June 12, 2024

It’s going to be a big week for visitors to Sioux Falls.

The U.S. Youth Soccer Midwest Presidents Cup is expected to bring almost 7,000 people to the city from Friday through Tuesday. More than 180 teams from 13 states will be competing at Yankton Trail Park for a spot in the National Championships in Wichita, Kanas.

The tournament includes players age 13 to 19, which means plenty of families along for the trip and teenagers who tend to spend too, said Teri Schmidt, CEO of Experience Sioux Falls.

“Get staffed up, and get the red carpet out,” she encouraged businesses. “There will be people coming in from all over the country.”

Every available hotel room in town is full, she said. And visitors are staying “as far as Sioux City, Brookings, Brandon, everywhere we could get rooms,” she said.

Sioux Falls hosted a U.S. Youth Soccer event in 2017 for the Region II Midwest Championships, and while that event brought in more people, the Midwest Presidents Cup is a tier above in the tournament hierarchy. Experience Sioux Falls has worked with Dakota Alliance Soccer Club over the past several years to bring the event to Sioux Falls and assist in arranging details for the event.

The tournament is open to the public, who will be able to watch an exciting level of soccer competition.

In addition to the soccer games at Yankton Trail Park, the Midwest Presidents Cup will include “Party Off the Pitch” in downtown Sioux Falls from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday on Phillips Avenue between Ninth and 10th streets. This event will have a DJ, giveaways and games, all while encouraging the teams to explore downtown.

“It will be a blast for those soccer players,” Schmidt said, adding the public is welcome to stop by too.

Events such as this tend to have a positive ripple effect on businesses, she said. If weather happens to delay games, expect teams to head inside to shop or dine. Coaches have been known to take teams to movies to rest and cool off, she added.

“So I expect the town to just be hustling with upwards of 7,000 soccer players, families and officials,” she said.

Dakota Alliance Soccer Club is still in need of volunteers for various shifts throughout the tournament, including event setup, teardown, concessions, parking and more. Sign up to volunteer.