For the first time ever the Big Ten conference’s seven men’s soccer teams will participate 2010 National Soccer Festival in Fort Wayne. The City of Fort Wayne gave the National Soccer Festival a $10,000 sports business development grant to attract the Big Ten.
“Sports tourism generates between $13 and $15 million annually in our community...,” said Dan O’Connell, president and CEO Fort Wayne/Allen County CVB. “Hosting a Big Ten Conference competition puts Fort Wayne in a position to host future Big Ten events.”
Festival organizers do not know how many attendees to expect for the 2010 festival since it will be the first time for Big Ten Conference play, but it has traditionally had more than 1,000 visitors. Fort Wayne is an attractive location geographically for the conference as it is centrally located to the universities and many of their alumni.
The Big Ten Challenge, the working name for the preseason event, will be part of the festival that also features teams from IPFW, Indiana Tech and St. Francis as well as other Division I teams. The 2010 festival also includes a conference coaches meeting, player picnic, preseason media event and soccer clinics for youth players.
Founded in 2000, the festival is held at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne’s Hefner Soccer Complex. The 2010 National Soccer Festival will be Aug. 26 to Aug. 29. This year’s festival will be Aug. 21, 22 and Aug. 27 through Aug. 29.
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