After a two-year exploration of whether to combine the Men’s and Women’s College Cups at a single site in the future, the Division I Men’s and Women’s Soccer Committees have decided it is in the best interests of each championship to keep the Cups at different sites and on separate weekends.

The decision comes after the soccer committees studied the feasibility of creating a festival-like atmosphere by combining the two championships at a single site beginning in 2012. But after taking into consideration a number of factors, including membership feedback, logistical concerns, broadcast windows and the effects of a combined championship on the regular season and conference tournaments, the committees opted to retain the current approach.

“As directed by the NCAA, we did our due diligence in looking at the combined Cups as a way to possibly grow the championships,” said Men’s Committee Chair John Diffley, senior associate athletics director at St. John’s (New York). “But after hearing from the membership and gathering all the information we could about the logistics, possible benefits and some valid concerns, we decided it would be best to build on the current momentum the events are experiencing as separate championships.”

"The NSCAA is pleased to hear of this decision by the NCAA," said NSCAA CEO and Executive Director Joe Cummings. "It reflects the efforts of our College Programs Director, Rob Kehoe, who spent countless hours gathering the opinions of our Division I member coaches, developing our position in the matter and communicating that position to the NCAA."

The proposal to combine the Cups was attractive primarily because of the economy-of-scale efficiencies that a single site affords and the potential marketing power of a mega-soccer event rather than two separate championships. Supporters also thought that a festival-type event would appeal to a broader fan base.

But surveys to the NCAA membership revealed lukewarm interest at best in combining collegiate soccer’s pinnacle events. Concerns included field conditions, since the wear and tear on the championship playing surface would be greater with two tournaments rather than one. Poor weather would exacerbate those concerns, though weather is an issue even with the separate championships, especially in mid-December.

Other membership concerns were how two sports previously on separate playing-season paths would interact on the same track, especially since identical date formulas could affect conference tournaments and NCAA preliminary-round games.

Some feedback also indicated concern about whether a combined College Cup – as attractive as it might be – would diminish the identity or brand that each gender has worked to develop over time. Even if the events are held at the same site, the risk is that one gender’s event might be perceived as more “marquee” than the other.

“We indeed heard those concerns from the membership and re-evaluated whether combining the Cups was in either championship’s best interests,” said women’s committee chair Lisa Campos, senior associate athletics director at UTEP. “Going forward, we want to focus on future site selection as a way to grow our game, perhaps giving sites the opportunity to bid on multiple years as a way to enhance the championship.”

The 2011 Men’s College Cup is Dec. 9 and 11 at Regions Park, in Hoover, Ala. The University of Alabama, Birmingham, and the Alabama Sports Foundation are the hosts. The 2011 Women’s College Cup is Dec. 2 and 4 at Kennesaw State University.

Both committees will begin soliciting bids to host the 2012 finals within the next few months.

Women’s soccer date formula
Given that the Women’s College Cup will continue to be on its own weekend, the women’s committee at its February meeting took steps to ensure that the women’s finals will always be the weekend before the men’s.

Committee members proposed a “standardization of date formula” that puts the Women’s College Cup on the first full weekend in December – Friday to Sunday – even if Dec. 1 should fall on a Saturday, as it does in 2012.

That Division I Championships/Sport Management Cabinet will consider that recommendation when it meets in June. Assuming approval, the relevant dates for the next three seasons would be as follows:

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