Triumph in Texas

Great news!  All the work that went into Maryland's bid to host future Region I Youth Soccer Tournaments paid off.  I received a terse text from Terry in Texas (say that real fast) on Friday night, confirming that Maryland would be hosting the tourney for two years.

Team Terry and Maryland State Youth Soccer Association director Marie Langford have been working for some time to lure the annual summer regional event to Maryland.  This included almost a full day of site visits last month, and an oral presentation before the governing body at their meeting in Ft. Worth last week.

Region I, which ranges from Maine to Virginia, is the largest of the six regions that hold week-long tournaments every summer, with 3,500 to 4,000 youngsters participating.    Like many youth sports events, these frequently double as family vacations.   In all, the tournaments represent about 15,000 room nights in local hotels, with a $14 million dollar economic impact.

Maryland was awarded 2013-14, and the venue will be Harford County's new showpiece -- Cedar Lane Park.  (John McHugh has been one of our best soccer friends, so we're tickled for him to land this prestigious competition.)

Because youth soccer is so family-centric, travel tends to be by car.  Cedar Lane's I-95 location  makes it particularly convenient, since most of Region I is within tankogas radius.

2013-2014 are shaping up to be good years, since Maryland will have so many activities surrounding the celebration of the War of 1812 Bicentennial -- including a Tall Ship flotilla and an Army-Navy game.  It will also be a World Cup year, which elevates the interest in soccer even more.

Congratulations to Team Terry and the Maryland State Youth Soccer Association on their Texas triumph.