Minnesota United, Saint Paul Public Schools and the City of Saint Paul announce the inaugural Saint Paul Cup, presented by Bell Bank, hosted at Allianz Field on Friday, October 7 featuring Washington Technology Magnet School and Harding High School.
The Saint Paul Cup, inspired by the Mayor’s Cup, is a doubleheader with the boys and girls varsity soccer teams featuring two Saint Paul high schools competing in back-to-back games. The inaugural matchup of Washington vs. Harding will kick off with the boys match at 5:30 p.m. CT and the girls will play at 7:30 p.m. CT. Gates will open at 4:30 p.m. CT.
With the success of the 2021 Mayor’s Cup at Allianz Field, Minnesota United and Bell Bank, in partnership with Saint Paul Public Schools and the City of Saint Paul, collaborated to create a new annual match for Saint Paul high schools to participate in and play at the home of the Loons. Similar to the Mayor’s Cup, the Saint Paul Cup will feature Saint Paul Public High Schools, and also display local talent and grow the game of soccer within the city of Saint Paul.
“Last year the Mayor’s Cup was an amazing event for our community. The student athletes who participated and the thousands of fans who cheered them on, created an unforgettable night of soccer,” said Minnesota United CEO Shari Ballard. “Our mission at Minnesota United is to ‘promote soccer, the world’s game, and through it inspire and unite the community.’ Along with our generous partners at Bell Bank, we felt immense pride to have been able to share our home with students and families from Como Park and Humboldt high schools. We are thrilled to kickoff the Saint Paul Cup at Allianz Field this year and are grateful to Bell Bank for their continued support in providing this opportunity to these exceptional Saint Paul athletes.”
This year’s participating schools were chosen through an advisory board with representatives from Minnesota United, the Saint Paul Mayor’s Office and Saint Paul Public High Schools. Different SPPS high schools will be selected to play each year. Loons’ goalkeeper and Saint Paul-native Fred Emmings and defender and Maplewood-native, Devin Padelford, surprised Washington and Harding High Schools varsity teams in their first matchup of the season on September 20 to inform them of their selection in the inaugural Saint Paul Cup.
"Saint Paul Public Schools is proud to be part of the inaugural Saint Paul Cup at Allianz Field. This game will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the student athletes, coaches and families from Washington Technology Magnet School and Harding High School," said SPPS Superintendent Joe Gothard. "Participation in athletics opens so many doors for our young people, and we know this opportunity will be one that these hard-working students will never forget."
Allianz Field and Bell Bank will welcome students, family and all fans from Technology Magnet School and Harding High School for free to support their teams. The free tickets will be available to claim on SeatGeek with a limited number of tickets available.
“United for Good is our mantra when it comes to how we are bringing our communities together through soccer,” said Katie Mattis Sarver, Bell Bank’s Community Development Officer. “At Bell Bank, we strive to bring people together by providing access to experiences and opportunities. You never know what will become the catalyst or connection that provides inspiration for someone to reach their full potential. The original idea was to extend our support of the Mayor’s Cup, but the athletic directors at the high schools wanted all St. Paul Public high school soccer programs to have access to experience playing in a world-class stadium in their own back yard, proving once again, the best ideas come from listening and collaborating. There’s nothing like the atmosphere of high school sports and we are grateful for the collective groups to come together to create lifetime memories for the players and the fans.”
About Allianz Field:
Soccer-specific Allianz Field represents the home of soccer in Minnesota, not just for the team, but for the world’s game in the Twin Cities, Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. With a seating capacity of 19,600, clear sightlines, a natural grass surface, premium and club spaces for games and events, a Brew Hall with 96 taps, a public Great Lawn and many other amenities, the Twin Cities’ newest stadium will serve as a beacon for the sport and the community in and around the Midway neighborhood of Saint Paul and beyond.
About Saint Paul Public Schools:
At Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS), our mission is both bold and simple: to inspire students to think critically, pursue their dreams and change the world. SPPS is one of Minnesota's largest school districts serving more than 32,000 students. Highly trained and deeply dedicated staff, cutting-edge academic programs, and strong community support are among the district’s hallmarks. At SPPS, our student population is diverse. Our students speak more than 125 languages, sharing their ideas and cultures with their classmates and teachers every single day.
About Bell Bank:
Founded in 1966 in Fargo, N.D., Bell Bank (Member FDIC) is the Official Bank of Minnesota United Football Club and one of the nation’s largest family- and employee-owned banks. Now with seven full-service banks in the Twin Cities metro. Bell is consistently recognized as an award-winning bank and workplace, and was most recently named one of People magazine’s 100 Companies That Care. Since 2008, Bell has empowered more than $18 million in charitable giving through its unique Pay It Forward program, in which every employee receives funds annually to give as they choose to individuals, families or organizations in need.
