PORTLAND, Maine — More than 5,000 people are expected to pump about $10 million into the economy when the US Youth Soccer Region 1 Championships are held in southern Maine beginning this week.

The tournament, which begins Thursday and continues through July 1, features scores of youth soccer games in South Portland, Falmouth and Brunswick for players ages 13 to 18.

For the event, players, family members and soccer officials have booked rooms in 51 hotels from Kittery to Augusta, plus another nine or 10 in New Hampshire, said Kim Monaghan-Derrig, director of convention sales and events at the Convention & Visitors Bureau of Greater Portland.

The estimated $10 million economic impact is based on the bureau's ballpark estimate that a convention-goer spends about $270 a day, including the cost of a hotel room. The estimate could be high, she said, because children generally account for less spending than a conventioneer.

But there are signs that some of the soccer families will be tacking on a vacation after the tournament, which would prolong the economic benefits, she said.

"It has a huge impact on the region and the state of Maine," Monaghan-Derrig said.

This is the second straight year that the regional championships have been held in Maine. Other regional tourneys are being held in Hawaii, Illinois and North Carolina. The championships are set for late July in Arkansas.

The influx of visitors provides a boost to businesses before the Maine tourist season gets into full swing after July 4.

Last year, the Saturday of tournament week was a record-breaker for DiMillo's Floating Restaurant in Portland. That day, the restaurant served 1,572 meals, while a typical busy summer days might see 1,350 meals or so.

The tournament also comes at a nice time, said Steve DiMillo.

"Really, July 4th, as long as I've been in the business, has been when the super summer starts, so this is a little bonus," he said.

US Youth Soccer has been happy with Portland, but the tournament will shift to Barboursville, W.Va., for the two years after this, said Todd Roby, the organization's senior manager of communication.

Meanwhile, Monaghan-Derrig said the bureau has its eyes on other sports events to bring to the Portland area.

This month, the bureau landed the 2009 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships, which is expected to bring about 5,000 skaters, families and others to Portland, she said. The event is scheduled for March 3 to 7, which is generally a slow time for hospitality businesses in Maine.

"They're out there, and we need to bring them into Maine," Monaghan-Derrig said. "These big events are big business for Maine."

Information from: Portland Press Herald, http://www.pressherald.com