SAN DIEGO – The U.S. Soccer Development Academy Friday announced a multi-year agreement with the City of San Diego to host its signature end-of-season event, the Development Academy Summer Showcase and Playoffs.

The announcement marks the first time the Academy has signed a consecutive multi-year agreement with a host city for its marquee summer event. The press release did not say how many years the showcase and playoffs would be held in San Diego.

The first event will be held from June 18 to July 1 next year.

“We chose San Diego for a simple reason: we want a world-class environment for our players,” U.S. Soccer Development Academy director Jared Micklos said in a statement. “Everything about San Diego fits our criteria, from the amazing soccer venue, the temperate climate, to the impressive soccer support in the region.”

The 11th Summer Showcase and Playoffs will not only kick off for the first time in San Diego, but the event will also feature Girls’ Development Academy Showcase and Playoffs games for the first time when the program concludes its inaugural 2017-18 season. The Academy’s event will also continue to provide development and training events for players, coaches and referees.

At the 2017 Summer Showcase and Playoffs, 4,266 players were registered across 237 teams. In 2018, 426 teams and 9,798 players are expected to make their way to the San Diego.

In partnership with Surf Cup Sports, the San Diego Tourism Authority, the San Diego Sports Alliance and the City of San Diego, the Summer Showcase and Playoffs will be held at Del Mar’s 114-acre Surf Club Sports Park and Oceanside’s 104-acre SoCal Sports Complex. Both facilities are managed by Surf Cup Sports.

“We couldn’t be more proud to host the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Summer Showcase,” said Mike Connerley, Surf Cup Sports’ President and co-owner of the So Cal Sports Complex said in a press release. “We’ve always been committed to promoting world-class soccer talent. The selection of our facilities as the location for the Development Academy’s signature events is truly a testament to everyone at Surf Cup Sports who has worked so hard to make this venue what it is today.”

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.