Medford To Host 2024/2025 NAIA Soccer Championships
MEDFORD, Ore. — The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has designated Medford as the host city for the 2024 to 2025 season of its Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) soccer championships according to their statement. The tournament is being relocated to Medford from the Eugene / Springfield area where it has been held since 2015.
Marking a significant milestone for the city and highlighting its commitment to fostering high-level collegiate sporting events, the city said that the NAIA championships are expected to bring around $200,000 into the Medford economy. The tournaments will feature men’s and women’s soccer conference championship matches.
Taking place on Medford’s Lithia & Driveway Fields, 16 teams will compete in the games for the title, with the opportunity to advance to the opening round of the NAIA National Championship. Starting on Sunday, November 10, the 2024 Quarterfinal contests will kick off on Fields 11 and 13, adjacent to the 1,000-seat Gary H. Wheeler Field championship stadium. On Thursday, November 14, all semifinal and championship rounds will be played on the Wheeler Field.
The Driveway and Lithua Fields- owned, managed, and maintained by the City of Medford, are a premier 132-acre multi-purpose 15-field sports park. Boasting 5 lighted soccer fields and nine hardball fields, the complex is also home to a 2,000-seat baseball stadium. Wheeler Field, next to the soccer fields, is a multi-sport complex that underwent re-turfing in 2022. This ensures optimal playing conditions for athletes and can accommodate simultaneous team practices throughout the week of the tournament.
Rich Rosenthal- Medford Parks and Recreation Director, confirmed that the city and their local partners are ecstatic to host the prestigious high-level college soccer tournament. Rich said, “We look forward to providing a first-class venue and top-notch experience for both participants and spectators.”
Organizers confirmed that Medford-with a population of 90,000, is the economic hub of southern Oregon. Situated on the I5, the city has a favorable climate, with about 270 sunny days annually, reaching around 53 degrees Fahrenheit on 21 November on average every year. T.J. Holmes- the senior vice president at Travel Medford, confirmed that bringing high-caliber events to the area is one of the priorities of their multi-organizational partnership.
Solidifying Medford’s identity as Your Sportsground™ with world-class venues such as Lithia & Driveway Fields, there is an abundance of activities for everyone to enjoy while visiting.
Robert Cashell, CCC Commissioner, confirmed that the proposal from the City, Travel Medford, and the Southern Oregon Sports Commission clearly demonstrated their commitment to enticing high-level collegiate sporting events to the area. He said, “We are thrilled to bring our soccer championships to Medford, Oregon.”
Access to the action-packed tournament will be available to fans everywhere as all the games will be broadcast live by Table Rock Sports Network and will also be available on YouTube free of charge.
