BLAINE, Minn. — Over a nine day period more than 1,600 soccer games will be played at the National Sports Center in Blaine. The Schwan’s USA Cup is the largest youth soccer tournament in the western hemisphere and has earned a reputation for excellence in the soccer community. For the second time in the history of the tournament more than 1,000 teams are scheduled to participate. As a result Blaine will grow from a city of 50,000 to a city of 75,000 everyday for the next week.
While the traffic and congestion on the roads and inside area businesses can at times cause frustration the tournament does have a positive effect on the community in many ways. “USA Cup is the largest annual out-of-state economic impact event in the State of Minnesota, about $20.4 million dollars in out of state money” said Barclay Kruse of the National Sports Center.
Creating that large economic impact each year takes a lot of work. The team behind USA Cup works year round to market and grow the tournament in the competitive business of youth soccer. “We basically work 12 months a year marketing this tournament” said Kruse.
Much of the success of USA Cup comes from the established tradition of being more than just a soccer tournament, which has led parents and coaches to fall in love with the event. With clinics, dances, day trips and more Kruse said the parents “get some help taking care of their kids for the week.”
Due to the longevity of the tournament many of today’s parents and coaches were once athletes who participated in the event – bringing the tournament full circle. “The sentiment we use is you come for a week but you remember it for the rest of your life, and it’s a true statement.”
The 2013 Schwan’s USA Cup runs from Friday, July 12 through Saturday, July 20, all games are free and open to the public. The public is especially invited to attend the Opening Ceremonies on Tuesday, July 16. The event will feature a parade of athletes, skydivers, fireworks, and a concert. If you are unable to make it to the National Sports Center, the Opening Ceremonies will be broadcast live here on North Metro TV.
