DERBY CUP 2008 FAQs

How do I get to the fields?

All of the fields for this tournament are located at Exit 17, Buckner, off Interstate 71. NOTE that when traveling from the north, there  are TWO BUCKNER EXITS. Please BE SURE TO TAKE EXIT 17. See the map for details. The tournament is actually located between the two exits but the other exit crosses a very busy railroad track that you should avoid if at all possible.

All are within four miles of each other, and all on the same road, which is State Highway 146 in Buckner, Kentucky. The street address of Oldham County Middle School is the same as the Oldham County Youth Soccer Game Field Complexes: 5302 West Highway 146, Buckner KY for those using Yahoo Maps.

The South Field Complex is located less than a half mile south, also directly off of State Highway 146. When coming toward the fields from I-71, the first set of fields you will see comprise the South Complex.

You can see the South Complex Fields from State Highway 146 but you can’t see the North Complex. See the map for details.

The North Complex is located off the entrance to Oldham County Middle School and Buckner Elementary School. You have to turn into the schools’ drive to see the soccer fields. The schools’ drive is directly across from the “pink daycare center” (you’ll know it when you see it.)

The first road to the left after you turn into the schools’ drive is the North Complex. If you get to the traffic light (Oldham County High School’s softball field would be on the left and the railroad track/junk store on the right,) you’ve gone too far. There will be plenty of volunteers and signs to give direction. See the map for details.

Is there anywhere nearby to eat?

We will be serving hot and cold breakfast, lunch and dinner food all day Saturday and Sunday at the Game Field Complex and the Practice Field Complex, including freshly delivered breakfast pizzas, coffee and hot chocolate, all types of soda, sport drinks, candy and snacks. We’ll be grilling hamburgers and hot dogs, having hot pizza delivered all weekend long and plan to offer all manner of typical concession stand food.

Right down State Road 146 west of the entrance to the Game Fields Complex is a little strip mall containing a Subway that sells pizza and an Edy’s Ice Cream store. Other than that, in Buckner, there’s a Thornton’s quickie mart fresh fruit right as you get off I-71 and another gas station with typical gas station fare at the light just beyond the game fields on 146.

The town of LaGrange, which is located off I-71 at Exit 22, (about 4 miles north of the soccer tournament) features these restaurants within a mile if you turn left, or west, off I-71 North: McDonald’s, Taco Bell, KFC, Long John Silver’s, Arby’s, Dairy Queen, Cracker Barrel, Hometown Pizza, a couple of local hot and cold sub shops. To the right, or east, within a mile off I-71 North on State Road 53 is Wendy’s, Ponderosa and a couple of really good local Mexican restaurants, right behind the Wendy’s. There is also a big Wal-Mart behind the fast food places and a Kroger grocery store just beyond on State Road 53 South.

You can also go the other way from the soccer tournament while staying on State Road 146 toward the town of Crestwood, and come upon several really nice local restaurants, such as the Corner Stone Cafe. We urge you to give them a try because you can’t go wrong. You will also find another Hometown Pizza and a Dairy Queen in Crestwood, within 10 miles of the tournament sites.

What else is there to do tournament weekend?

You’ve chosen an amazing weekend to be in the Louisville area, as it is the weekend before the Kentucky Derby. This year marks the 50^th anniversary of the Kentucky Derby Festival and numerous events are planned daily. Special activities planned for tournament weekend include hot air balloon “glows” at night and races during the day featuring myriad interesting shapes and sizes and representing some of the world’s best hot air balloon aviators.

Derby week also brings to Louisville some of the country’s best musical acts and other performers.

Be sure to check the Kentucky Derby Festival website at http://www.kdf.org. It is full of information and you can call 502-584-6383 for further details.

Nearer the soccer fields, there is a big lovely public park just north of the tournament’s location. Go left out of the game fields or practice fields and continue until you get to the traffic light. The high school softball field will be on your left. Turn left (north) at the light, onto State Highway 393. (You can turn only left onto 393.) The park is right past the high school on the right. It has pavilions for picnics, hiking/running trails, tennis courts, basketball courts and paved parking.

Check the website for updated entertainment daily.