Bethlehem Soccer Stadium Explained
The Bethlehem Soccer Stadium is an association football stadium in Upper Bethlehem, St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands.[1] The stadium is home to the US Virgin Islands national football team while the larger complex also includes the offices and technical center of the U.S. Virgin Islands Soccer Federation.[2]
The stadium can accommodate 1,200 total seated spectators on two grandstands.[3] It is the territory’s first soccer-specific stadium and was funded fully by FIFA.[4]
History
The transition of the U.S. Virgin Islands Soccer Federation offices to Bethlehem Estate began with FIFA Goal Project funding in 2015.[2] Construction of the technical center was scheduled to begin the following year and on the national stadium in 2017. The stadium was to be constructed to address a lack of footballing infrastructure and a proper national stadium.[5]
The stadium was officially opened on August 11, 2019 with a ceremony that included guests such as FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani.[6] [7] However, the stadium was already in use as the USVI olympic team hosted its qualifying matches for the 2020 Summer Olympics the previous month.[8]
The stadium hosted the senior men's national team for the first time on September 5, 2019 for a 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League C match against the Cayman Islands.[9] [10]
Notes and References
- Web site: Bethlehem Soccer Stadium . gotostcroix.com . 10 August 2019.
- Web site: USVI SSoccer Association Announces New Office Location . VI Consortium . 10 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190810140749/https://viconsortium.com/virgin-islands-2/usvi-soccer-association-announces-new-office-location/ . 10 August 2019 . dead .
- Web site: Wilby . Ryan . Grandstand Seating for the United States Virgin Islands Soccer Association . Sport Systems Canada . 10 August 2019.
- Web site: Soccer stadium set to open in April on St. Croix; facility will host lcoal and international FIFA tournaments . viconsortium.com . 7 April 2021.
- Web site: Williams . Sean A. . Minnows US Virgin Islands yearn for football respect . Jamaica Observer . 10 August 2019 . 10 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190810142553/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Minnows-US-Virgin-Islands-yearn-for-football-respect_68850 . dead .
- Web site: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2635101446552389&id=151228944939664&__xts__[0=68.ARD6Q739mi5wlk357IzJp3S7rrmVcTNY-ZOezKGZ60wpnCInvhhMLy59gS0XNUPAptErUzertz3B8qMk8BdTfHWyrBqJNhZpzEzvigaSBoW2mUB5HeMgaYcxONEjIpjnLk5xJR7SJGr6eEp5or5ojbpc7VXbTo7j98Qb48CEkb8GfJjSUbtZHbZRV6JV2yYvTkeT_U0z6Oiv-r88jxIqbjbpc3-pZOIMkithCKN54y5OnBKASV5JpgAYIHbNeZZvBCuYqsy4REavXb4NGPJ-1ZWgD9e-81N0ENO5S35k26vRHjoLS9qZgMiyve6Wg1ugo_S4-WqlbjYKPOOdEZKM16Q2kA&__tn__=-R Sunday August 11 FIFA and Concacaf Presidents will be visiting the US Virgin Islands ]. United States Virgin Islands Soccer Association . 10 August 2019.
- Web site: USVI Soccer Association Invites Community to Masters Tournament on Aug. 11 . St. Croix Source . 10 August 2019 . 10 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190810135722/https://stcroixsource.com/2019/08/10/usvi-soccer-association-invites-community-to-masters-tournament-on-aug-11/ . dead .
- Web site: Murphy . Kyle . USVI Soccer Association Announces Slate of Games in July . St. Croix Source . 10 August 2019.
- Web site: Schedule Confirmed for the Inaugural Round of CONCACAF Nations League Group Stage Matches . CONCACAF . 10 August 2019 . 6 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200806131427/https://www.concacafnationsleague.com/en/article/schedule-confirmed-for-the-inaugural-round-of-concacaf-nations-league-group-stage-matches?sf217006032=1 . dead .
- Web site: New Home a Big Boost for US Virgin Islands in Nations League . concacafnationsleague.com . 2 September 2019.
