Sioux Falls, S.D. (KELO AM and KWSN) - As many as 5 thousand young soccer players will meet in Sioux Falls for the 2017 US Youth Soccer Region Championships at Yankton Trail Park, bringing with them parents, friends, and up to $17 million in economic impact.
The Sioux Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau is calling the event the biggest that Sioux Falls has hosted to date, and it's not just Sioux Falls that will see the economic impact. An estimated 14,000 hotel nights will be booked in the area in support of the event.
Participants that don't already have rooms booked for the event could find themselves commuting from places like Sioux City or Vermillion, as an online search for Sioux Falls hotels shows the city is already 95% booked for the weekend.
City Council Chairman Rex Rolfing says the city's population will grow by as many as 15,000 people over the four day event. During Wednesday's press conference he compared it to having the entire city of Mitchell moving to town for the weekend.
Mayor Huether echoed the excitement for the event, saying the city is prepared to roll out the red carpet for all involved.
Sioux Falls has previously hosted the region championships in 1999, 2005, and 2009. Athletes from 13 states will participate in the event. Games begin June 23rd and champions will be crowned on June 28th. The winners of each age bracket will earn a berth in the US Youth Soccer National Championships which will be played in Frisco, Texas.