Youth soccer tournament boosts state's economy

By Sean Hao
Advertiser Staff Writer

Soccer players Lauren Verrelli of Alaska, left, and Jennifer Eugenio of Hawai'i shop at Lady Foot Locker at Pearl Ridge. Photos by Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

Kirsten Jorgensen, left, of Alaska and Dara Pagaduan of Hawai'i compete in a scrimmage before the soccer tournament in Waipi'o.

Eight thousand to 10,000 visitors are expected to attend the week-long U.S. Youth Soccer Region IV Championships, providing a welcome boost to the state's tourism industry and wide exposure for both Hawai'i youth soccer and Honolulu's $24 million, 300-acre soccer complex. Based on state visitor spending estimates, organizers expect the event running from Sunday to June 28 to pump about $12 million into the economy.

Tournament organizers said event attendees booked about 4,500 rooms throughout Waikiki for at least a week, including 400 at the Ala Moana Hotel.

"This is huge," said Marty Milan, director of sales at the Ala Moana Hotel. "For many of the people coming here this is a first-time visit. That kind of exposure is invaluable.

"It's a great way to showcase the island and, of course, the hotel."

More than two years in the planning, the U.S. Youth Soccer championships follow on the heels of last year's American Youth Soccer Organization Championships, an event that drew an estimated 6,000 visitors to the state and contributed about $8 million to the economy.

Unlike last year's AYSO event, the U.S. Youth Soccer games will involve older players and feature a more competitive level of youth soccer. That's because U.S. Youth Soccer players typically have to qualify for teams or be invited to play.

Organizers hope the event will help raise awareness of local youth soccer and Hawai'i talent. Nineteen of the 212 teams in the event are from Hawai'i, and overall about 30,000 people participate in organized youth and adult soccer statewide, event organizers said.

"This is easily the biggest event for them," said Scott Keopuhiwa, president for the Hawaii Youth Soccer Association. "That experience is a benefit to them."

And with 50 to 100 college coaches expected to attend the tournament to scout athletes, local players "might get a look as far as recognition that they might not otherwise get."

This is the first time the U.S. Youth Soccer regional championship will be held in Hawai'i and winners in each tournament age division will receive a berth in the U.S. Youth Soccer national tournament next month in Germantown, Md.

Keopuhiwa said the Waipi'o soccer complex, which opened in 2000, was a big factor in landing the soccer tournament. The 19-soccer field complex and its 5,000-seat lighted stadium have been a source of controversy. The city has considered instituting users fees to help offset the $550,000 spent per year to operate and maintain the complex.

While the complex has drawn two big soccer events in two years, it may be a while before the state sees another tournament this. Next year's U.S. Youth Soccer Region IV tournament is scheduled for Spokane, Wash., and Keopuhiwa said another similar-sized event has not been landed for the future.

But now that Hawai'i has drawn thousands of families from the West Coast and southern United States to Honolulu, the goal is to convince them to return.

"We're just trying to do the best we can do to leave a positive impression so they want to come again," Keopuhiwa said.

Tom Rutecki, coach of the Xtra Tuffs team from Juneau, Alaska, said the 13-year-old girls and their families have been royally treated by their Hawai'i hosts, who have taken some of the girls into their homes and cooked several potluck meals.

Most of the group of about 60 players and relatives will remain in Hawai'i for two weeks, Rutecki said. Some say they will stay a third week and travel to the Neighbor Islands.

What they spend for their trip is significant. "I think it'll cost us $40,000 to get over here," Rutecki said, with each person paying about $700 for airfare and lodging for a week. And they likely will spend more on food and shopping.

The complex and recent soccer events have brought welcome traffic to nearby stores.

"On some days you can't keep up," said Mel Tanioka, owner of Tanioka's catering and plate-lunch store on Farrington Highway a few minutes from the soccer complex. Tanioka's, which has been at its location for 25 years, has seen more traffic since the complex opened.

"We know when they're out there," Tanioka said. "It's been real good for our store."

While large by soccer standards, the USYS regional championships rank well behind other major Hawai'i sporting events such as February's National Football League Pro Bowl and December's Honolulu Marathon.

Like the marathon, which contributes an estimated $62.2 million to the economy, the U.S. Youth Soccer event received no state subsidy. The Pro Bowl, which brought in an estimated $23.8 million, cost the state $5.1 million to host.

Such sporting events are key in the state's efforts to diversify the tourism base. Visitor arrivals through April were up 1.5 percent from last year, with an increase in Mainland visitor arrivals partially offset by a drop in international arrivals. Of the tourists who came in the first four months of the year, 25,324 said they traveled to Hawai'i to attend a sporting event.

Coach Rutecki says to count him among those who would love to return to the Islands.

Next year, the regionals are on the Mainland. "I doubt they'll get anything like this," he said.

Reach Sean Hao at 525-8093 shao@honoluluadvertiser.com.