OBGC Capital Cup features top competition at premiere facilities, fundraising for Senior Dog Sanctuary in Anne Arundel County
COLUMBIA, MD — Labor Day weekend is generally thought of as the unofficial end of summer and the start of a new school year. In Maryland’s Central and Capital regions, the holiday weekend marks the return of one of the premier soccer events in the Mid-Atlantic. The OBGC Capital Cup gets underway Saturday, with match play continuing through Monday, as some of the top club soccer teams from around the country will square-off at some of the top facilities in Howard and Montgomery counties.
“For many teams, the event is the start of their fall season and the first time they’ve played together, either since the spring or on a new team,” said Elle Marks, Business Development Manager for Elite Tournaments. Marks says the OBGC Capital Cup has become a perennial event for many organizations because of the quality of competition, tournament atmosphere and the facilities being used. Tournament play will take place at Lucido Fields at Covenant Park in Ellicott City, as well as various fields in the Olney area, including OBGC Community Park at Freeman Fields.
“It’s a great start to the fall season for many teams,” said Marks, adding, “The OBGC Capital Cup has become a trusted event on club calendars for years.” Marks says this year’s tournament will have 520 teams participating, with three teams from Canada traveling to the area over the next four days. There will also be club programs from New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and teams from across Maryland. While staying in the area, Marks says players and their families will be able to enjoy dinner at a number of soccer-friendly restaurants in Howard and Montgomery Counties before and after games.
“Elite Tournaments is one of our ‘Maryland’s Own’ partners and, for years, they have been hosting some of the premiere youth club soccer events in our area,” said Terry Hasseltine, Executive Director of Maryland’s Sports Commission. “Elite has received national recognition in the sport tourism industry for creating a model which has allowed youth and club soccer to thrive here in the state of Maryland and beyond.”
In the almost twenty years since they were founded, Elite Tournaments has organized more than 250 youth soccer events at every level of competition, from club to the college and professional levels. Headquartered in Columbia, Elite Tournaments has built their organization by recruiting and hiring former high school and college standouts who are dedicated to growing the sport of soccer in the United States. Through social media, they connect with young athletes on their level, providing tips from current staff who played collegiately, offering advice to high school athletes about such things as recruiting and the importance of being a student-athlete.
For this year’s OBGC Capital Cup, Elite Tournaments has partnered with the Senior Dog Sanctuary in Anne Arundel County. Anyone attending the tournament this weekend will have the opportunity to donate to the Severn-based organization by bringing items posted on the Elite website or purchasing them online through their Amazon Wish List.
“Our company has a strong passion for animals, specifically dogs,” said Marks. She says the partnership is one that is close to the Elite family, as many staff members have adopted dogs from humane societies or rescue organizations. “We decided to partner with a senior dog sanctuary because those dogs are high risk of not being adopted and we wanted to make sure their time with the shelter is as comfortable as possible.”
Elite Tournaments also partners with Level the Playing Field. Marks says that donations can be made at all of their events throughout the year, “We accept donations of gently used sports equipment, for any sport, and donate those items to an organization that strives to provide all children the opportunity to live happy and healthy lives through exercise and sport.”
For more information about the OBGC Capital Cup, including tournament information and a link to the Senior Dog Sanctuary, visit:
https://www.elitetournaments.com/tournament/obgc-capital-cup-0
About Maryland Sports:
The mission of Maryland’s Sports Commission is to enhance Maryland’s economy, image and quality of life through the attraction, promotion, retention and development of regional, national and international sporting events.
