Explore Flint & Genesee supports Flint City Bucks’ bid to host 1st round Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in Grand Blanc
“Hosting an event of such magnitude as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will have a tremendous impact for Grand Blanc along with Genesee County,” said James Avery, Genesee County Commissioner for District 5 (Grand Blanc). “This will give great recognition of Grand Blanc Schools’ history of successful soccer programs for our youth, and it will surely be a welcoming economic blessing for our community.”
“Hosting the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is not only a tremendous opportunity for the city of Grand Blanc but for our community as a whole, as well as the greater Genesee County area,” said John Creasey, mayor of Grand Blanc. “Hosting the Open Cup would be a fantastic way for our nation and the world to focus on the many positive aspects our community has to offer. Personally, I’m excited.”
The Bucks earned one of USL League Two’s nine automatic tournament bids, bypassing five open qualifying rounds. Flint City (9-3-0) won the USL2 Great Lakes Division in 2025 to claim a spot among potential qualifiers — which were then prioritized by regular-season points per match.
“I am thrilled to welcome the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup to the Grand Blanc community if we are successful,” said Leigh LaForest, president and CEO of the Grand Blanc Chamber of Commerce. “Hosting the Bucks on our home turf is an extraordinary opportunity that brings excitement, pride, and an economic impact to our local businesses. This event will shine a spotlight on Grand Blanc and Genesee County, and we’re honored to play a role in supporting an experience that elevates our entire region.”
The Open Cup will feature 32 semi-professional and amateur (Open Division) clubs facing full professional sides in the opening round. In 2025, the first round featured professional teams from the second-tier USL Championship, as well as the third-tier USL League One and MLS NEXT Pro Leagues. The furthest-advancing Open Division club will earn automatic qualification to the 2027 edition of the tournament.
“We’re thrilled to return to the Open Cup stage,” said Bucks President Costa Papista. “Since putting our roots down in Genesee County, changes in the soccer landscape and tournament format have made participation more challenging than in the past. But our recent success has given us a new opportunity, and we feel prepared to take another run at this historic David vs. Goliath tournament. We want to bring something truly special to our deserving fans and a great regional soccer community.”
Further tournament details are expected in early 2026, followed by the first-round draw — including matchups and hosting announcements. Grand Blanc’s beautiful Don Batchelor Stadium meets and exceeds all U.S. Soccer standards for hosting, and the Bucks plan to apply to host all tournament matches. Later-round matches are possible at Kettering University’s Atwood Stadium.
The Bucks are among the most decorated semi-pro teams in Open Cup history, with 15 appearances since 1997 and a record 10 victories over professional opponents — including landmark upsets of MLS sides New England Revolution (2000) and Chicago Fire (2012).
Bucks bring historic Open Cup resume
Since their inception in 1997 as the Mid-Michigan Bucks, the club has compiled one of the most storied Open Cup résumés. They’ve appeared 15 times (qualifying for three more) and played 30 tournament matches. They’ve hosted 22 games.
The Bucks hold a 10-10-1 record against professional opponents and are 2-4-1 against Major League Soccer clubs — highlighted by two of the most iconic upsets in Open Cup history.
In 2000, they became the first team from USL League Two to defeat an MLS opponent, stunning the New England Revolution 1–0 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA.
In 2012, as the Michigan Bucks, they defeated Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire — themselves a four-time Open Cup champion — 3-2 in extra time at Pontiac’s Ultimate Soccer Arenas. With that victory, the Bucks became the first semiprofessional team in the modern era to defeat multiple MLS sides.
The Bucks also boast wins over professional teams from USL and NASL, including the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Cincinnati Kings, Dayton Dutch Lions, and Indy Eleven.
About the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Now entering its 111th edition, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup has crowned U.S. Soccer’s national champion since 1914. The history-filled tournament is conducted on a single-game-knockout basis and is open to professional and amateur / semiprofessional teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. The 2025 U.S. Open Cup winner will earn a berth in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup and have its name engraved on the Dewar Challenge Trophy — one of the oldest nationally contested trophies in American team sports — now on permanent display at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Frisco, Texas. The 2025 tournament featured a total purse worth $1 million that includes a $600,000 award for the champion.
About the Flint City Bucks
The Flint City Bucks have made the USL League Two postseason for six consecutive seasons. In club history, the Bucks have 26 playoff appearances in 29 chances, four league national titles (most recently 2019), 12 conference championships (2025), and 17 division crowns (2025).
About Explore Flint & Genesee
Explore Flint & Genesee, a division of the Flint & Genesee Group, is the destination marketing organization for Flint and Genesee County. As a convention and visitors bureau, Explore Flint & Genesee serves all tourism needs, including conventions, sporting events, association meetings, leisure, motor coach tours, and business travel. For more information, visit ExploreFlintandGenesee.org, and check us out on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
