Tulsa's Lexus Cup Soccer Tournament Brings Economic Boost

The Lexus Cup Youth Tournament is so big it needs four locations to hold the games.

For the Mohawk Soccer Complex, it can be a much-needed economic boost. There are 342 teams with 15 players, plus coaches and families traveling to Green Country.

They're primed.

They're ready.

And they're loose.

Sheffield United is a girls team of 14-year-olds from Bixby.

"I was born playing soccer," Taylor Pease said. "I haven't been able to stop. I love it."

Sheffield United is one of 342 teams with players from 8 to 19 years old which are competing in the Lexus Cup Youth Tournament.

It's the largest soccer tournament in state history.

Matches are being played at the Mohawk Soccer Complex, as well as fields in Broken Arrow and Jenks.

"A lot of great competition," coach Michael Fox said. "Competition coming from other states."

Teams are here from all over Oklahoma as well, one team is from Edmond and another is from Norman.

"I know it's a big deal wherever the tournaments go as far as filling up hotels, restaurants," Fox said. "It does bring a lot of money into the city."

Organizers estimate the tournament will bring 13,000 people to Tulsa County, which translates to 5,000 hotel rooms, and around a $4 million economic impact.

One of the big concerns at Mohawk was parking.

The site director says they learned from other tournaments so they hired a parking engineer to help solve problems before they pop up.

"Will there be some today?" site director Zack Livingston said. "Probably, but I think the plan in place, currently, has been done really well and so far no problems."

Bixby's Sheffield United likes its chances, and the players say just being on the pitch and spending time with their teammates makes it all worthwhile.

"I like my team," Pease said. "My team, they're like all my sisters and I love them."