Maryland SoccerPlex

Last updated
Maryland SoccerPlex
Maureen Hendricks Field at Maryland Soccerplex.jpeg
Maureen Hendricks Field at Maryland Soccerplex
Maryland SoccerPlex
Location18031 Central Park Circle
Boyds, Maryland, U.S.
OwnerMaryland Soccer Foundation
Montgomery County, Maryland, U.S.
OperatorMaryland Soccer Foundation
Capacity 5,000 [1]
SurfaceBermuda Grass (9 fields) Bluegrass (11 fields) Bermuda Grass Stadium, 21 natural grass fields)
Artificial turf (3 fields)
Construction
Broke ground1999
Opened2000
Tenants
Washington Freedom Futures (W-League) (2004–2010)
Real Maryland F.C. (PDL) (2008)
Washington Freedom (WPS) (2009–2010)
D.C. United Women (W-League) (2011–2012)
D.C. United U-23 (PDL/NPSL) (2012–2015)
Washington Spirit (NWSL) (2013–2020)
Washington Spirit Reserves (WPSL) (2013–2018)
Maryland Bobcats FC (NISA) (2021–present)
Old Glory DC (2024–present)

The Maryland SoccerPlex is a sports complex in Germantown, Maryland, although its mailing address is directed to Boyds, Maryland. The facility, completed in 2000 and operated by the Maryland Soccer Foundation (MSF), has 21 natural grass fields, 3 artificial turf fields, and 8 indoor convertible basketball/volleyball courts.

Contents

In the park there are also two miniature golf courses, a splash park, a driving range, an archery course, community garden, model boat pond, a bike park featuring a linked jump line and a pump track, tennis center, and a swim center.

Planning and funding

The Maryland SoccerPlex was completed in 2000 with $15 million raised by a group of Montgomery County, Maryland soccer parents led by Discovery Communications chairman John Hendricks and his wife Maureen (also co-founders of Washington Freedom soccer team) through private donations and government-backed bonds. [2] It was built as a private-public partnership between the Maryland Soccer Foundation, created in 1997 to build and operate the complex, [2] and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. [3]

However, initial revenues fell short of projections and the foundation took on $14 million in debt, nearly triple the amount projected, and the Hendrickses donated a further $6 million in 2005 to stabilize funding and build additional fields. [2]

Overview

Maryland SoccerPlex in June 2018 Maryland SoccerPlex (28223386287).jpg
Maryland SoccerPlex in June 2018

The main stadium holds 4,000 and was home to the Washington Freedom during its time in the Women's Professional Soccer, and the Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League played its regular-season games there between 2013 and 2019 [4]

The main stadium was renamed Maureen Hendricks Field in a ceremony before a Spirit game on June 15, 2013. [5]

On December 31, 2018, the founding executive director, Trish Heffelfinger, retired from the Maryland Soccer Foundation. Matt Libber, formerly of Elite Tournaments, took over the executive director role in January 2019. [6]

The stadium features seating for 4,000, including the general admission lawn, with corresponding restroom facilities, formal press box, and box office. [7] The grass playing field measures 115 x 75 yards.

The stadium has previously hosted a US Olympic qualifier, U.S. Open Cup matches, a CONCACAF Champions League match, the ACC Men's Soccer Championships, USL and W League matches, training sessions for Argentina's Boca Juniors and the New Zealand National team. The US Youth Soccer National Championships were also held at the Maryland SoccerPlex. [8] [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Germantown, Maryland</span> Census-designated place in Maryland, United States

Germantown is an urbanized census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland. With a population of 91,249 as of the 2020 census, it is the third most populous place in Maryland, after Baltimore and Columbia. Germantown is located approximately 28 miles (45 km) outside the U.S. capital of Washington, D.C., and is an important part of the Washington metropolitan area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FedExField</span> American football stadium

FedExField is an American football stadium located in Landover, Maryland, 5 miles (8.0 km) east of Washington, D.C. The stadium is the home of the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). From 2004 until 2010, it had the NFL's largest seating capacity: over 91,000. In 2021, the capacity was reduced to 58,000. The stadium is owned and managed by the Commanders, led by managing partner Josh Harris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commonwealth Stadium</span> Multiuse stadium in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Commonwealth Stadium is an open-air, multipurpose stadium located in the McCauley neighbourhood of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It has a seating capacity of 56,302, making it the largest open-air stadium in Canada. Primarily used for Canadian football, it also hosts athletics, soccer, rugby union and concerts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Providence Park</span> Sports stadium in Portland, Oregon, United States

Providence Park is an outdoor soccer venue located in the Goose Hollow neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. It has existed in rudimentary form since 1893, and as a complete stadium since 1926. Providence Park is currently the oldest facility to be configured as a soccer-specific stadium for use by a MLS team, and is one of the most historic grounds used by any United States professional soccer team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium</span> Stadium of the US Naval Academy

Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium is an open-air stadium located off the campus of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Opened in 1959, it serves as the home stadium of the Navy Midshipmen college football and lacrosse teams, and was the home of the Chesapeake Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse. The stadium is also the host of the Military Bowl.

