Huntington Prepares for Youth Soccer Championships

Preparations Underway for July Event

May 26, 2009

Officials and volunteers in Huntington, West Virginia are busy undergoing preparations for this July’s U.S. Youth Soccer Region I Championships.

The tournament, set to being July 2, will feature 280 soccer teams from 13 states, including New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Maryland, Delaware and West Virginia.

Approximately 4,000 players will compete in the event with an estimated 10,000 parents, coaches and referees accompanying them, according to the local paper, the Herald-Dispatch.

This is the first of a two-year agreement to have the tournament in the region, and the economic impact is expected to be about $12 million, according to the Herald-Dispatch.

Here is what’s been done so far, as reported by the Herald-Dispatch:

The fields have been re-seeded with a special dwarf grass that was ordered for the fields by tournament officials. The fields will be ready in time for the tournament.

AT&T 3G service is operational and will provide for wireless capabilities for Internet and phone service.

Teams will be getting their lodging reservations. Hotels from Charleston to Ashland will be housing the players, parents, coaches and referees. Marshall University will also house a number of participants in the dorms.

Several activities have been planned for the opening ceremony including a soccer ball juggling contest, a video showing visitors the features of the Tri-State and Marshall, a five-on-five soccer game and music played by the Army National Guard Band.

Goodie bags will include a tournament program, visitors information, candy, granola bars, an Major League Soccer poster and coupons to local businesses in a canvas bag.