The 5v5 Soccer Tour, offered by T2 Sporting, presents soccer events in small-sided formats. The tour owner, T2Sporting, has developed a grassroots marketing strategy to work with local sports commissions, VCB or CVB who are looking to bring in new and large annual events.
SDM caught up with event owner Travis Tew to learn about the 5v5 Soccer Tour’s goals and its needs when seeking sites for tournaments.
Sports Destination Management: What would you like people to know about 5v5 Soccer Tour?
Travis Tew: We are the world's largest 5v5 Soccer Tour. We are always looking for good people and good cities to partner with. We have no bid fee for our regular 5v5 events; we just need the fields and help finding a local host club or contact to help us market. We have a $40 marketing budget that we can pay the host or hosts per team.
SDM: What sorts of facilities are you looking for?
Tew: We look for venues that offer between two and four soccer fields; it depends on the size of the tournament.
SDM: Is grass or turf preferable, or does it not matter?
Tew: Either works great; we do want the fields to be in good playing condition.
SDM: Should prospective hosts be close to hotels/accommodations?
Tew: I would say it helps but it isn't 100 percent necessary.
SDM: Do you also look at other amenities like restaurants, attractions, etc. in the area?
Tew: Yes, we do; we want families to be able to enjoy the area when the tournament is over and to feel like they had a winning experience.
SDM: How many teams, on average, are expected at events?
Tew: We average 40 teams per tournament which equals 350 players and 1,200 spectators.
SDM: What are the demographics like – is it mostly youth tournaments?
Tew: You’d be surprised! We have seen some changes in demographics; right now, there are a lot of adults playing 7v7. They love being able to play again and the 7v7 format is easy for them.
SDM: Adult play – really?
Tew: It’s a huge, underserved market that I’d like to capitalize on. In Panama City Beach, we had more than 20 adult teams registered. I think that’s something we’ll be targeting a little more. The 7v7 concept is great for adults because it’s easy to find seven people and it takes up less space, so they don’t have to run as much. Right now, it’s still a minority – maybe five percent of our teams are adults, but you have to remember that soccer kids who love the game will grow up and want to continue to play. This is a way of helping them do that.
SDM: What is the season for your events?
Tew: Summer and winter, mainly.
SDM: What advantages do you think small-sided offers to participants?
Tew: A number of them! Just as street soccer was for a previous generation, small-sided games are fun and foster a lifelong passion for the beautiful game. Children naturally learn match situations by constant repetition and frequent ball contact. There’s less running, less frustration and more involvement in real soccer situations so that ultimately, every kid learns their contribution to the game is important.
SDM: What are the advantages to hosts?
Tew: There’s a number of those as well! First, there’s the opportunity to create a high quality, local and area-wide competition for your market with a great environment for coaches, players and parents. It generates revenue for the host club, takes up less space and offers the opportunity to enhance recognition and bring prestige to the host organization. Every event that is hosted is important because it becomes part of our 5v5 Soccer National Championship Series.
SDM: Where can people learn more about hosting?
Tew: They can go to this site, 5v5soccer.com/partner, and follow the prompts.
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