SAS SOCCER PARK

'SAS Soccer Park'
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Facility statistics
'Location' Cary, North Carolina
'Broke ground' 2001
'Opened' May 2002
'Owner' Wake County
'Operator' Town of Cary
'Surface' Natural Grass
'Construction cost' $14.5 million
'Architect' Envirotek, Inc.
'Naming Rights' SAS Institute
Former names
State Capital Soccer Park
Tenants
Carolina Courage (WUSA) (2001-2003)
Cary RailHawks U23's (PDL) (2002–Present)
Carolina RailHawks(USL-1) (2007–Present)
Seating capacity
7,130 (all-seater)

'SAS Soccer Park' is one of the premier soccer complexes in the United States. Originally opened in 2002 as the home of the Carolina Courage of the WUSA, SAS Soccer Park is now the home to the Carolina RailHawks of the USL First Division and the Cary RailHawks U23's in the USL Premier Development League (formerly the Raleigh Elite). The North Carolina State Wolfpack men's and women's teams of the ACC play select matches there and the complex regularly hosts major tournaments such as the NCAA College Cup, the ACC Soccer Championships, and the NCHSAA high school state soccer finals.
The soccer complex consists of a purpose-built, soccer-specific main stadium (SAS Stadium), two lighted practice fields, built to the same specifications as the stadium field, and four additional fields. The main stadium seats 7,000 and is expandable to 10,000 with temporary seating. Fields 1 (main stadium), 2, and 3 are all FIFA international regulation size (120 yards x 75 yards). A project is currently under consideration to add approximately 1,000 permanent seats to Field 2 making a second, smaller stadium field at SAS Soccer Park.
SAS Soccer Park opened in May 2002 as State Capital Soccer Park. The park is on 150 acres that the State of North Carolina has leased to Wake County. Money to build the soccer park came from $14.5 million in countywide hotel room and prepared food and beverage taxes. The Town of Cary assumed responsibility for operations and maintenance in 2004 from Capital Area Soccer League. On January 26, 2006, the Town of Cary council amended its lease to allow it to sublet the property to Triangle Professional Soccer through the year 2011 for the exclusive promotion of professional soccer and lacrosse events at the complex.
The complex also sports a full-length, nationally-recognized cross-country track and houses the offices of Triangle Professional Soccer.
SAS Institute, a privately held software company, has its worldwide headquarters in Cary. SAS has naming rights to the soccer park through June 30, 2007 with the option to extend their naming rights for an additional 3 years.

Contents
Location & Directions
Past & Future Events
External links

Location & Directions


SAS Soccer Park is located at 201 Soccer Park Drive in Cary, NC 27511.
; From I-40 Eastbound (Chapel Hill/Durham/RDU Airport) :
Take the Cary 54 Exit (Exit 290) off of I-40. Turn right on top of the exit ramp (towards Cary). Turn left on SE Maynard Road. Take a left on Chatham Street and SAS Soccer Park is ½ mile on the right.
; From I-40 Westbound (Fayetteville) :
Take Exit 291, Cary Towne Boulevard. Turn right on Cary Towne Blvd, then take a right on SE Maynard Road. Turn right on E. Chatham Street and SAS Soccer Park will be ½ mile on right.
; From Downtown Cary :
Head East on Chatham Street towards Raleigh. SAS Soccer Park will be on your right.
; From Raleigh/Beltline :
From I-440 Beltline, take Western Boulevard (Exit 2) and head west (toward Cary). Continue after merge with Hillsborough Street until it becomes E. Chatham Street. SAS Soccer Park will be on your left, ½ mile before Maynard Road intersection.

Past & Future Events


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2002 USA Men's National Team World Cup Training Camp

2002 Women's Nike Cup 1st Round

2003 WUSA All-Star Game

2003 NCAA Women's College Cup

2003 ACC Soccer Championships

2004 ACC Soccer Championships

2004 NCAA Women's College Cup

2005 ACC Soccer Championships

2005 NCAA Men's College Cup

2006 Rochester Rhinos Spring Combine and Training Camp

2006 USA Men's National Team v. Jamaica

2006 USA Men's National Team World Cup Training Camp

2006 USL First Division All-Star Game (v. Sheffield Wednesday)

2006 USA Women's National Team v. Canada

2006 State Games of North Carolina (soccer events, ceremonies)

2006 ACC Women's Soccer Championships

2006 NCAA Women's College Cup

2007 El Salvador v. Honduras International Friendly

2007 NCAA Men's College Cup

2008 NCAA Women's College Cup

2009 NCAA Men's College Cup

External links



SAS Soccer Park @ Town of Cary website

Pictures tagged with sassoccerpark at Flickr

Travel Guide for Fans Visiting SAS Soccer Park

Overhead view from WikiMapia

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