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Soccer tournament brings thousands to BG

Thousands of students are returning to campus this weekend in Bowling Green, and an additional 10,000 people will be in the city for a youth soccer tournament.

BOWLING GREEN, OH (Toledo News Now) - Thousandsof students are returning to campus this weekend in Bowling Green, and anadditional 10,000 people will be in the city for a youth soccer tournament.Businesses there are gearing up for what's expected to be a booming weekend.

TheBG Fall Soccer Challenge is getting ready to kick off, and it's estimated todraw thousands of people from across the country.

"[Thereare] 240 teams, which is about 3,000 players, and about 8-10,000 people for theweekend," said Arnold Zirkes, tournament director.

Girlsand boys ages 8-19 will be hitting the BGSU fields for the next two days, andwith students moving in the same weekend, hotels are nearly sold out.

Localbusinesses welcome the extra traffic. At Myles Pizza, orders are alreadystarting to pile in. The manager says they'll easily make close to $10,000 thisweekend alone.

"Theweekend does get crazy," said Abraham Valle, manager. "The addition of thesoccer tournament is always good for us, and every year we anticipate it. But I'llbe honest with you, this year it's really, really picking up."

Thetournament is estimated to bring in a total of $750,000 to the city.

"Withall the restaurants that are full, with all the gas that people need, thetraveling for those that are coming from out of town, hotel stays," Zirkessaid.

Butit won't cost visitors a penny to cheer on their favorite team!

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