m. near Gate A at the stadium. A crossbar competition will begin at 3 p.m. and a tug of war among players and coaches begins at 3:20 p.m.
William “Tootie” Carter, business manager for Marshall’s Memorial Student Center, said approximately 5,000 soccer players, ages 11-18, will participate in the tournament and the Olympic-style parade, which is expected to last about an hour. The players, who will make up about 250 boys’ and girls’ teams, will first be seated in designated areas and will then parade onto the field beginning at 4:14 p.m.
Carter said the university’s soccer committee has been working very hard to make sure players and their families feel welcomed and will have a positive and memorable stay in Huntington.
“Marshall, in addition to serving as host of the opening ceremony, is providing housing for players, their families, guests and referees in several residence halls, including Twin Towers, all four of the Marshall Commons halls and the First Year Freshman North and South Halls,” Carter said. “Many of Marshall’s dining facilities, including Starbucks, will be open at selected times throughout the tournament.”
The states represented at the tournament are Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont and West Virginia. Hotels are expected to be filled from Ashland, Kentucky, and Ironton, Ohio, to Charleston.
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Photo: Marco, Marshall University’s mascot, greeted competitors in last year’s Soccer Region I Championships. This year’s opening ceremony will take place Thursday, June 30.