 | |
|
[ Timeline ]
[ 1998 ] • Soccer Tourism was established as an official sport property of Colone Associates. [ 1999 ] • The Lehigh Valley Soccer Club - also known as Lehigh Valley Premier - was formed. [ 2001 ] • The Lehigh Valley Sports is created in July, 2001 [ 2002 ] • "B.C. Kicks" in Binghamton/Broome County, NY was launched. It became the inaugural Soccer Tourism event. It grew to around 200 teams per year in both 2002 and 2003. [ 2002 ] • Colone Associates added the Nice n Easy/NY-NY Summer Soccer Series. [ 2002 ] • Colone Associates introduced the concept Soccer Tourism to the Lehigh Valley Sports Commission and CVB. [ 2003 & 2004 ] • Tournament drew 60 to 70 regionally based teams. | |
|
| |
 | |
|
| |
|
[ About Us ] • History of LVSC and the history of soccer in the Lehigh Valley [ click here ] In 2002, Colone Associates introduced the concept Soccer Tourism to the Lehigh Valley Sports Commission and CVB. It was very well received in that the presented people intensive event would be good as a hosted youth activity and good for business in the Lehigh Valley. The Lehigh Valley Soccer Club signed-on as the “official host soccer club and thus the annual Labor Day Weekend Great Lehigh Valley Soccer Festival was born. Mark Stebbins, LVSC President said, “we are proud to be the host club to this tournament, and we are looking forward to working with Colone Associates and the Lehigh Valley community to see that it is a success.” It’s a great way to showcase soccer, the Lehigh Valley and its extensive vacation opportunities. It has drawn 60 to 70 regionally based teams in each of 2003 and 2004. It is expected to grow steadily over the next 3 years to a 125 to 140 team event. “We estimate that this event will have 1500 players and their soccer families will visit the Lehigh Valley to enjoy our attractions, our restaurants, our hotels, our stores and the Great Allentown Fair” noted Scott Craver, Chairman of the Lehigh Valley Sports Commission in 2002 Back in 1998, Soccer Tourism was established as an official sport property of Colone Associates. The concept surrounds the programming of high quality soccer specific tournament events that are commercially driven and designed to boost regional economies by filling lodging facilities, eating establishments and thereby stimulating virtually every segment of the business service sector. “B.C. Kicks” in Binghamton/Broome County, NY was launched with the support of the Broome County CVB and became the inaugural Soccer Tourism event. It grew to around 200 teams per year in both 2002 and 2003. Such events are intended to produce significant tourism business impact within each program service areas. In 2002, Colone Associates added the Nice n Easy/NY-NY Summer Soccer Series for the Chenango Soccer Club in rural Upstate NY. Work is currently underway to create and program another Pennsylvania based event, an exclusive premier level tournament, in the nearby Harrisburg/Hershey/Capital District area. It’s to be known as the “Cool July Crossroads Premier Soccer Championship” or just “Cool July!” Colone Associates is also serving as a consultant to the Greater Harford Soccer Park, in Harford County, MD assisting the organization in the planning and development of a major regional soccer center near Aberdeen/Bel Air, MD. A 6 part tournament series to be sold in the market territory from New England to the Carolinas is now being considered by the Park Board as a major program anchor at the Park. For more information on Colone Associates and their comprehensive soccer services, log on to: | |
