Issue link: http://frankenmuthcvb.uberflip.com/i/1521933
12 Memorial Day Weekend in Frankenmuth is always a bustling hot spot with the annual Dog Bowl and Balloons Over Bavarian Inn events. In 2024, we will also be hosting many international guests for the 2024 Memorial Cup presented by Dow. Many have heard about this event coming to Saginaw, but if you aren't connected to the hockey community, you may be wondering what all the hype is about. The Frankenmuth Convention & Visitors Bureau is a proud supporter of the Saginaw Spirit and have joined the Great Lakes Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau, Saginaw County, Dow, The Saginaw Spirit ownership group, and many others throughout the region help host this International Hockey Event. What is it, why is it so important to the region and how can someone get involved? Follow along to learn more! The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is comprised of three leagues including the Western Hockey League (WHL), The Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and The Ontario Hockey League (OHL). The CHL is the greatest source of talent being drafted into The National Hockey League (NHL). The local motto is "Here today, NHL tomorrow" and that certainly is the case in Saginaw as the Spirit have 10 NHL drafted or signed players on their current team, and more eligible this year. The Memorial Cup is the Canadian Hockey League's championship tournament. It is an 8-game round robin featuring the winners of each league plus the host city's team. While we already know the Saginaw Spirit will be competing in the Memorial Cup, the other three teams are still battling it out for their spot throughout the playoff season. The Cup is awarded to the best team in junior hockey and it is one of the most coveted and difficult trophies to win in hockey. It was first awarded in 1919 in remembrance of the many soldiers who fought and died for Canada in WWII and it has been rededicated in the memory of all fallen Canadian Military Personnel. The event will kick off with the "Arrival of the Cup" parade and opening ceremonies in downtown Saginaw on Thursday, May 23rd at 4:00pm. The short parade will go from the Commerce Tower (near the Henry Marsh Bridge) on Washington Street to Johnson Street where it will lead to the opening ceremonies at the Jolt Event Park at 5:00pm. This short event will be filled with music, flags, fanfare, and of course, honored military guests who will help escort the Cup into the ceremony. It will be a great way to celebrate the intent of the Cup. "United We Soar" is the rally cry for this year's event where we have the unique honor to celebrate and remember not only the Canadian Military but also our US Military for their service and sacrifices. There will be one game every evening with the first one taking place on Friday, May 24th at 7:30pm. Every game will be televised nationally in Canada on TSN, via the NHL Network and locally on WNEM TV5+. Thursday, May 30th does not have a regularly scheduled game as that is utilized for a play-in game, if one is necessary due to a tie. The international visibility is one of the most powerful benefits to our entire region from hosting this event. Every Canadian household, many who never knew there was a Saginaw, Michigan, will now be exposed via this positive event and its publicity. Having so many people in our region that will speak positively about what they experience is something marketing money can't buy. Every game day the Dow Event Center Campus will be filled with festivities in the UA Local 85 Fan Fest. The events are free to the public and the community is welcome to join ticket holders and fans to expe- rience a bit of the Memorial Cup, even if you aren't attending a game. The UA Local 85 Fan Fest includes the Hockey Hall of Fame, presented by Tri-Star Trust, with exhibits inside the Dow Event Center Theater, interactive historical and STEM buses, a synthetic ice rink to skate on, Top Shot Hockey activities, an inflatable slide, a rock wall, Bavarian Inn & Lodge Food Truck Alley, a merchandise tent, vendor displays, and the Spirit of the Community entertainment lineup at the Jolt Event Park. The daily entertainment will feature a speaker series and also a band on stage. For the complete lineup, please check the CHL's website for the final schedule. 2024 Memorial Cup By Jamie Furbush