Mayor's Cup International Showcase Brings World's Game to Vegas

By Mary Hausch

More than 4,000 elite soccer players from eight foreign countries and 28 states will take to the field in the Las Vegas Mayor's Cup International Showcase, Presidents' Day weekend, Feb. 13-15.

"This is a history-making tournament with teams coming from as far away as Germany, France, Romania and Denmark," said Roger Tabor, President of the Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club. "There will be some highly competitive match-ups."

The record number of foreign participants makes this the largest international youth soccer tournament in the country, Tabor said.

The Downtown Club is hosting the tournament in conjunction with the city of Las Vegas at the Bettye Wilson, Kellog-Zaher, Ed Fountain, Cimarron Memorial and Centennial Hills soccer complexes throughout the city.

The venues were expanded from four to five because of the record number of 254 entries. Matches will be played from 8:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and the championship games will be played on Monday, said Richard Ryerson, Downtown Club Executive Director.

Ryerson said teams are coming from many states that are not often represented in Nevada tournaments, including Alaska, Connecticut, Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin, Kansas, Missouri and Minnesota. The teams represent all four soccer regions in the United States, six Canadian provinces and two Mexican states. The tournament is for boys and girls teams in the Under-15 through Under-19 age brackets.

The tournament has received the platinum rating as an exceptional tournament from Gotsoccer.com, the nation's top rating service for youth soccer.

Ryerson said one of the most interesting divisions to watch will be the Boys' Under 15 age group that will feature teams from 13 states and three countries.

"It's unusual to draw such a diverse field at that age level," he noted.

That bracket includes the developmental team affiliated with the professional Colorado Rapids soccer club.

Tabor said there was concern that the tournament might not surpass the previous two President's Day tournaments because of the weakened international economy. Organizers, however, were pleased with the response and the prospect of bringing thousands of people to Las Vegas for the weekend.

Foreign teams also faced challenges in securing the necessary American visas to enter the country and that kept several teams from participating. Ryerson cited the case of the Romanian team that had to drive 600 miles round trip to the nearest American embassy to complete the paperwork.

One reason so many teams come to the International Tournament is the chance to showcase their best players in front of college coaches and recruiters. Ryerson said coaches from more than 50 universities with strong soccer programs have registered to scout potential players.

"We've had a strong response from such standout soccer schools as Loyola Marymount, DePauw University, Air Force Academy, Cal State Fullerton and Mount Saint Mary's University, because coaches know they will get to see an unprecedented number of the best international players in one weekend," Ryerson said.

The competition at the upper age levels will be especially strong, because many elite teams that cannot play in the fall during high school seasons will be here for this tournament, Tabor said.

Helping make the tournament possible are local Rotary Clubs whose members host some foreign teams in their homes.

Information on the International Showcase is available at the Tournament Web site, www.LVMayorsCup.com, or the Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club Web site at www.downtownlvsc.com. The tournament site includes a list of all teams that have been accepted to play and the tournament schedule. Results will be posted there as the matches are completed.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and members of the City Council will attend the tournament and present prizes to the winning teams.

The Downtown Soccer Club and the City of Las Vegas are also partners in hosting the long-standing Mayor's Cup in October for teams in the Under-11 to Under-15 age groups. Next up on the Downtown Club's tournament schedule will be the club's Junior Cup tournament for teams in the Under-8 to Under-10 age brackets in May.