GLA, SPIRE and Erie Sports Center Combine to Grow Soccer in the Tri-State Area
The Great Lakes Alliance (GLA), Great Lakes Tournaments, SPIRE and Erie Sports Center have joined forces to ensure that players in the region have access to 11 v 11 fields year-round.
GENEVA, Ohio, June 6, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- In a major boost for soccer in the tri-state area, The Great Lakes Alliance (GLA), Great Lakes Tournaments, SPIRE and Erie Sports Center have joined forces to ensure that players in the region have access to 11 v 11 fields year-round. This partnership combines the premier regional soccer league and tournament organizer with two first-class soccer facilities.
The strategic partnership with SPIRE and Erie Sports Center, as well as GLA's partnership with the CAPS Fieldhouse, gives them exclusive league access to the only four 11 v 11 indoor fields in the region for leagues, tournaments and college showcases.
Ed Bernstein, Executive Director of the Great Lakes Alliance, said, "It also gives us access to another 15 outdoor fields between Buffalo, Cleveland and Pittsburgh, providing us the ability to host high-quality matches while reducing travel for families. The primary reason for the creation of the Great Lakes Alliance was to create a predictable and logical next-step environment focused on the players and their development. We are very excited about this partnership's new opportunities for our clubs and their players."
Troy Bingham, SPIRE's Director of Soccer and Erie Sports Center owner, explains, "GLA, with both ECNL-RL and NPL platforms, is recognized as the leader in the region when it comes to league, tournament and showcase management. Working together allows us to strategically plan new events, invest in upgrading facilities and develop longer-term plans to grow the game and pathways in the region. We will now have the premier leagues being played at the premier facilities, which will only improve the standard of play and the player and parent experience." The Great Lakes Alliance will be offering a new 11 v 11 regional soccer indoor league this winter.
The Great Lakes Alliance was formed in 2017 and currently has over 550 teams participating in its US Club sanctioned league. GLA has member clubs coming out of Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia with approximately 8,500 players. GLA is a member of the U.S. Club Soccer National Premier League (NPL) platform, the ECNL-RL platform and the U.S. Soccer Federation.
About SPIRE
SPIRE Institute & Academy is a comprehensive academic, athletic, personal skills and career development experience located within a world-class event and wellness complex. Constructed on nearly 500 acres with more than 750,000 sq. ft. under roof, SPIRE (http://www.spireinstitute.org) encompasses four divisions: SPIRE Academy, an accredited college preparatory international boarding school and multi-sport/specialty training and development academy for 9-12 graders and a post grad program; SPIRE Institute, the research and development arm studying performance improvement across multiple disciplines; SPIRE Events, a facility and team that hosts local, national and international tournaments and events with the NCAA, the Big East, Big Ten and Atlantic 10 conferences, Olympic trials and world championship qualifiers; and SPIRE Fit, a community membership-based fitness, swim and health center open to the public. Sports currently featured on campus include swimming, track and field, basketball, esports, drone racing, wrestling, soccer and lacrosse.
About Erie Sports Center
The Erie Sports Center is a 36-acre multi-sport facility based in Erie, PA. The Center is home to a full-size indoor turf soccer field, 61,000 sq ft dome, four indoor basketball courts, 12 outdoor fields and a baseball field. The sports center also owns eight different sports clubs and is home to multiple tournaments.
Media Contact
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SOURCE SPIRE Institute & Academy
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