The Youth Soccer Region I National Tournament is coming to town and will boost the community's economy and reputation, making it one of the biggest events to hit West Virginia.
The tournament is expected to make a $12 million economic impact from Ashland to Charleston.
"The government will benefit indirectly because of things like hotel and motel occupancy tax, but the community will benefit directly because it's going to help those businesses that take advantage of it," said Stephen Zoeller, Cabell County manager.
The estimate comes from what hotels, restaurants, shopping, and tourism in general will bring in. Also, it is based on what the tournament has generated in the past. Cabell County alone is predicting to see over $7 million.
Marshall is hosting the opening ceremony at the Joan C. Edwards field, kicking off the six-day event July 2. Region I consists of 13 states from Maine to Virginia, bringing 268 teams and 15,000 people to the tri-state area. Teams will play on 22 fields with 16 at Barboursville Park and six at the Kennedy Center.
The tournament will return to Marshall and the Cabell County area in 2010. The West Virginia Soccer Association won the two-year bid last year in Maine. Preparations for the 2010 tournament will begin as soon as the tournament ends July 7.
Not only will the tournament give recognition and an economic boost to the community but also to Marshall University. The university is housing the visitors in dorms, which will also bring potential college students to campus. Housing is expected to generate about $40,000 for the university. That's not including what the food service and bookstore will bring in.
Zoeller has played a big role in getting the soccer tournament to town. He is also a member of the steering committee for the event.
"Clearly this doesn't happen every day, and it's taken everybody working together," Zollen said. "This is a bigger event than what you would expect to see in West Virginia."
Zoeller hopes the soccer tournament will achieve two things.
"One, (thing I hope for is) that the people who come here leave with a really good impression of what it is to visit West Virginia. The second thing is for the community to see that we can pull off a major event and do it well, making it a springboard to going after events like this in the future," Zoeller said. "It's not only stimulating on a personal level to the people involved but also to the community and economics of the area."
Marshall is doing what it can to accommodate the 1,593 people staying on campus. The dining halls will be open to provide meal services at extended hours as well as the student center. Guests will also be offered a pass for the Recreation Center costing six dollars a day. They will receive the "We Are Marshall" DVD when they arrive as well as a showing of the DVD on campus and at Keith Albee Performing Arts Center.
Karen Kirtley, the assistant vice president for administration at Marshall, said the university is making a huge effort.
"Of course you take every opportunity to show off your campus, and this will be a good recruiting tool," Kirtley said, "With all of the services we are providing it will give our guests the ability to see what Marshall has to offer."
The WVSA and the Convention and Visitors Bureau organized the event, from finding hotels for 15,000 people to building a $1.6 million bridge in Barboursville Park.
"We have hotels filled from Grayson to Charleston," Rogers said.
Several concerts and events are planned throughout the week to keep people entertained. There will be a block party on Fourth Avenue, a barbeque at the wave pool, and fireworks for the Fourth of July. Len Rogers, president of the soccer association, is excited about the fields that have been developed for the tournament.
"It is spectacular for us in the soccer world," Rogers said.
Most of the people coming in for the tournament have never been to West Virginia.
"I think it will definitely help West Virginia's reputation. That's one of the things I'm so proud of," said Craig Warner, the director of sales at the Convention and Visitors Bureau for Cabell County. "We are really going to surprise them and let them know we are quality people and have a lot to offer."
A video has been sent to the guests welcoming them and showing the area's local attractions. To see the video, or for more details on game schedules and events, go to www.westvirginia2009.com and click on the Region One Tournament icon.
Tess Moore can be contacted at moore231@marshall.edu.
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