Fann Cup 2009 - here's the details

[AP]

Happy Lincoln's Birthday! to celebrate one of Illinois' finest, we're happy to shed some light on the Fann Cup's first visit to Chicago.


This year’s event will be held just outside Chicago in Naperville, IL. Naperville is a town of 145,000 people, about half an hour away from O’Hare Airport, 30 miles from downtown Chicago with easy highway access.
If you’re looking from driving distances from the other participating cities, look below:
Toronto – 546 miles; 9 hours
Philadelphia – 786 miles; 13 hours
Buffalo – 561 miles; 9 hours
Rochester – 621 miles; 10 hours
Minneapolis – 406 miles; 7 hours

If you’re looking for an alternative to driving, Fann Cup 2009 is partnering with SAL Travel, based in Hoffman Estates, IL. Their Web site address is http://www.saltravel.net/., toll free in the US 888-725-8785 or directly 847-991-2500; Ask for Sally Kincaid (saltravel@saltravel.net), and she’ll work with us to get you the best possible deals on flights, rental cars, etc. She has also agreed to donate 50% of her commission on all reservations made with her.

TEAMS
Toronto Roadies
Lacrossetitutes
Fann Cup Spirit
Rochester Knighthawks
Buffalo Brigade
Chicago Cloverz
Philadelphia Wingnuts
Philadelphia Rage
Minnesota Stingers
Renegades*
(* - based on interest. Any interested participants are welcome regardless of skill, experience, city, etc. If you want to come and play, you can.)


HOTEL
The official tournament hotel is the Holiday Inn Select at 1801 North Naper Boulevard, Naperville, IL. Their web address is http://www.naperselect.com. There are currently 55 rooms set aside for us, with an option to add more if we need them. They have also made available a large number of “double-double rooms”, meaning 2 double beds per room. They can accommodate up to 75 of those rooms booked per night. The room rate is $99 per night for standard king or double/double, $129.00 king suite;. the hotel will also be donating rooms for our visiting referees, making a sizeable donation to the tournament charities, and supplying lots of hospitality facilities for our use. As well, the hotel has a full-service bar and they’re very aware we plan to use it . We also have one other plan to float with participating cities regarding one other perk that’s on the table; you’ll know about that later.
NOTE: ALL ROOMS MUST BE BOOKED BEFORE JUNE 24, 2009. You can book for the days before or after the tournament as well, if you’re planning on making it an extended trip to the Chicago area.

 Reservations via Internet -
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/sl/...chinp&_GPC=GFC

Group Booking Code: "GFC" for group rate.

 Reservations via phone - call (630) 505-4900 or 1-800-HOLIDAY and ask for the
Fann Cup 2009 Room Block - "GFC”.
Note: if you are planning on coming in early or staying late, you must book by phone by calling Dustin Popovich, Group Reservations Coordinator at 630-445-6314 (M-F, 8am-5pm).

FEES
Fees for the 2009 Fann Cup have been set at $60 per player, with a per-team minimum of 15 players. Captains have been notified of this. It is up to your respective captain whether they will collect the money and forward to the tournament, or whether you forward directly. The Fann Cup website (www.fanncup.com) will have the official player registration form which you must fill out and remit along with payment in order to be eligible to play in the tournament.

FACILITY
The 2009 Fann Cup will be played at the Naperville Players Indoor Sports Centre. This is a state-of-the-art building that is going to allow us to set a record for “sheer physical exhaustion by people who should know better.” You can check it out here: http://www.playersindoor.com
The facility has 3 full-size floors with boards for tournament play. As well, there’s an additional pad for recreation, etc and a concession area, as well as banquet facilities.
Please note: NO CLEATS ON THE TURF. Turf or flat soles only.

CHARITIES
The beneficiaries of the 2009 Fann Cup are the American Diabetes Association, and the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.
The American Diabetes Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. There are 23.6 million children and adults in the United States, or 7.8% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 17.9 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 5.7 million people (or nearly one quarter) are unaware that they have the disease.
Multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cell, is an incurable but treatable disease. The estimated frequency of multiple myeloma is 5 to 7 new cases per 100,000 persons per year. Accordingly, in the United States, 19,920 new cases are expected to be diagnosed in 2008. There were more than 56,000 Americans living with multiple myeloma in 2005, the most current date these statistics are available.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE
We’re still working out some of the kinks around food, etc, based on our contract with the hotel and what everyone wants. But we have a tentative schedule:
Friday night
6pm-10: tournament registration and bag pickup
7pm-8pm – Officials meeting
8 pm-9pm – Captains meeting
Note: we are still working out the plan for the rest of Friday night, but we have something in mind that could work out well.
Saturday
8:30 – all teams arrive at facility
9:00 – opening ceremony
9:30 am -7 pm – Fann Cup 2009
7pm-10 pm – Fann Cup banquet @ Players Indoor


FORMAT
Thanks to three floors at the facility, we’re able to expand the event considerably without pushing it to a multi-day format. Regardless of whether we’re at 9 or 10 teams, each team will be guaranteed 4 games. As well, we’ll be expanding the games to 40 minutes – 2x20 halfs. After the round-robin we’ll have two semi-finals and a final.

