About the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Dating back to 1914, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is the oldest cup competition in United States soccer and is among the oldest in the world. Open to all affiliated amateur and professional teams in the United States, the annual U.S. Open Cup is entering it’s 95th tournament in 2008.
In a nutshell, the U.S. Open Cup is very similar to domestic cup competitions popular throughout Europe, South America and the rest of the world. Cup competitions, which usually run concurrent with a country’s league season, are open in the early stages to any club that can qualify, giving local amateur teams a chance to compete against the best teams a country has to offer.
American soccer loses a pioneer
Lamar Hunt passes away at 74, after battle with cancer
 |
Lamar Hunt (right) and his son Clark, celebrate the Columbus Crew’s 2002 U.S. Open Cup championship. The Crew became the first team owned by Mr. Hunt to win the tournament named after him.
Photo by Greg Bartram/Columbus Crew/MLS |
Lamar Hunt, one of the great visionaries of American sports, lost his battle with cancer at the age of 74.
Hunt will be known by the mainstream public as a pioneer in the NFL and founder of the Kansas City Chiefs. But if American soccer had a Mount Rushmore, Hunt would no doubt be among the most prominent faces.
He was an original investor in the NASL in the 1970s, and more importantly, his role in the establishment and growth of Major League Soccer. He owned the Columbus Crew, FC Dallas and up until recently, the Kansas City Wizards. He financed the construction of Columbus Crew Stadium, the first of many soccer specific stadiums that are proving to be vital to the continued growth of soccer in this country.
One would have a hard time imagining the existance of professional soccer in the United States without the dedication and foresight of this man. In 1999 (the same year that Crew Stadium opened), the U.S. Soccer Federation found a way to honor him, by renaming the tournament the "Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup." USOpenCup.com joins the millions of soccer (and sports) fans in this country, by thanking Mr. Hunt for everything he has done and sending our heartfelt condolences to his family.
For more on the life and legacy of Lamar Hunt please visit the following websites:
ESPN.com - "Lamar Hunt through the years" (Timeline)
Ft. Worth Star Telegram - "Hunt’s legacy goes beyond pro football"
Dallas Morning News - "American soccer lost a pioneer"
ESPN Soccernet - "Hunt a quiet pioneer of U.S. Soccer"
MLSnet.com - "Visionary Hunt succumbs to cancer"
Columbus Dispatch - "Crew owner Lamar Hunt dead at 74"
Kansas City Star - "Chiefs’ founder Lamar Hunt dies"
Matchnight.com - "Lamar Hunt: A Businessman and a Gentleman"
MLSnet.com - Statement from Clark Hunt
MLSnet.com - Statement from MLS Commissioner Don Garber
