Bethlehem Soccer Stadium
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Bethlehem Soccer Stadium
| nickname =
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| location = 23-1 Estate Bethlehem
Upper Bethlehem, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
| coordinates = {{Coord|17.7304|-64.7860|type:landmark:region:VI|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground = 2017
| built =
| opened = August 11, 2019
| renovated =
| expanded =
| closed =
| demolished =
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| surface = Artificial turf
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| former_names =
| tenants = US Virgin Islands national football team
| seating_capacity = 1,200
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}}
The Bethlehem Soccer Stadium is an association football stadium in Upper Bethlehem, St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands.{{cite web |title=Bethlehem Soccer Stadium |url=https://www.gotostcroix.com/venue/bethlehem-soccer-stadium/ |publisher=gotostcroix.com |accessdate=10 August 2019}} The stadium is home to the US Virgin Islands national football team while the larger complex also includes the offices and technical center of the U.S. Virgin Islands Soccer Federation.{{cite web |title=USVI SSoccer Association Announces New Office Location |url=https://viconsortium.com/virgin-islands-2/usvi-soccer-association-announces-new-office-location/ |publisher=VI Consortium |accessdate=10 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810140749/https://viconsortium.com/virgin-islands-2/usvi-soccer-association-announces-new-office-location/ |archive-date=10 August 2019 |url-status=dead }}
The stadium can accommodate 1,200 total seated spectators on two grandstands.{{cite web |last1=Wilby |first1=Ryan |title=Grandstand Seating for the United States Virgin Islands Soccer Association |url=https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/blog/grandstand-seating-for-the-united-states-virgin-islands-soccer-association |publisher=Sport Systems Canada |accessdate=10 August 2019}} It is the territory’s first soccer-specific stadium and was funded fully by FIFA.{{cite web |title=Soccer stadium set to open in April on St. Croix; facility will host lcoal and international FIFA tournaments |url=https://viconsortium.com/VIC/?p=70673 |publisher=viconsortium.com |access-date=7 April 2021}}
History
The transition of the U.S. Virgin Islands Soccer Federation offices to Bethlehem Estate began with FIFA Goal Project funding in 2015. Construction of the technical center was scheduled to begin the following year and on the national stadium in 2017. The stadium was to be constructed to address a lack of footballing infrastructure and a proper national stadium.{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Sean A. |title=Minnows US Virgin Islands yearn for football respect |url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Minnows-US-Virgin-Islands-yearn-for-football-respect_68850 |publisher=Jamaica Observer |accessdate=10 August 2019 |archive-date=10 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810142553/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Minnows-US-Virgin-Islands-yearn-for-football-respect_68850 |url-status=dead }}
The stadium was officially opened on August 11, 2019 with a ceremony that included guests such as FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani.{{cite web |title=Sunday August 11 FIFA and Concacaf Presidents will be visiting the US Virgin Islands |url=https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2635101446552389&id=151228944939664&__xts__[0]=68.ARD6Q739mi5wlk357IzJp3S7rrmVcTNY-ZOezKGZ60wpnCInvhhMLy59gS0XNUPAptErUzertz3B8qMk8BdTfHWyrBqJNhZpzEzvigaSBoW2mUB5HeMgaYcxONEjIpjnLk5xJR7SJGr6eEp5or5ojbpc7VXbTo7j98Qb48CEkb8GfJjSUbtZHbZRV6JV2yYvTkeT_U0z6Oiv-r88jxIqbjbpc3-pZOIMkithCKN54y5OnBKASV5JpgAYIHbNeZZvBCuYqsy4REavXb4NGPJ-1ZWgD9e-81N0ENO5S35k26vRHjoLS9qZgMiyve6Wg1ugo_S4-WqlbjYKPOOdEZKM16Q2kA&__tn__=-R |publisher=United States Virgin Islands Soccer Association |accessdate=10 August 2019}}{{cite web |title=USVI Soccer Association Invites Community to Masters Tournament on Aug. 11 |url=https://stcroixsource.com/2019/08/10/usvi-soccer-association-invites-community-to-masters-tournament-on-aug-11/ |publisher=St. Croix Source |accessdate=10 August 2019 |archive-date=10 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810135722/https://stcroixsource.com/2019/08/10/usvi-soccer-association-invites-community-to-masters-tournament-on-aug-11/ |url-status=dead }} However, the stadium was already in use as the USVI olympic team hosted its qualifying matches for the 2020 Summer Olympics the previous month.{{cite web |last1=Murphy |first1=Kyle |title=USVI Soccer Association Announces Slate of Games in July |url=https://stcroixsource.com/2019/06/27/usvi-soccer-association-announces-slate-of-games-in-july/ |publisher=St. Croix Source |accessdate=10 August 2019}}
The stadium hosted the senior men's national team for the first time on September 5, 2019 for a 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League C match against the Cayman Islands.{{cite web |title=Schedule Confirmed for the Inaugural Round of CONCACAF Nations League Group Stage Matches |url=https://concacafnationsleague.com/en/article/schedule-confirmed-for-the-inaugural-round-of-concacaf-nations-league-group-stage-matches?sf217006032=1 |publisher=CONCACAF |accessdate=10 August 2019 |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806131427/https://www.concacafnationsleague.com/en/article/schedule-confirmed-for-the-inaugural-round-of-concacaf-nations-league-group-stage-matches?sf217006032=1 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title=New Home a Big Boost for US Virgin Islands in Nations League |url=https://www.concacafnationsleague.com/en/article/new-home-a-big-boost-for-us-virgin-islands-in-nations-league |publisher=concacafnationsleague.com |accessdate=2 September 2019}}
References
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