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Photo by Bob Pennell Students from Tigard work their way through piles of gym bags and soccer balls Saturday at Medford's Fitchner-Mainwaring Park. The youths were among more than 10,000 people in town for the annual Rogue Valley Cup soccer tournament, packing local hotels and restaurants. Tournament players feast; so do businesses Thousands in town for three big events By WENDY SIPOREN A trio of sports tournaments sent local hotels and pizza parlors rolling in dough this weekend as more than 11,000 people descended on Southern Oregon to throw, kick or bat their favorite ball. The largest of the events, the sixth annual Rogue Valley Cup soccer tournament, lured 135 teams of boys and girls from Nevada, California, Washington and Oregon. "It's the single largest event in Jackson County," said organizer Mike Dunn. "They just don't see us because we're hovering around the soccer fields." Dunn says this year's participants number roughly 3,000, with an additional 7,000 moms, dads and siblings lending their support. With 75 percent of the teams from out of the area, soccer fans are filling local hotels and restaurants. Employees at Abby's pizza parlor on South Riverside learned their lesson last year and were busy Saturday afternoon making extra ingredients and dough in anticipation of hungry players. "Last time there was a tournament we were so busy we didn't know what to do," said Heather Kerr. "If they do come (this year) we will be ready." The Medford Visitors and Convention Bureau estimates that from Friday at noon to Monday noon last year, the soccer tournament brought in $2.1 million in direct revenue to local businesses. That's money spent on lodging, gas, food and entertainment. Dunn says the figure is conservative because many participants take advantage of the lack of sales tax in Oregon to make major purchases while they are here. In addition to the Rogue Valley Cup, a basketball tournament in Ashland and a large Babe Ruth baseball tournament meant hotel rooms from Ashland to Grants Pass were booked almost to capacity during the already-busy holiday weekend. Several Medford hotels said they have been fully booked for several months. "At this point in time, there's no room in Medford," said Craig Cockrell, assistant general manager for Rogue Regency Inn. "We're sending people on to Grants Pass or Redding depending on which direction they're traveling in." Dunn said the only thing keeping the tournament from growing is lack of motel space. " We would like to grow to 190 to 210 teams, but our Achilles' heel is hotels," he said. "We've booked everything from Callahan's to the Redwood Highway. We fill up the KOA campgrounds." As the soccer tournament has grown, organizers began booking rooms in Grants Pass where, despite festivities at the annual Boatnik festival, rooms still could be found Saturday. Tournament organizers start reserving rooms six months in advance. In Ashland, the eighth annual Shakespearean Slam basketball tournament put hotels in summer tourist-season mode. Event organizer Tim Talbott said well over 1,000 people crowded the Southern Oregon University campus to play and watch the three-on-three games. This year players came from as far away as Idaho, Nevada and Southern California. Proceeds from the event will go to Southern Oregon youth basketball programs. Funds raised through the Rogue Valley Cup also will be channeled back to support local soccer. In the last three years, the tournament has donated more than $55,000 to local leagues, school districts and the Medford Parks and Recreation Department. This year it donated $10,000 to help build a new field at North Medford High School. It's being used for the first time during the tournament. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA