Signing In . . .

The stage is being set for the weekend extravaganza at Camden Yards.   Although the NCAA lacrosse tournament will take place at M&T Bank Stadium, the fan festival will extend the length of Ravens Walk. 

The energy radiates even further.  (Just ask the good folks in the downtown hospitality trade.)

By Friday night you'll see youngsters brandishing sticks all around the Inner Harbor as the many rec teams participating in the first Youth Lax Day hit town.

Youth Lax Day is actually a weekend of events for participating teams, with special seating in the stadium, an on-site tailgating section, and a parade on to the field for all participants in their team jerseys.

Another feature for weekend warriors is the opportunity to play in a youth lacrosse tournament on Sunday at the Cedar Lane complex in Harford County.  The Future Champions Tournament has four age groups with three skill levels in each category to give all participants the opportunity to improve their game while enjoying the competition.

So the added dimenstions this year promise to take the Championship Tournament to another level.  There will be all sorts of activities sponsored by ESPN (like the popular L-A-X challenge during the Day of Rivals) and plenty for families to see and do.

We're keeping our fingers crossed on the weather, but it couldn't be lovelier today.  Those bright purple banners have us thinking lacrosse and cheering for a big turnout for Memorial Day Weekend

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.

Team Terry, Trolling for Tourneys

It's cold in the Warehouse today, but I know the welcome is warm where Terry and Tweety are conducting site visits with a delegation from the U.S. Youth Soccer Championship.  This national summer tournament is played across five regions every year.  Nationally, 185,000 youngsters are involved.  In Region I (where Terry would dearly love to see this tournament roost in 2011 and 2012) more than 4,500 players and their families will gravitate to the host area for the six-day tournament.

To put it in terms we all understand, family travel for youth sports puts a lot of heads on beds.  In West Virginia, last year’s Region 1 host, this represented 11,000 room nights at area hotels and an estimated $12.5 million economic impact.

Team Terry is touting the Harford County facilities of Cedar Lane Regional Park and Carsins Run Turf Farm with a possible opening ceremony at Ripken Stadium.  John McHugh, Cedar Lanes facility director, joined us for the World Cup bid announcement last week.   He reminded us that much of his park's appeal comes from its proximity to I-95, making it just as convenient for players from Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey as for most of Maryland.  Region I includes East Coast states from Maine to Virginia.

We're on a roll with bringing soccer events to Maryland, and this would be one more reason to consider our state for other events and activities -- not just soccer, but lacrosse other youth-based tournaments.  We have the excellent facilities, the convenient location, hospitality infrastructure and numerous family attractions.