The 2022 US Youth Soccer Eastern Presidents Cup hosted last June by Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer in partnership with Valley Forge Sports has received a Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism award from Sports Destination Management magazine.

The event held at The Proving Grounds in Conshohocken and Plymouth Whitemarsh High School was recognized in the publication’s Mid-Market category.

“We’re proud of this honor and to be partners with Valley Forge,” said Chris Branscome, CEO of Eastern PA Youth Soccer. “Youth soccer is a significant industry by itself, but when partnered with the tourism and hospitality industry we can create new economic opportunities and raise our profile in the marketplace.”

The USYS Eastern Presidents Cup featured 120 teams competing for a regional title and a chance to advance to the National Presidents Cup. It produced 5,000 total room nights across Montgomery County and generated $5.5 million in economic impact, according to Lisa Karl, Vice President of Sales and Strategic Partnerships for Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board.

Karl talked about the impact of the event at the tourism group’s annual luncheon last week.

“It was the largest sports championship ever to take place in Montgomery County,” Karl said. “Our team cultivated this business in partnership with the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer and its CEO Chris Branscome.”

The hotel revenue for last June was the highest its ever been in Montgomery County, Karl said.

“This event exceeded our expectations,” Karl said. “We’re definitely working to bring back the Presidents Cup in 2025.”

All of the Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism award winners are recognized in a special feature published in the November/December 2023 issue of Sports Destination Management. The magazine is a leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directs in the sports tourism market.

The full article with a list of all of the winners is also available on the magazine’s website.