Lexus Tulsa Cup Brings Huge Economic Impact
The Tulsa Soccer Club () Hurricane, Oklahoma’s largest competitive soccer club, welcomed thousands of youth athletes from across the country April 12-14 for the Lexus Tulsa Cup soccer tournament, sponsored by Lexus of Tulsa.
The Lexus Tulsa Cup is played at two soccer venues: Indian Springs Soccer Complex at 13600 S. 145th E. Ave. in Broken Arrow and Metro Tulsa Soccer Complex at 10715 S. Delaware. Combined, the two venues will host matches on over 30 fields.
Now in its third year, the Lexus Tulsa Cup has attracted over 250 teams from eight different states including Texas, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Arkansas and Illinois. Those teams amounted to over 6,000 players and an additional 6,000 coaches and spectators who took part in the tournament.
“This tournament has grown rapidly over the last couple of years. We’re excited to be attracting teams on a national level and bringing visitors to Tulsa,” says Jim Tindell, executive director of Hurricane.
Nearly 4,000 hotel rooms were booked at more than 50 hotels in the area for the weekend, creating a significant economic impact. Tulsa Regional Chamber economist Bob Ball estimates the total impact of the event as $3.5 million on the Tulsa region.
“Youth competitive soccer has a larger economic impact than most people realize. It is a great tournament weekend for the Tulsa area and our hotel partners are very appreciative of weekend events when corporate travel is light,” Tindell says.
Hurricane partners with the Tulsa Sports Commission to build on these types of existing soccer events and help drive new large events to the Tulsa region.
“Events such as the Lexus Tulsa Cup demonstrate the immense economic impact that youth sports can have on our region. It is not just the kids coming; the parents, coaches and referees will all stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants and visit our attractions,” says Ray Hoyt, senior vice president of VisitTulsa and the Tulsa Sports Commission.
Creating the Lexus Tulsa Cup was the result of partnerships across the Tulsa region and the soccer community. “This tournament would not be possible without our awesome volunteers, our partnership with the Tulsa Sports Commission and the City of Broken Arrow and City of Tulsa making significant investments in high quality soccer complexes,” Tindell says.
About Hurricane
Hurricane is Oklahoma’s largest competitive soccer club. The organization has a combined player base nearly four times the size of the next largest club in the Tulsa/Northeast Oklahoma region and nearly twice the size of the next largest club in the Oklahoma City area. Combined the clubs have over 140 State Championships, 10 Regional Championships, and four National finalists.
Updated 05-12-2013
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