Visitors from all over the world and from all kinds of backgrounds have been overwhelming impressed with the facilities at Dick's Sporting Goods Park! Read below comments from VIP visitors to the stadium and complex:
"I would like to thank you and your staff for everything that you guys did to make the SUM U-17 Cup tournament a true success. Your entire group went out of their way to work with us to ensure that all of our operational needs were satisfied and that the execution of this event reflected it’s high profile. Special thanks your staff for always being available to support us with every request that we had. Dick’s Sporting Goods Park is one of the premier facilities in the country and I now realize that this is the case because there are hard working, passionate people working behind the scenes. Finally, we will definitely look to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park for future events such as the SUM U-17 Cup. Its central location, beautiful scenery, multitude of fields, and hard working staff make it easy for us to want to host more events at your facility."
-Neel Shah, Director of Fan Development, Major League Soccer
"Dick’s Sporting Goods Park was magnificent. I'd like to congratulate the architects of this facility. It was great to play in front of a good crowd, one that was so close to the field. It's beautiful. There's a lot of money there that they were able to build something like this. You've got the fans so close that love soccer. I think this is incredible work, incredible structure. I congratulate the architects for building something like this. The field is in great condition, and the stands, as well, are perfect."
–Jorge Luis Pinto, Colombia National Team Head Coach
“The facilities at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park are fantastic. The field itself is excellent, it’s perfect for soccer. Absolutely perfect. Some of the places we played last year were not conducive to good soccer matches, where the surface was poor, but this is perfect. You couldn’t get any better. The pitch here is the biggest playing surface you’ll ever see in the world, and I mean the world! That’s the maximum playing regulations you’ve got out there (on DSG Park’s stadium field), if you didn’t know that. In fact, an inch either way and the game is cancelled!”
-Gordon Strachan, Glasgow Celtic FC Head Coach
“Our plan [for creating successful soccer markets in the USA] is to have a great owner, a soccer-savvy market and a great facility. Facility development continues as one of our most important strategic imperatives. When those things come together, you have what we have here with Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Dick's Sporting Goods Park illustrates how a stadium can not only provide a better economic platform for our teams, but as importantly, serve as the "connector" between all aspects of the local soccer community. I think it bodes well for the future of the sport in this region. The stadium and 24 fields here in Commerce City, represent one of the largest professional soccer complexes anywhere in the world. That's good for MLS, Kroenke Sports, the entire Colorado youth soccer market and obviously, the Colorado Rapids. The fact that it’s surrounded by the 24 soccer fields, I think it will really make this complex a real magnet for the sport, and that will certainly pay dividends for many years to come."
-Don Garber, Commissioner, Major League Soccer
"Dick’s Sporting Goods Park has allowed the community the opportunity to renew its image, and it's going to serve as a catalyst for redevelopment. It's a great source of pride to citizens here."
-Roger Tinklenberg, Director of Finance, Commerce City
"This is a complete dream come true. We have it all. I've been all over the world, and I can tell you a soccer complex of this magnitude is not something you see every day. Now, we have what should be the blueprint for professional soccer. Everybody should have a place like this."
-Fernando Clavijo, Colorado Rapids Head Coach and former US National Team defender
“Dick’s Sporting Goods Park is a modern and beautiful stadium surrounded by 24 lighted fields….it’s something you will not find any other place in the world.”
-Enrique Borja, former President of the Mexican Soccer Federation
"I think the significance is, what was once sort of a precarious toehold now has a secure base for professional soccer. There's a sense of permanency, a real unifying spirit in a stadium like that. It allows, in a way, for a player to play in a tournament there and dream to be able to play one day as a professional in that stadium. For the youth player, to dream is so important. The connection of those dreams, with a 24-field complex like that, is more real now."
-Peter McGahey, technical director for the Colorado Fusion Soccer Club and former DU player.
"These soccer stadiums in the U.S. are better than 90 percent of the stadiums around the world. Emirates Stadium is a jewel, but it is surrounded by rail lines and residential buildings, so the overall site doesn't compare with the Rapids' home."
– Richard Law, Arsenal Football Club
“I wanted to take some grass from the field. It is the best I have ever seen in the world. The stadium has a very good design for enjoying a soccer game, no matter where your seat is located”.
-Jesús Martínez, President of the 2007 Champions of Mexico, Pachuca Club de Futbol
“Dick’s Sporting Goods Park shows how a dedicated stadium can showcase the development of Major League Soccer in the United States, and provide fans with an excellent customer experience. The use of technology to enhance the soccer product and atmosphere is particularly impressive. Also, the premium facilities will ensure that businesses can entertain clients in comfort and style.”
– Adrian Ford, Commercial Director, Arsenal Football Club
"It's a phenomenal facility. Being able to have all the practice sites at one venue, the NCAA will go nuts (for potential Final Four at DSG Park)."
- Jon Schmieder, Executive Director of the Metro Denver Sports Commission
"I really like how they went all-out. Some people said they were crazy to put that many fields in that location, but they did a first-class job. You're going to be able to host the West Coast regionals, nationals (for youth tournaments), and national team matches. I think they can get some great competition here."
-Jeff Hooker, Denver University women's soccer coach
"It's just an ideal place to hold top-level tournaments. I can't see how it can do anything but help youth soccer in Colorado."
- Peter Horvath, Head Coach of Columbine High School's boys and girls teams
“We were thrilled to host the first-ever youth soccer tournaments on Dick’s Sporting Goods Park’s field complex. We knew that joining forces with the Rapids at their new home would only increase our tournaments’ abilities to offer the best soccer, in the best location, in the best facility in the nation. We are proud and excited to bring our players to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park so they can get a taste of what soccer, the sport to which they dedicate so much of themselves, is finally becoming in today’s sports world. Having a first-class, state-of-the-art 24-field complex to host our tournaments greatly increases the marketability and reputation of our tournaments, thus doing the same for our club.”
– Cindy Thomas, Real Colorado Youth Soccer Club Tournament Director
“The facilities at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park are unparalleled, and the fact that we are fortunate enough to host the Colorado Rush Denver Cup tournament there is huge. The complex will enhance our main event in every way imaginable. We’re ecstatic about Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.”
– Mike Piserchio, Colorado Rush Youth Soccer Club Tournament Director
"It was fantastic working with the Rapids staff and collaborating on an event promoting women's soccer. Dick's Sporting Goods Park is the best facility we've ever seen, and it is the ideal setting for creating awe-inspiring moments for the young participants at our clinic as well as all the fans at our doubleheader match with the Rapids. From the staff, to the field, to the overall atmosphere of the stadium, the Rapids have created a truly incredible soccer experience. When you walk into the stadium, you feel that soccer has truly arrived in this country. It's nice to feel that. Thank you for making this special venue for our sport."
-Amy Snider, owner, Fort Collins Force W-League women’s professional team
"We had dealt with Denver Parks and Recreation for 10 years and it's not easy. They're not very user-friendly. It feels like you're pulling teeth. Dick's Sporting Goods Park just caters for our needs. They run it like a business, and they run it professionally, and you just don't get that sense from Denver."
-Ciaran Dwyer, Vice President, Denver Gaels (Gaelic football and hurling youth and adult programs)