For over 12 years, two great tournaments have provided soccer teams of all ages an incredible experience in the Denver area. Through the Real Colorado Cup and the Colorado Showcase, teams of all ages and talent levels have been able to partake in an exciting end-of-season event each May, and many young players have been able to catch the eye of college coaches while playing the game they love. We are very excited to announce that this year the two tournaments have merged together to form the Real Colorado Cup featuring the Colorado Showcase! 

There are many reasons to be excited about this development and possibly the biggest is that the Colorado Showcase will now be an actual competitive tournament for all boys and girls teams U-15 and above. Not only will this provide more games and opportunities to display your team’s talents (especially for those that progress deep into the tournament), but it will also help college scouts and coaches identify players who are playing in more competitive matches. In the past, the CO Showcase had been 3 games, exhibition-only, so there will surely be more energy and inspiring soccer now with the chance to play extra games, and win the tournament. 

The Real Colorado Cup featuring the Colorado Showcase is also an excellent event for younger teams (U10-14, boys and girls) because it includes teams of all skill levels. With up to four talent levels, Platinum, Gold, Silver, to Bronze, coaches can bring multiple teams to the event, which is becoming harder and harder to get into – clubs/teams should apply early so as not to miss out on this incredible opportunity to have a large club presence in Denver over Memorial Day weekend. 

“The Real Colorado Cup and the Colorado Showcase provide players with a great opportunity to conclude their year, compete against great competition and on the showcase side, be exposed to a large number of college coaches!” – Dave Shaffer Arsenal Colorado 

Played on the pristine fields of the Aurora Sports Park, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park and Dove Valley, teams will be ensured to have the finest facilities to show off their skills.  Additionally, the event has become an ideal weekend for soccer families.  Not only do all participating teams receive tickets to a Colorado Rapids game, but also the Rocky Mountain area has an abundance of activities available, ranging from college visits to white water rafting. This tournament can be part of a vacation for many of the far-traveling teams/families who participate. 

The five-day tournament begins on Thursday, May 22nd for local clubs and on Friday, May 23rd for out-of-state teams.  Again, be sure to apply early, as last year, many teams were turned away because the maximum number of 540 teams was reached well in advance of the application deadline. Because of the opportunity to impress for college coaches and due to the positive experience so many teams have in the tournament, the Real Colorado Cup featuring the Colorado Showcase has seen growth in the number of out-of-state teams. 

Brian Contreras, Boys Director of Coaching for Pride Soccer had this to say of the tournament, “The Real Colorado Cup is one of the best tournaments in Colorado, providing a great experience in every aspect from the organization and facilities to the competition and atmosphere. I have taken teams at the younger age groups and always face strong opponents from all over the country, so getting exposure to top players and various playing styles is awesome. I have also entered older teams into the Colorado Showcase, which provides opportunities for the high school age players to face tough competition while gaining exposure to college coaches from every level program and part of the U.S. Overall, the Real Colorado Cup is a fantastic tournament for every age and all levels of players.” 

Obviously, Real Colorado is the place to play over Memorial Day weekend 2014 for those teams showcasing for college coaches, preparing for regional and national competitions or just wishing to end their spring season with some great soccer.

Visit the Real Colorado website for more information and to register.