US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championships 06/21-06/26

A Message from the Township Manager:

Saginaw Township Soccer Association in partnership with Saginaw Township, and the Michigan State Youth Soccer Association will be hosting a 16 state  US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championships tournament from June 21st through June 26th.  This tournament will draw 5,000 players and coaches from 224 soccer teams over a period of 6 days.  We estimate this tournament will bring to our community 14,000 to 15,000 visitors from the Midwest states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, New York, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Michigan.  Over 4,400 hotel rooms from Genesee County north to West Branch have been reserved for these visitors.  The Great Lakes Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates this tournament will generate 12 to 15 million dollars for our local businesses. 

There is no doubt the influx of 15,000 people into Saginaw Township will have a huge impact on traffic movement in the area surrounding the Soccer Complex.  With that being said, a great deal of time and effort has gone into planning for this event, including managing traffic.  The Township has held meetings with the Saginaw County Road Commission, Michigan Department of Transportation, and our Township Police Department to determine how best to move traffic during the 6-day tournament.  These meetings have resulted in the following:

  • The Saginaw Township Soccer Association will be closing the complex beginning June 10th in preparation for the tournament.  Access to the fields between the 10th and 26th will be limited to only special permitted uses through the Saginaw Township Soccer Association.
  • McCarty Road will be closed to through traffic from Fortune Boulevard west to Mackinaw Road on Friday, June 21, Saturday, June 22, Sunday, June 23, Tuesday, June 25, and Wednesday, June 26 from 6:00 a.m. to completion of all games each day.  During these dates and times, McCarty Road will be restricted to one-way traffic heading west for ONLY those with a paid parking pass. The road will be reopened and barricades removed each evening at the completion of all the tournament games. Visitors attending the tournament will be routed to the Soccer Complex by way of Bay Road.  

 

  • The traffic light at the intersection of Mackinaw and McCarty will be flashing red in all four directions.  A police officer will be directing traffic at this intersection.

 

  • Windemere Drive at McCarty Road and West Cabaret Trail at McCarty Road will be closed and barricaded from 6:00 a.m. to the end of all games each day on Friday, June 21, Saturday, June 22, Sunday, June 23, Tuesday, June 25 and Wednesday, June 26.  These roads are being closed to ensure that participants in the tournament do not park in the residential areas.  Emergency vehicles will have access to these areas at all times.  Special permits will be provided to the Tuscany sub-division residents.

 

  • Township Police Officers will be patrolling neighborhoods to help discourage participants and visitors from parking on residential streets.    

 

  • Although normal traffic is restored on June 27th, a Party on McCarty will be occurring that evening substantially adding to the traffic volume in the late afternoon and evening. ALSO: On June 29th and 30th a MAJOR 80 team Lacrosse Tournament will be held at the complex. There will be no McCarty street closure for these events.

 

  • Overflow parking is being accommodated at the St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, Valley Lutheran High School and the office building on Fortune Boulevard.

 

  • Severe weather conditions may alter these plans.

 

Residents and the general public are encouraged to avoid the intersection of McCarty and Mackinaw during these events and to find alternate routes to your destinations. Avoiding these areas will save you time and frustration.