ACES Announces ACES09 Supporters Cup

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) August 13, 2009 -- August 14th 2009 - ACES09 Announces the ACES09 Supporters Cup, a fan cup awarded to supporters of the MLS club that performs best against Seattle Sounders FC during the MLS regular season.

“ACES09 is all about promoting supporters culture in North America. We know that great support often translates to success on the field when fans create an atmosphere that is intimidating for opponents. We are awarding this cup to acknowledge supporters groups roles in contributing to their club’s results on the pitch against the hated Sounders FC” said ACES09 Co-Founder Andrew Wheaton

The 2009 ACES09 Supporters Cup will consist of a trophy as well as a cash prize. ACES09 is backing the monetary prize with $109 in funds already raised through grassroots efforts. This is the minimum amount that will be awarded to the winning club’s supporters group but the ultimate award is expected to be several hundred dollars, depending on fundraising efforts.

Wheaton explains, “We have decided to include a monetary prize because, unlike the club-sponsored displays often seen in Seattle, the types of fan-made tifo we see among the best supporters groups can be extremely expensive. Some of the largest scale displays run thousands of dollars in material costs alone.”

In order to raise money for the Cup, ACES09 is announcing their final scarf drive for 2009. ACES Scarves can be pre-ordered at www.aces09.com for $20 until August 31st, with all profits contributing to the ACES09 Supporters Cup prize fund.

After this final scarf run, the iconic 2009 ACES09 scarf design will be retired.

The ACES09 Supporters Cup will be awarded to the main supporters group of the MLS Club with the largest goal differential against the Sounders through the MLS regular season. Total goals scored, home goals and overall record against Seattle will be used as tiebreaking criteria.

“While it’s only a rough measure, we think goal differential is the most objective way to award the cup because truly intense fan support can play a role in every goal.”

Although the MLS regular season is already past its midpoint, 10 of the eligible 14 MLS clubs are still in the running for the ACES Cup.

“This sets up some exciting scenarios as most clubs will be playing their home legs against the Sounders over the next couple of weeks and we’ll surely see a lot of movement in the MLS table and in the ACES Cup standings every week.” said Wheaton.

The ACES09 Supporters Cup will be awarded on Sunday, October 25th - the last day of MLS league play in 2009. Current cup standings are available at www.aces09.com/acescup.html

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ACES09 is a loosely assembled movement of North American soccer fans supporting teams at all levels of the sport whose cause is fostering the growth of our leagues and supporters culture on this continent.

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