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GLA, SPIRE and Erie Sports Center Combine to grow soccer in the region:

By Staff, 05/27/22, 4:30PM EDT

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In a major boost for soccer in the tri-state area Great Lakes Alliance, Great Lakes tournaments, SPIRE and Erie Sports Center have joined forces to ensure that players in the region have access to 11v11 fields year-round. This partnership combines the premier regional soccer league and tournament organizer with 2 first class soccer facilities. 

The strategic partnership with SPIRE and Erie Sports Center as well as our partnership with the CAPS Fieldhouse, gives us exclusive league access to the only 4 11 v 11 indoor fields in the region for leagues, tournaments, and college showcases.

Ed Bernstein, Executive Director of the Great Lakes Alliance said, “it also gives us access to another 15 outdoor fields between Buffalo, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh, providing us the ability to host high quality matches while reducing travel for families. The primary reason for the creation Great Lakes Alliance (GLA) was to create a predictable and logical next step environment focused on the players and their development. We are very excited about the new opportunities this partnership provides for our clubs and their players.

Troy Bingham, Spire Soccer Director and Erie Sports Center owner said “GLA with both ECNL-RL and NPL platforms is recognized as the leaders in the region in league, tournament and showcase management. Working together allows us to strategically plan new events, invest in upgrading facilities and develop longer term plans to grow the game and pathways in the region. We will now have the premier leagues being played at the premier facilities which will only improve the standard of play and the player and parent experience”. The Great Lakes Alliance will be offering a new 11 v 11 regional soccer indoor league this winter. 

The Great Lakes Alliance (GLA) was formed in 2017 and currently has over 550 teams participating in its US Club sanctioned league. GLA has member clubs coming out of Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia with approximately 8500 players. GLA is a member of the U.S. Club Soccer National Premier League (NPL) platform, the ECNL-RL platform, and the U.S. Soccer Federation.

SPIRE Institute & Academy is a comprehensive academic, athletic, personal skills and career development experience located within a world class event and wellness complex. Constructed on nearly 500 acres with more than 750,000 sq. ft. under roof, SPIRE (www.spireinstitute.org) encompasses four divisions: SPIRE Academy, an accredited college preparatory international boarding school and multi-sport/specialty training and development academy for 9-12 graders and a post grad program; SPIRE Institute, the research and development arm studying performance improvement across multiple disciplines; SPIRE Events, a facility and team that hosts local, national and international tournaments and events with the NCAA, the Big East, Big Ten and Atlantic 10 conferences, Olympic trials and world championship qualifiers; and SPIRE Fit, a community membership-based fitness, swim and health center open to the public. Sports currently featured on campus include swimming, track and field, basketball, esports, drone racing, wrestling, soccer and lacrosse.

Erie Sports Center The Erie Sports Center is a 36 acre multi-sport facility based in Erie, Pa. The Center is home to a full-size indoor turf soccer field, 61, 000 square foot dome, 4 indoor basketball courts, 12 outdoor fields and a baseball field. The sports center also owns 8 different sports clubs and is home to multiple tournaments.