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Regional Soccer Tournament Brings In Big Business To Overland Park

Almost 400 youth soccer teams from across the Midwest came to Overland Park, Kansas for the 2015 KC Champions Cup tournament, and that means lots of money went into hotels, restaurants and shops in the area.

Brian Darby owns Coach's Bar & Grill. He said the Champions Cup and other tournaments like it at the Overland Park Soccer Complex bring in customers by the dozens.

"It's kind of a controlled, mass chaos," Darby said. "You drive around in the morning Saturday and Sunday and the roads are full. I know when there's a tournament in town just because of all the cars and [how full] everybody's restaurants are."

The KC Champions Cup is one of the biggest of the 24 tournaments held at the Soccer Complex throughout the year. Tournament directors estimate that the local economy raked in more than $1 million over the course of the weekend. 

Cody Newill is part of KCUR's audience development team. Follow him on Twitter @CodyNewill or email him at cody@kcur.org.
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