John Samuel Hendricks is an American businessman and is the founder and former chairman of Discovery, Inc., a broadcasting and film production company which owned the Discovery Channel, TLC, and Animal Planet networks, among other ventures. On March 20, 2014, after 32 years at the helm, he made public his intention to retire as chairman of Discovery Communications after the annual shareholders' meeting of May 16, 2014. He moved on to found CuriosityStream, an ad-free, on-demand streaming service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crystal Palace Baltimore</span> Soccer club

Crystal Palace Baltimore was an American professional soccer team based in Baltimore, Maryland, US. Founded in 2006, the club was originally named Crystal Palace USA and was affiliated with English side Crystal Palace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports in Washington, D.C.</span>

Washington, D.C., has major league sports teams, popular college sports teams, and a variety of other team and individual sports. The Washington metropolitan area is also home to several major sports venues including Capital One Arena, RFK Stadium, FedExField, Audi Field, and Nationals Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 U.S. Open Cup final</span> 2009 final of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

The 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final was played on September 2, 2009, at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C. The match determined the winner of the 2009 U.S. Open Cup, a tournament open to amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation. This was the 96th edition of the oldest competition in United States soccer. The match was won by Seattle Sounders FC, who defeated D.C. United 2–1. Clyde Simms scored D.C. United's only goal. Fredy Montero and Roger Levesque scored Seattle's two goals as the club became the second expansion team in Major League Soccer (MLS) history to win the tournament in their inaugural season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Audi Field</span> Soccer stadium in Washington, D.C.

Audi Field is a soccer-specific stadium in Buzzard Point in Washington, D.C. It is the home stadium for both of Washington, D.C.'s professional soccer teams, D.C. United in Major League Soccer and Washington Spirit in the National Women's Soccer League, as well as housing the DC Defenders of the UFL. The stadium seats 20,000 people.

The 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final was played on September 3, 2008, at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C. The match determined the winner of the 2008 U.S. Open Cup, a tournament open to amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation. This was the 95th edition of the oldest ongoing competition in United States soccer. The match was won by D.C. United, who defeated Charleston Battery 2–1. Ian Fuller scored Charleston's only goal. Luciano Emilio and Fred scored D.C.'s two goals as the club won their second U.S. Open Cup title.

The Virginia Cavaliers men's soccer team represent the University of Virginia in all NCAA Division I men's soccer competitions. The Virginia Cavaliers are a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington Spirit</span> American professional womens soccer team

The Washington Spirit is an American professional soccer club based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area that participates in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). It is a continuation of the D.C. United Women of the W-League and continues to field both an amateur Women's Premier Soccer League team and a youth team, both under the Spirit name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeffrey Field</span> Soccer stadium at Pennsylvania State University

Jeffrey Field is an outdoor college soccer stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania, United States, on the campus of Pennsylvania State University. It has been home to Penn State Nittany Lions men's soccer and Penn State Nittany Lions women's soccer since 1972. The stadium was dedicated and named after the late-Bill Jeffrey, who was Penn State men's soccer head coach from 1926 until 1952. Jeffrey Field had an initial seating capacity of 2,500, but was later increased to 3,000 in 1978. The stadium's capacity was increased again in 2003 to meet rising ticket needs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Segra Field</span> Association football stadium in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States

Segra Field is a soccer-specific stadium in Leesburg, Virginia, and the home of Loudoun United FC of the USL Championship and previously Old Glory DC of Major League Rugby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maryland Bobcats FC</span> Soccer club

Maryland Bobcats FC, formerly World Class Premier Elite (WCPE), are an American soccer team and academy based in Montgomery County, Maryland, which was founded in 2016. The organization's professional team competes within the National Independent Soccer Association in the third division of U.S. Soccer. The Bobcats also field teams in both the Maryland Super Soccer League and Eastern Premier Soccer League.

The 2020 National Women's Soccer League season was the eighth season of the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States. Including the NWSL's two professional predecessors, Women's Professional Soccer (2009–2011) and the Women's United Soccer Association (2001–2003), it was the 14th overall season of FIFA and USSF-sanctioned top division women's soccer in the United States.

References

  1. ↑ "Maryland Soccer Foundation". Archived from the original on 2009-03-04. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  2. 1 2 3 Craig, Tim (November 1, 2005). "Miscalculations Mire SoccerPlex, County Finds". Washington Post. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  3. ↑ Hobgood, Cynthia (October 9, 2010). "Maryland SoccerPlex kicks into gear with tournament". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  4. ↑ Goff, Steven (November 8, 2019). "Washington Spirit to split home matches among three venues next season". Washington Post .
  5. ↑ Gordon, Jennifer (June 15, 2013). "Flash unbeaten in last six with win over Spirit". Equalizer Soccer. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  6. ↑ Boehm, Charles. "Elite Tournaments exec Matt Libber to be named Md. SoccerPlex chief". Soccer Wire. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  7. ↑ "Maryland SoccerPlex Overview". MDSoccerPlex.com. Archived from the original on June 9, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Washington Spirit sets schedule". Washington Post. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  9. ↑ "The Maryland SoccerPlex". Maryland SoccerPlex. Retrieved 26 March 2013.

39°09′10″N77°18′36″W / 39.15271°N 77.310131°W / 39.15271; -77.310131

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.