New Concordia Athletic Complex Provides Home for Local Soccer Club
PORTLAND, Ore. –With the opening of the Concordia University & Community Athletic Complex, anticipated for fall of 2011, the University has announced the signing of a five-year partnership to provide a “home field” for the Northeast United (NEU) / Alameda Soccer Club.
With this new field, Concordia and NEU will provide local youth with access to superior facilities and guaranteed practice field time in addition to a ‘home field’ location for games, tournaments and events. Concordia’s campus is adjacent to the Alameda, Beaumont, Irvington and other neighborhoods that NEU serves, making it a perfect home field location.
“The community partnership will allow NEU to significantly improve and expand the youth soccer experience for players and families alike. It will be inspirational for athletes and athletics in our community. The kids will have a sense of pride when they drive up to the new athletic complex and know that it’s their field too,” said NEU board member Kim Dodge.
The Club has committed to raising $100,000 toward the new athletic complex, of which $20,000 was already donated to Concordia by the Club’s board of directors.
NEU athletes, ranging from ages six to 15, will all have the opportunity to support the collegiate soccer players as ball boys and girls during games and will benefit from interacting with students through Concordia’s Champions of Character program. This partnership creates an even stronger bond between the campus, its student-athletes and the community.
“NEU is a key community partner for us, and the sense of connection with the community is at the heart of what Concordia is all about,” said Concordia Athletic Director Matt English.
About Northeast United/Alameda Soccer Club
The club’s mission is to promote health, fitness and sportsmanship, and promote all aspects of the game of soccer among youth players in Northeast and North Portland. NEU serves over 1,000 youth in the recreational, development and competitive soccer categories. To learn more about NEU, visit www.northeastunitedsoccer.org
About the Concordia University & Community Athletic Complex
The Concordia University & Community Athletic Complex will create a shared space to play, with well-lit, year-round synthetic turf soccer and baseball fields for use by student-athletes, local youth, and fans. Concordia University Portland is ranked among the top universities in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and involved in NAIA’s Champions of Character program. To learn more, visit www.bringtheteamshome.com.