The 9,000 seat Sears Centre opened in 2006, and has accommodated arena soccer in the past.
The Chicago Mustangs, currently the only undefeated team in the PASL at 10-0, were selected by the league to host the championship weekend for the first time. Dallas, Ontario, and San Diego, who has hosted three times, were also considered.
“This is a great opportunity for the Chicago Mustangs franchise,” said Mustangs owner Armando Gamboa. “The PASL has entrusted us with their marquee event and we have a chance to showcase our team and our league on a big stage.”
The host team receives a bye into the Newman Cup Semifinals March 15, which the Mustangs merit by possessing the league’s best record. The top three teams from each division, aside from the host, will qualify for the playoffs. With the Mustangs hosting, the Eastern Division will have four teams in the 10-team field. The third seed in each division will open the playoffs at the number two seed and the winner of that game will play at the number one seed. The three divisional playoff winners and Chicago will make up the final four lineup, with both league semifinals games being played on March 15 and the Newman Cup Championship slated for March 16.
The Premier Arena Soccer League (PASL-Premier, official developmental league of the PASL) Winter Nationals will also be held in Chicago the same weekend.
“We are excited to bring the Newman Cup Championship Weekend to Chicago,” said PASL Commissioner Kevin Milliken. “Armando and the Mustangs have done everything we’ve asked of them on and off the field and we’re proud to have them as hosts.”
The Ron Newman Cup was established in 2011/12 in honor of the legendary San Diego Sockers coach who won 10 indoor championships from 1982-1992. The Sockers have won the first two Newman Cups and two North American Championships, prior to that, making them four-time defending champions. They hosted the league’s final weekend three of the last four years, winning all three times. They also won in 2011 when Cincinnati hosted.
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