Event Will Bring An Estimated $10+ Million Into Local Economy
The largest international youth soccer tournament in the country will take place in Las Vegas Presidents’ Day weekend, Feb. 16-18. An expected 452 youth soccer teams from around the world will compete during the annual Las Vegas Mayor’s Cup International Showcase tournament. More than 7,300 soccer players, ages 14 to 19, from 12 foreign countries and 28 U.S. states, will square off in soccer fields around the valley. The event is co-hosted by the city of Las Vegas and the Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club, and is expected to bring more than $10 million into the local economy, according to Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club President Roger Tabor. The event also will attract more than 250 college soccer coaches and recruiters from across the country to scout for both male and female athletes. Spectator admission and parking are free at all games.
“We look forward to welcoming these young athletes from all over the world,” said Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman. “They will enjoy our wonderful spring weather, make new friends, play the sport they love, connect with college recruiters and have the time of their lives in fabulous Las Vegas. They boost our local businesses with the money they spend here and bring our Las Vegas youth some great soccer competition. This will be our biggest Mayor’s Cup tournament yet, and a win-win for everyone involved. Can it get any better?”
Matches will be played from 8:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Teams are guaranteed four games. Championship games will be played on Monday at Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex, 7353 Eugene Ave., starting at 10 a.m. Medals and trophies will be presented to winning teams following each championship game, beginning about 11 a.m. Monday and continuing to approximately 4 p.m. There will be no matches Friday, Feb. 15, to allow teams to attend the Las Vegas ProSoccer Challenge between the Colorado Rapids and Chivas USA at Sam Boyd Stadium.
Teams are expected from Australia, the Cayman Islands, Canada, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Mexico, Poland and the United States.
Accepted teams, player profiles, college coaches expected to attend, tournament schedule and program, participating hotels, and more information is available on the event website at www.LVMayorsCup.com. Updated information and results will be posted there as they are finalized. The tournament has received the top rating — Premier Elite Tournament — from Gotsoccer.com, the nation’s top rating service for youth soccer.