I agree and I dont stay where they tell me to stay. I've managed teams for several years and never used the travel agents. never been kicked out of a tournament because of it. It works my nerve they state this and the prices are not good. Cheaper to book direct or on priceline.

Anonymous wrote:I guess you are not aware that every tournament has that same policy. I just had a conversation with a parent of a different sport that told me they got kicked out of the tournament for not using the travel agent. Explain to me why this bothers you so much and attribute this as pay to play

You are not obligated to participate in the tournament. if thats their requirement to play and you dont like it take your business elsewhere. Its not Futsal or Soccer or Volleyball or Basketball its all of them. That is not pay to play. I'm not in favor of the concept but its far from someone paying 4500-8000 to play for the DA and a deserving under privileged kid that cant afford it getting left out. Not even in the same category of pay to play with your example

i'd much rather pay the tournament an additional sum and decide where to stay. Not every tournament has this policy. We played in the same venues last year and chose where to stay. This is absurd. Disney also requires you to stay at affiliated hotels for their events. It is preposterous. i don't object to the money. I object to the control over where to stay.

I guess you are not aware that every tournament has that same policy. I just had a conversation with a parent of a different sport that told me they got kicked out of the tournament for not using the travel agent. Explain to me why this bothers you so much and attribute this as pay to play

You are not obligated to participate in the tournament. if thats their requirement to play and you dont like it take your business elsewhere. Its not Futsal or Soccer or Volleyball or Basketball its all of them. That is not pay to play. I'm not in favor of the concept but its far from someone paying 4500-8000 to play for the DA and a deserving under privileged kid that cant afford it getting left out. Not even in the same category of pay to play with your example

Anonymous wrote:a lot of Alexandria staff on here...

Nope. But you wanna see something bad? Check this out - "stay to play" -- for the USYF regionals:

STAY TO PLAY POLICY
Before registering, please read the STPP below.

The U.S. Youth Futsal Regional Championships is a Stay to Play Event. All out of town teams must stay at a host hotel booked through the official USYF hotel booking company, GCI Team Travel. No exceptions. Any out of town team who registers without booking with one of our host hotels by the registration deadline will not be accepted into the tournament.

GCI has negotiated group rates and other amenities to make your stay comfortable, cost effective and in hotels close to the tournament venue sites.

If you want to stay at a hotel that is not a current host hotel, GCI may be able to source a room block for you. If you have questions with this or any aspect of the booking process, please contact GCI Travel directly at 913-660-7766.

IMPORTANT - Our host hotels will hold the block of rooms until 3 weeks before the event begins. Your team needs to book before this deadline to assure the best hotel for you.

A reminder that some consolation and championship games may be played late Sunday. All teams should book a Sunday night stay in anticipation of late games.

No just common sense really

a lot of Alexandria staff on here...

I assume the pay to play comment is a knock on US Soccer in general
Just a curious honest question
How do you expect the facilities to recover their costs of you and 1000's of others using their location?

Or are you of the mindset it should be free?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the record, Northeast Regional Futsal Tournament in Atlantic City. Pay to park and its more than $10 per day. Also pay to enter the event per person. If I recall, it was $25 per person for the 3 day weekend or $10 per day

And if you speed on the way I'm sure NJ State Police will gladly ticket you as well

By the way, this Alexandria Futsal tournament had 10 different locations. Only the DC armory site had a parking fee and thats a DC space and location issue. Crazy that someone had an issue with this

Pay to play ....

Who outside of Venezuela and Cuba and hopefully near Washington, D.C. are offering free tournaments and coaching for top-level tournaments? We'll sign up.

Anonymous wrote:For the record, Northeast Regional Futsal Tournament in Atlantic City. Pay to park and its more than $10 per day. Also pay to enter the event per person. If I recall, it was $25 per person for the 3 day weekend or $10 per day

And if you speed on the way I'm sure NJ State Police will gladly ticket you as well

By the way, this Alexandria Futsal tournament had 10 different locations. Only the DC armory site had a parking fee and thats a DC space and location issue. Crazy that someone had an issue with this

Pay to play ....

For the record, Northeast Regional Futsal Tournament in Atlantic City. Pay to park and its more than $10 per day. Also pay to enter the event per person. If I recall, it was $25 per person for the 3 day weekend or $10 per day

And if you speed on the way I'm sure NJ State Police will gladly ticket you as well

By the way, this Alexandria Futsal tournament had 10 different locations. Only the DC armory site had a parking fee and thats a DC space and location issue. Crazy that someone had an issue with this

Seriously complaining about a parking fee? We pay thousands per year for team fees, flights, gas, hotels and meals. But that $10 is the deal breaker? Don't go to a Disney showcase - you may have to pay to watch kids play ($19 per adult). Or APC Cup in Delaware, that facility charges for parking too ($10/day in middle of nowhere Delaware). Make sure your kid doesn't run track - they charge an admission fee for parents. Same with high school sports, at least in parts of Maryland - so cross that off the list too.

If $10 is that big of a deal get your kid a rid with someone else, or carpool and split the cost. Or, as someone else noted, park on the street and walk a block.

I'm glad Alexandria pays its staff well by going on DCUM and monitoring everything.

Put into perspective the same person complained about parking cost also complained they got a speeding ticket at a Maryland tournament and somehow the club has a role in that

Nope
Just a parent of a kid that played three games there and appreciated the format, the venue and the effort. Regardless think whatever you will as you clearly have an ax to grind.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alexandria just hosted the largest Futsal tournament in the DC/MD/VA area and you want to find fault in one of the sites they utilized charging $10 to park? Are you kdding me? its at the DC Armory, a major DC Events location that also is metro accessible and had plenty of on street free parking. I did not pay one time as I parked on the street and walked an extra block. Maybe stop blaming a club for what you know nothing about except want to blame anyone and everyone for your lazy ass convenience. Instead of realizing how good an event that was you found fault in DC charging for parking. Get a life and move on. NO club or tournament needs your complaints and nonsense

Looks like Alexandria staff is back on the boards. I bet they’ll have this thread taken down shortly...

I was just about to say the same thing looks like the office staff is back to work