Red Bull New York announced today that Red Bull Arena will serve as the host of the Finals of the Churchill Cup, an international rugby event, on Saturday, June 19, 2010. The Churchill Cup will be the first international non-soccer event to be staged at the 25,000-seat venue in Harrison, New Jersey.
"We are honored to host the Finals of the Churchill Cup at Red Bull Arena," said Red Bull New York Managing Director Erik Stover. "It continues our commitment to bringing top international events to the Metropolitan New York area. This event fits well into the schedule of Red Bull Arena as the Red Bulls are on their World Cup break."."
The Churchill Cup will showcase the USA Eagles, Canada, England Saxons and tournament newcomers France A, Russia and Uruguay in three rounds of doubleheader pool matches at Infinity Park, Glendale on June 5, 9 and 13 before moving to Red Bull Arena on June 19.
"The Churchill Cup is a vital part of our international season and offers top flight international competition, as well as providing increased exposure of the sport to new audiences in the United States," said Nigel Melville, Chief Executive Officer of USA Rugby.
"We are excited to be returning to Infinity Park and to be staging the finals day at a new venue, Red Bull Arena, a world-class stadium that provides both players and fans with an unparalleled experience."
Terry Burwell, Churchill Cup Tournament Director, said: "We are delighted to take Churchill Cup VIII back to Denver and to add Harrison to the 10 other cities in the Canada and USA who have hosted the tournament since 2003. Infinity Park is a top grade dedicated rugby ground and we are looking forward to the pool stages there before a bumper finals day at a superb new facility in Red Bull Arena."
In 2009, the first time the Churchill Cup was held entirely in the U.S., the pool matches consistently attracted near sellout crowds to Glendale's Infinity Park and the tournament hopes to build on past success in 2010.
Ticket information for the June 19th event will be released at a later date. For more information on the 2010 Churchill Cup visit www.churchillcuprugby.net.
2010 Churchill Cup Pools & Schedule
Pool A
Canada
Uruguay
France A
Pool B
USA
Russia
England Saxons
Schedule
Saturday, June 5
Infinity Park, Glendale, Colorado
Canada v Uruguay
USA v Russia
Wednesday, June 9
Infinity Park, Glendale, Colorado
England Saxons v Russia
France A v Uruguay
Sunday, June 13
Infinity Park, Glendale, Colorado
USA v England Saxons
Canada v France A
Saturday, June 19
Red Bull Arena, Harrison, New Jersey
Finals Day tripleheader
About Red Bull Arena: Red Bull Arena is a world-class sports venue located in Harrison, New Jersey. The 25,000-seat stadium features a dynamic form roof that covers all of the seating and features 30 Skyboxes, three premium clubs, two retail outlets and a Kentucky Bluegrass field. Red Bull Arena is the home of the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer. Red Bull Arena is privately funded stadium and owned by Red Bull GmbH, an Austrian company that produces the worlds leading energy drink. For more information, logo onto www.redbullarena.us.
Churchill Cup Background: The Churchill Cup is an alliance between the English Rugby Football Union (RFU), Rugby Canada and USA Rugby. The tournament was launched in 2003 and aims to develop and grow the sport of rugby union across Canada and the USA. It is named after former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who shared close ties with the United States - his mother was American - and with Canada during the Second World War. With support from the International Rugby Board the tournament has grown in success since 2003 when 5,000 people attended to watch the three Alliance nations in Vancouver. Since its introduction, both men's and women's teams from England, USA and Canada have participated although since 2005 it has been a men only event. Invitational sides from Argentina, Ireland, Scotland and New Zealand have all participated, while there was also a women's competition in 2003 and 2004.
