ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, SportsHoover lands 2012 NCAA Men's College Cup

The city of Hoover welcomes its first NCAA Men's College Cup this week.

It's soccer's version of the final four.  Before the event even opened, Hoover was awarded the 2012 championship, as well.  The announcement came Wednesday morning at the Hoover Public Library.  The College Cup will return to Regions Park December 7th-9th next year, with UAB and the Alabama Sports Foundation serving as co-hosts, again.

This is the first time the same city will host back-to-back championships since Charlotte in 1999 and 2000.  "There is no greater community to stage a sporting event, from a support standpoint, than the city of Hoover, period," said Gene Hallman, Executive Director of the Alabama Sports Foundation.

The College Cup starts Friday with Creighton vs Charlotte and UCLA vs North Carolina.  The championship game is Sunday.