AUCTION
As a slight departure from previous events, we’re going to extend the time for the auction. Bidding will begin on Friday night at the registration party, and continue throughout Saturday. As well, we’re working on a special auction involving the Hot Rox dance team.

FUNDRAISING
We’re looking at additional methods of fundraising for our charities, and will roll those plans out as the event gets closer.

CHAMPIONSHIP
In keeping with the original spirit of the Fann Cup, it will be mandatory that the winning team in the final buys the losing team a round.

Any questions? Check www.fanncup.com first, then email fanncup2009@hotmail.com if you still need to know something.

-Ray Kincaid, Fann Cup 2009 president
-Andrew McKay, Fann Cup 2009 tournament director

[phiwings]

What are the dates of the tournament?

[AP]

Wow, I'm not smart. July 25.

[FixThis]

AP how many referees will you have? And can rules be agreed upon at least a week before the Fann Cup so we may at least learn 2 of them?? Will the official goalie signals be enforced (Hittrain loves these signals)

[whipperrocks]

Roadies will be ok

[AP]

you're the only ref, Johnny

No really, I'll catch you offline about that. We'll definitely have it planned out in advance.

[thwingfan]

40 minute games? I can already hear lots of..................


OW! OW! OW! OW! OW! OW!

[AP]

Yup. Hour long increments - 15-min warmup, 20 minute halfs, 5 minute halftime. We wanted to make sure it was worth the trip by making sure there's lots of floor time, and also a better fit for teams with big rosters. I'm going to work the schedule to minimize the number of back-to-back games as well. a couple will be unavoidable but we'll figure it out.

[heather8875]

40-minute games.... dang I gotta get in shape quick.

[ParrotBayTaz]

Originally Posted by AP

FORMAT[/B]
Thanks to three floors at the facility, we’re able to expand the event considerably without pushing it to a multi-day format. Regardless of whether we’re at 9 or 10 teams, each team will be guaranteed 4 games. As well, we’ll be expanding the games to 40 minutes – 2x20 halfs.

I am already OW-ing as to the expanding of games.

[whipperrocks]

3pm

would only give room early if available - no garantees

[Canadan]

What size nets will be used in FC 2009??

[RockStar#666]

Originally Posted by Canadan

What size nets will be used in FC 2009??

I promise they'll be big enough for one or two to go over your left shoulder

[FixThis]

Originally Posted by AP

you're the only ref, Johnny

No really, I'll catch you offline about that. We'll definitely have it planned out in advance.

Your really funny AP.....really funny!!!

[Puck22]

Originally Posted by heather8875

40-minute games.... dang I gotta get in shape quick.

I think I am OK.....Round is a shape

[JohnnyMogul]

Originally Posted by Canadan

What size nets will be used in FC 2009??

Longer time, bigger nets....

[kaotik29]

By the end of the day, we might just want to say anything off the boards is a goal, LOL. Or maybe segways (sp) because 4 games in this format is almost equal to 6 from 2008.

[phiwings]

Originally Posted by JohnnyMogul

Longer time, bigger nets....

it's my only hope...

[whipperrocks]

every year someone asks the size of the nets

who cares !!!!!!!!! where playing and that`s all that matters

[Canadan]

Originally Posted by whipperrocks

every year someone asks the size of the nets

who cares !!!!!!!!! where playing and that`s all that matters

Relax!!! It was JUST a question.

[Jazzy#21]

As If Size Matters...

[whipperrocks]

How about we use soccers nets that way I can watch northmen hit the crossbar or post AGAIN and see everyone else get a goal in fann cup

is that relaxed enough for ya !!!!!!!!!

[everlucky13]

Just for Dan we should use FIELD nets! LOL

[JohnnyMogul]

I thought we got points for hitting the goalie in the chest? Damn!

[Canadan]

Sarah and I just want to come to Chicago and have one helluva good time!!!